Broadway Fun 6: A Potpourri

 There are a lot of great performers I have seen only a few times. Here is the first batch of my favorites:

Ethan Hawke: the man doesn't like playing a type. He gest into a role so much you think he is a little nuts.

1. Things We Want at a tiny theater off-Broadway. It is (and I quote) "a high testosterone, dirty sexy suicide play. He was intense.
2. Clive, later at the same theater. He was a washed up singer. meh.
3. True West is a "Grim Slice of American". I don't know about that, but it is a show about a wanna be film writer who terrifies his brother. He was very good at being very scary.

Jake Gyllenhaal: He hasn't been on stage much. Ed and I saw him in everything he has done.

1. He sings like a dream in Sunday in the Park with George, a great revival with Annaleigh Ashford (featured here soon). I thought he was much better than Mandy Patinkin - the original.
2. In Constellations he and Ruth Wilson play a pair of star crossed lovers, but in different version of the same action 2 or 3 different ways. It sounds confusing, but you get into it easily.
3. If There Is, I Haven't Found It Yet was his first New York production. It was at one of the bigger off-Broadway theaters and he was excellent. He played the older brother in conflict with his father and taking care of his younger sister.

And then there is Kyle Dean Massey, one of my very favorite performers. KDM is often the second person into a show. He followed Aaron Tveit into Next to Normal and Mathew James Thomas into the starring role as Pippin. You might have also seen him in the TV show Nashville.

• Headshot: Yep that is Ed and Kyle and I at 54 below, where we saw his gig. 54 Below is the closest we have to a "Supper Club" anymore.

1. In Next to Normal, he took over as Gabe. His take was a bit darker than Aaron Tveit's take on the role. Not better, but just as good in a unique way.
2. As Pippin he took over the lead role from James Michael Thomas. He was actually so good that the New York Times re-reviewed it with him. He was more adult, sexier and differently compelling as Pippin. The producers had him play the role for over a year, doing it on the streets of New York at times and touring with it in Europe.
3. So, I love Pirates of Penzance,  and I love Kyle Dean, so it was a no-brainer to take the trip up to Pittsford in Massachusetts to see him in this role during summer stock. He was Frederick, the Pirate Apprentice.