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Entries tagged with 'Coram Boy'
Posted May. 8, 2007,
Opening Night: Coram Boy
By Whitney Spaner
Coram Boy, which had a successful run last year on London’s West End, opened on Broadway last Wednesday. The play -- about a boy who defies his rich landowning family to become an apprentice to the composer Handel -- was the Broadway debut for many of the cast members. A few of the first-timers told me at their after-party at Tavern on the Green that Coram Boy, which includes a full choir singing parts from the Messiah throughout, was the perfect combination of theatrical elements for their debut.
The beautiful, auburn-haired Ivy Vahanian, who plays the heroine Melissa, said of her role, “Not only am I on Broadway, but I get to fly, I get to give birth, I go through great suffering and then I have great redemption and I get to sing the Hallelujah chorus! And that’s why I love it. I love that it’s so sensational. Everything is tickled.” And I have to add, that she gets to wear the most amazing long wavy wig! Ironically, it just so happens that the expansive plot and sensational elements were part of the critics’ complaints in the mediocre to horrible reviews the play -- which, with a budget of $6 million, was the most expensive non-musical to ever hit the Great White Way -- received last week.
Posted Apr. 30, 2007,
Curtain Cuties: Wayne Wilcox
By Whitney Spaner
The other night I went to see the new Broadway play Coram Boy, which is still in previews, and I loved it! It opened last year to rave reviews on the West End and will open on Broadway May 2nd with an all new American cast.
I’m not a religious girl but I’m a sucker for Handel’s Messiah, which is sung throughout the play by a full choir in the rafters of the stage. I recently caught up with one of the stars of the show, cutie Wayne Wilcox, during tech week. He plays the grown-up Alexander Ashbrook, who runs away from his family responsibilities at the age of 15 to study music under Handel, leaving a mess behind at his family’s estate. He was terribly charming and after seeing the performance I'm convinced he's terribly talented as well. He starred earlier this year in the Roundabout’s production of Suddenly Last Summer and he’s also well known for playing Marty on Gilmore Girls. He's also very generous! And after we spoke, the Tennessee native sent me some of his favorite Vosges chocolates! Here's a window into our love connection. (OK, that's wistful thinking.)
How old are you?
I’m 28.
What’s your theatrical training?
I went to Boston University -- there are actually three of us from BU in the cast.