JK's TheatreScene: Broadway Who's Who

Showing posts with label Broadway Who's Who. Show all posts

Monday, February 3, 2025

Broadway Who's Who: Mary Rodgers

It seems that Mary Rodgers was famous for many things. She's part of a Broadway family - she was the daughter of Richard Rodgers, and she's Adam Guettel's mother. She was an acclaimed and popular children's author, writing such works as A Billion for Boris, Summer Switch and her most popular novel, Freaky Friday. That book has taken on a life of its own as two motion pictures (and an upcoming sequel), a TV movie and even as a musical! But theater fans know her best as the composer of such shows as Working, The Madwoman of Central Park West, The Hot Spot, The Mad Show and her most famous musical, Once Upon a Mattress, which made Carol Burnett a Broadway sensation, and was televised in two different versions, and most recently as an acclaimed Encores! presentation and Broadway revival.

Even after her death in 2014, her legacy continues, with the publication of her autobiography, Shy, and the continued popularity of Mattress, which has remained a staple of high school, college and community theater seasons more than 60 years after its premiere!

Broadway Who's Who:

Mary Rodgers

DID YOU KNOW?

BIRTH: January 11, 1931

DEATH: June 26, 2014

BROADWAY LIGHTS DIMMED: June 28, 2014

BIRTHPLACE: New York City, NY

EDUCATION: Wellesley College

HONORS: 2 Tony Award nominations: Best Musical 1960 (Once Upon a Mattress) and Best Score 1978 (Working)

with dad, Richard Rodgers (left) and son, Adam Guettel (right)

THEATER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

THE MAD WOMAN OF CENTRAL PARK WEST, THE HOT SPOT

THE MAD SHOW - Off-Broadway, starring Linda Lavin and JoAnn Worley

WORKING - 1978 Tony Award nomination, Best Score

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - 1960 Tony Award nomination, Best Musical

AUTHOR HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, January 6, 2025

Broadway Who's Who: Rachel Hauck

One of today's most creative and acclaimed scenic designers, Rachel Hauck seems to just be getting started. And yet, she's been a fixture off-Broadway, regionally and internationally, as well as a highly credentialed educator. She's a multi-award winner, including a Tony Award, and we wouldn't be surprised to see her name on the nominees list in 2025 for her stunning design of Swept Away. Ms. Hauck is definitely qualified to make our Broadway Who's Who.

Broadway Who's Who:

Rachel Hauck

DID YOU KNOW?

BIRTHPLACE: Ohio

EDUCATION: BA in theater from UCLA

TEACHING: Brown University, Vassar College, NYU, Cal Arts and Princeton University

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN: She's designed productions in London, Australia and Tokyo

REGIONAL COMPANIES: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Guthrie Theater, Arena Stage and McCarter Theater

OFF-BROADWAY: Signature Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public, Playwrights Horizons, Ars Nova and SoHo Rep

HONORS AND AWARDS: Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Scenic Design (2016)

BROADWAY: 6 productions:

Latin History for Morons

(2017 - Studio 54)

Broadway debut

What the Constitution Means to Me

(2019 - Hayes Theatre)

Hadestown

(2019 - Walter Kerr Theatre

⭐ - Winner: 2019 Tony Award - Best Scenic Design of a Musical

How I Learned to Drive

(2022 - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre)

Good Night, Oscar

(2023 - Belasco Theatre)

⭐- Nominee: 2023 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play

Swept Away

(2024 - Longacre Theatre)

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Broadway Who's Who: Gregg Edelman

Gregg Edelman is one of an increasingly rare breed - the working Broadway actor. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he's really done it all: ensemble work, supporting roles, leading roles, originating, replacing. Beyond New York, he's done a lot of regional work, world premiers, and national tours. Along the way, he's been nominated for four Tony Awards, and has been involved in many of Broadway's landmark productions (and a fair share of flops, too).

These days, he's playing the older Jacob in Water For Elephants, but chances are you've seen him in one of these shows!

Broadway Who's Who:

Gregg Edleman

DID YOU KNOW?

Birth Date and Place: September 12, Chicago, Illinois
Education: Northwestern University
Family: Previously married to Carolee Carmello; they have two children.
Broadway Debut: The original Broadway production of Evita.
Other Theater: He's an Artistic Associate at the Berkshire Theatre Group, where he's directed such productions as Once, White Christmas and Arsenic and Old Lace.
Fun Fact: He appeared in both the film and pre-Broadway musical version of First Wives Club.