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Entries tagged with 'Curtain Cuties'
Posted Feb. 11, 2009,
Curtain Cutie: Kieran Campion
By Whitney Spaner
During the first scene of the Broadway play The American Plan, Kieran Campion -- the all-American cutie with a smile begging to be cast in a Colgate commercial -- climbs out of the water dripping wet with only a pair of swim trunks on. Who says there’s nothing for the younger generation on Broadway these days -- great abs are for all ages! And the sexual undertones don't stop there, (The play is after all written by Take Me Out book writer Richard Greenberg) but you'll have to see it for the rest of the action.
Set in the early 1960s, The American Plan is one of my favorite plays I've seen this season. I loved the cast, which also includes Mercedes Ruehl as a shrewd German-Jewish mother, and the set design -- which I usually don't go crazy for -- by Jonathan Fensom really gave the feel of the hazy days and cricket-filled nights of summering in the Catskills. Definitely a giant step up from Manhattan Theater Club’s last production this fall at the Friedman Theatre, the short lived and horribly reviewed, To Be or Not to Be.
An old pro (American Plan being his fourth Broadway show), Kieran took some time out before a show to chat with me about his lovely-sounding wife (sigh), their dog and his starving artist days.
Posted Oct. 14, 2008,
Curtain Cuties: Steve Kazee
By Whitney Spaner
Ordinarily I don't love to hear that my Curtain Cuties have girlfriends (or boyfriends for that matter) but I have to say I am happy for this particular Broadway power couple. My current cutie Steve Kazee and his girlfriend Megan Hilty make for a very talented pair who are both making quite the impression on the New York theater community. Hilty is currently in L.A. starring in the Broadway-bound musical, 9 to 5. She’s playing Doralee Rhodes, the role Dolly Parton made famous in the 1980 film. Steve has been in four Broadway shows in three years after getting an MFA in Drama at NYU. He's currently appearing in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of To Be Or Not To Be, as the young and dashing albeit a little daft World War II soldier who woos a Polish theater company's diva away from her over the top actor husband who butchers the part of Hamlet on a nightly basis until the Nazis invade. The farcical play based on the 1942 movie which starred Carole Lombard and Jack Benny opens on Broadway tonight at the Friedman Theatre.
I met with Kazee at the theater before one of the show’s final previews. He was a few minutes late but rushed in apologizing with a big friendly smile and not a hair out of place. I quickly forgave him and, we got down to some serious business -- the effect the economic crisis is having on Broadway -- but also touched upon some cheerier subjects like Hilty and his two Jack Russell terriers, Harley and Gracie. What a happy family.
Posted Sep. 26, 2008,
Curtain Cutie: Nick Spangler
By Whitney Spaner
Actor Nick Spangler is your quintessential all-American cutie. He grew up in Northern California in a family of six shooting clay pigeons, horse-back riding and enjoying the outdoors. (He was a Boy Scout!) He moved to New York to study musical theater at NYU and before he even graduated got a small role as the mute in the revival of Tom Jones’s long- running, record setting off-Broadway show The Fantasticks. Everything was going as planned until his sister Starr, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader signed them up for the reality show competition The Amazing Race. His life has recently returned to normalcy and I wasn’t allowed to ask him if he won, (the show premieres on Sunday so you’ll have to watch it on CBS and see!) but we got a chance to hang out at the Snapple Theater where he’s now playing the lead role of Matt in the reincarnated production of The Fantasticks. He told me about his love of reality TV and his hot Dallas Cowboys cheerleader girlfriend (sigh!).
Posted Jun. 6, 2008,
Cody Green Wins Step It Up and Dance! Hurrah!
By Whitney Spaner
Although it goes without saying that all of my Curtain Cuties are destined for greatness I have to say that Grease castmember Cody Green has really accomplished a lot since I talked to him last fall. He was chosen to be on Bravo's new reality series Step It Up and Dance hosted by Elizabeth Berkeley and Jerry Mitchell and last night he was announced the winner! He won $100,000 and the prestige of being chosen by the talented judges panel which consisted of star choreographers Nancy O'Meara, Vincent Paterson along with Jerry and Elizabeth. Having caught up with him earlier this spring when the show started I didn't get the feeling that he had won. He's awfully good at keeping secrets! The only sad part for me was at the end when his girlfriend ran out and gave him a big kiss! Why can't that be me? So sad! But I'm still happy for him! Congrats Cody!
Visit Step It Up and Dance's website to see the recap of the finale and Cody's reaction on winning.
Posted May. 30, 2008,
Curtain Cutie: Benjamin Walker
By Whitney Spaner
When I saw the 6’3” cutie Ben Walker get completely naked onstage while going down on none other than the Oscar-caliber actress Laura Linney in the Broadway revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses I knew I had found my next Curtain Cutie. And when you see him running out to the middle of the stage covering up with only his hand you will see why! The slightly older but still very sexy Ben Daniels also bares it all in bed with Mamie Gummer in the naughty (for Broadway) play about the evil-doings of a 19th Century playboy (Daniels) and his revenge-seeking ex-lover (Linney). Walker and Gummer play naive young pawns in their plot. The revival is nominated for several Tonys including Best Revival and Best Actor in a play (Daniels).
Walker made his Broadway debut in last year’s revival of Inherit the Wind with Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. He’s a Julliard grad with a sweet-as -pie Southern drawl thanks to his small town Georgia upbringing, and although it looks like his acting career is on the right path, he dabbles in construction work, stand-up comedy and he wants to be an EMT. All three would be useful skills to have around the house. I certainly wouldn’t kick him out of mine!
I recently had the opportunity to chat with him between a matinee and an evening performance at the American Airlines Theatre where the production runs until July 6th. Here’s what he had to say about the onstage swordfight, working with big names and his mother seeing his bare bum on stage.
Posted Jul. 11, 2007,
Curtain Cutie: Curtis Holbrook
By Whitney Spaner
Xanadu, the musical based on the infamous 1980 movie of the same name starring Olivia Newton-John opened last night at the Helen Hayes Theater to enthusiastic reviews. The movie was a campy nightmare for critics and most movie goers, and put a halt to the movie/musical genre for about two decades. But Xanadu’s saving grace was several chart topping tunes including it’s title song "Xanadu," making it a prime choice for a jukebox musical.
After the screenplay, about an Australian-accented, rollerskating muse who visits an uninspired artist and convinces him to build a roller disco called Xanadu, got a very funny facelift by Little Dog Laughed playwright Douglas Carter Beane, the stage show was ready to roll (quite literally -- all the actors are on skates). Xanadu stars Cheyenne Jackson (Chad in All Shook Up) who bravely filled original star James Carpinello’s skates after he broke his foot during previews, and Kerry Butler in the Olivia Newton-John role, along with Broadway vets Tony Roberts, Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman.
Posted Jun. 14, 2007,
Curtain Cutie: Matthew Morrison
By Whitney Spaner
This week’s Curtain Cutie is the James Dean-esque Matthew Morrison. Matt’s curly hair (albeit shaved now), brilliant smile and beautiful voice have been on my radar for years. He has originated roles in successful Broadway shows such as Hairspray and Light in the Piazza and currently can be seen in the new off-Broadway musical 10 Million Miles. The musical, directed by Tony-Award-winning director Michael Mayer, features music and lyrics by Patti Griffin, and opens tonight at the Atlantic Theater.
Morrison plays Duane, a charming country boy just out of the army who recruits a former lover (played by Irene Molloy) to accompany him on a road trip in an old pick-up truck.
I got the opportunity to chat with him last week amidst his taxing rehearsal time about his new show, new film (with Steve Carell!) and his equally cute fiancée, soap star Chrishell Stause… sigh.
WS: How did you get started with 10 Million Miles?
MM: I was looking to come back to do a theater piece because I’ve been mostly in film and TV and I’m really into originating parts right now. I got tons of offers from other shows but I was just so excited to do this and I’ve become a fan of Patty Griffin as of recently. I thought it was a fun show and it was kind of a different character that I haven’t played before so I was excited for the challenge -- I’ve always kind of played the secondary character in shows and stuff and its kind of a change to be at the forefront of things.
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.
Posted Mar. 15, 2007,
Curtain Cuties: Thomas Eckermann
By Whitney Spaner
This week’s Curtain Cutie is 28-year-old Thomas Eckerman. As a member of the 13th St. Repertory Company he is currently playing the role of Stephen in Line, the longest running off-off Broadway show at the 13th St. Repertory Theatre. Next week he will begin performances at the 13th St. Rep. in Five Story Walkup, a new collection of plays and monologues about places people call home by such esteemed playwrights as John Guare and Neil LaBute.
Directed by 92nd Street Y’s Daniel Gallant, the production running from March 21st to April 14th will benefit the endangered 13th Street Rep. Theatre -- founder Edith O’Hara has been fighting real estate developers for over a year. He’s cute and philanthropic, what more could you ask for! Via email he explained the struggles of working off-off Broadway and how much he cares about the little theater that could.
Posted Mar. 7, 2007,
Curtain Cuties: Kit Williamson
By Whitney Spaner
What better way to celebrate hump day than with a new Broadway cutie! His name is Kit Williamson and he's making his Broadway debut playing a radio techie named Spike in Eric Bogosian's Talk Radio, starring Liev Schreiber. Although most of his time is spent behind the set's studio glass, I couldn't help but periodicallly steer my attention away from the riveting Schreiber to glance up to check out Williamson's relaxed, gum-chewing, backwards-hat-wearing ways. Via email I asked him a few questions.
How old are you?
I'm 21.
What is your theatrical training?
I studied acting and writing for two years at Interlochen Arts Academy, a boarding school in northern Michigan. Now I study acting and playwriting at Fordham University, Lincoln Center. I'm currently a junior..
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi.
Why did you want to become an actor?
t's such a stock answer, but when I was a kid I would always try and put on shows or make up characters and subject my parents to them. What really attracts me to acting is the opportunity to communicate on a large scale; it's like having an in-depth conversation with a huge crowd of people, all at once.