Happy Birthday, Christian Borle!

My first encounter with Christian Borle was on the soundtrack to Legally Blonde: The Musical (which is actually a kinda awesome musical). MTV recorded the musical in October 2007 (and reran it constantly), so, although I didn't actually see him in Legally Blonde, I feel confident & competent enough to say he was a perfect Emmett. Thoroughly Modern Millie holds a special place in my heart (the movie more than the musical) and I can completely see him playing Jimmy; the same goes for him playing Bert in Mary Poppins. My favorite of his roles has been Tom on SMASH. He's dapper, likable, complicated, & a clearly authentic casting choice. The man deserves a happy birthday. His theatre/street cred: 

• Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2003). Sutton Foster played the title role; the two had met in college & married in September 2006 [separated in 2010 :( ]
• Prince Herbert, the Historian, etc. in Monty Python's Spamalot (2005) which earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical & a Broadway.com Audience Award as Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical. 
• Originated the role of Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde (2007) & recieved a Tony nomination for  Best Featured Actor in a Musical. 
• Bert in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins (2009-2010) 
• Prior Walter in Angels in America in Signature Theatre Company's 20th anniversary production (2010/2011) [P.S. Signature is one of my favorite regional theatres ever]
• Captain Hook in Peter & the Starcatcher (2012) & winner Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role.
• Tom on NBC's SMASH, otherwise known as my favorite show ever since LOST. 

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).

Happy Birthday, SONDHEIM & LLOYD WEBBER!

Happy Birthday to the Kings of Musical Theatre

Stephen Sondheim & Andrew Lloyd Webber!!!

Today kind of seems like Christmas for the musical theatre community.

My life (especially the junior high years) & iTunes have been infintely improved by these two men,

so their birthdays are certainly worth the celebrating.

I vote that next year, they should do a birthday concert at Royal Albert Hall.

[my boyfriends singing a tribute to Cameron Mackintosh]

[A side note on birthdays & Sondheim: I met Stephen Sondheim with my sister on her 25^th birthday. We were at the Lincoln Center in NYC to see a concert performance of Sweeney Todd  & got to the theatre obscenely early. There was a bar on the empty lobby of the mezzanine & there were 2 people at the bar with their backs to us. Jenny thought one of them was Sir Sondheim, but we couldn’t be sure. Then the lady he was with turned around & we recognized her as Maria Friedman, which meant the man was with her was probably Sondheim. So we approached, using our status as Friedman-fans as the catalyst. And then we met the man himself, breathed his air, & exchanged words. I remember nothing anyone said except his affirmation that my sister looked like Johanna. Talk about a happy birthday.]