Stage

'Avenue Q' star John Tartaglia talks 'ImaginOcean'

8/19/2010
Steven Jackson

An interview with Tony Awards nominee John Tartaglia is long over due. He has appeared on many Broadway shows through out his career. He starred in the acclaimed musical "Avenue Q", "Shrek: The Musical", and in Disney's "Beauty and The Beast." He is also credited to creating his own show and starred in the playhouse Disney series, "Johnny and The Sprites." John spoke with TheCelebrityCafe.com's Steven Jackson about making it big on "Avenue Q" and his newest off-Broadway show, "ImaginOcean."

TheCelebrityCafe: Hey, John, how are you?

8/19/2010

Brad Oscar

7/1/2004
Dominick A. Miserandino
Brad Oscar has one of the most rewarding and hardest jobs of which I can think. He now holds the lead role in The Producers that Nathan Lane's made famous. His job involves not only having the best role in Broadway, but filling the shoes of the best-selling ticket on Broadway. How does he handle it?

DM) Brad, you're in "The Producers" - the role that Nathan Lane made famous. I left the show thinking one big question. It's a bit delicate to ask, but I'll try my best. See, when I was leaving the theater, I heard one patron say, "He looks just like Nathan Lane." Another one said, "He's not as good as Nathan." It's not only tough enough to take over a role, but you're taking over the biggest role in Broadway history.

BO) Luckily, I've been able to get over a lot of that. I'm only able to do what I can. I learned a lot about how to play the role by working with Nathan.

Kathy Brier

4/1/2004
Dominick A. Miserandino
Aside from being nominated for an Emmy for her performance as Marcie Walsh on One Life to Live and playing the lead role, as Tracy Turnblad, in the sell-out Hairspray, the most amazing accomplishment is that Kathy Brier does this seven days a week. No break and no vacation for over six months. How does she do it?

DM) You are a busy woman. How are you juggling, a daytime Emmy-nominated soap opera and a Broadway show's leading role, everyday?

KB) It's hard. It's like running a mini-marathon everyday. I wake up at 6:30am and I don't get home until 11:00pm. From 6:00am to 6:00pm I'm at the studio and from 6:30pm until 11:00pm, I'm at Hairspray. Then, when I get home I can be up until 1:00am learning my lines for the next day. I actually try not to think about it. When I think about it, is when I go nuts. I cut my days into segments.

Hendandez, Philip

5/9/1999
Dominick A. Miserandino
Philip Hernandez talks about Les Miz, the book, the play, his role and the classic battle between good, evil and the choices that we make.

DM) Philip, I understand that you have played both of the male leads in Les Miz. How did it come about that you had this opportunity?

PH) Well, Fred Inkley had originally been doing the tour for about two and a half years, and he planned to come and play on Broadway. But about that time, he was asked to play the beast in Beauty and the Beast, so he asked to be freed from his Les Miz contract, and his request was granted. Another actor, Craig Schulman, was then signed to replace Fred for the remaining four months of the run.

Coyle, Brandon

5/1/1999
Dominick A. Miserandino
Brandon talks about the play, American versus British Theatre, and the theory of subtext.



DM) I saw "The Weir" about a week and a half ago. I admit it was one of the most unusual Broadway plays I ever saw. Most Broadway shows seem to be all special effects and glamour and what not, and it was very refreshing to see a play based more on the interaction of the characters. I was wondering, who wrote the story of "The Weir"?

BC) It was written by Connor McPherson, and this is about his fifth play. He's had a couple of hits in London. He was commissioned by the Royal Court to write this play.

Benanti, Laura

4/27/1999
Dominick A. Miserandino

DM) The "Sound of Music" is your first Broadway Show. How did you get the part?

LB) Jay Binder called Papermill Playhouse and asked if they would recommend anyone for the part of Liesle. They suggested me. I went in, and they immediately told me I looked too old. However, they called me in four more times to audition for a nun slot. At the last call, they asked me to read of the Maria understudy - and I got it!

DM) You got the role rather suddenly, then.

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