Happy Birthday, Joel Grey & Bill Irwin!

JOEL GREY  

Joel Grey is most beloved

for originating the role of the

Master of Ceremonies

in Cabaret

both in the film & Broadway,

for which he won the Tony, Golden Globe, &

 Academy Awards.

Other noted Broadway credits include the original Wizard in Wicked (2003) & Moonface Martin in the 2011 revival of Anything Goes. 

BILL IRWIN

Bill Irwin is best known for his innovative clown work [Sesame Street's Mr. Noodle!],

but deserves more acknowlegment for his accomplishments as an actor on film & stage.

He has appeared in over 20 films (mostly in supporting roles):

• My Blue Heaven: 1990 comedy with Steve Martin & Rick Moranis
• Stepping Out: 1991 tap-dancing role along-side Liza Minelli
• Scenes From a Mall: playing a mime with Steve Martin & Bette Midler
• The film adaptations of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Laramie Project, & A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

His impressive theatre docket:

• 2010: New Victory Theatre presented Irwin with first-ever New Victory Arts award for “bringing the arts to kids and the kids to the arts.”
• 2005: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Kathleen Turner, for which he won the Tony for Best Actor.
• 2002: Replacement cast of Bway's The Goat with Sally Field
• 1999: Special Tony (with David Shiner for Live Theatrical Presentation for their show Fool Moon (which has already won Drama Desk Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience” & an Outer Critic’s Circle “Special Achievement” Award
• 1992: Obie-Award for performance in Texts for Nothing
• 1988: Waiting for Godot with Steve Martin & Robin Williams 
  

I first met Bill Irwin on March 10, 2008. I was working as a Marketing Intern at Philadelphia Theatre Company, who had commissioned him to write a completely original, soap-box production. I was able to sit in on the first reading, which had been highly anticipated because no one knew what to expect. What he brought to the table was The Happiness Lectures, a smart & innovative production that provided a kaleidoscope of puppets, off-the-wall physicality, trampolines, mirrors, clowns with top hats, songs…It could have ended up a strange jumble of a production, but he executed such a tight & specific vision that was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I love Bill Irwin; he brings such a different style to the theatre & has almost coined & created the idea of marrying theatre with the circus (besides Cirque du Soleil, but that’s it’s own thing).