I must admit, I didn’t have very high expectations of Daniel Radcliffe going in to see How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. I just could not shake the image of a prepubescent Harry Potter prancing around a Broadway stage, trying to keep up with the more seasoned adult performers. Much to my surprise, not only could Radcliffe sing and dance surprisingly well, but the boy had transformed into a more than suitable adult male lead, having shed any trace of the iconic teen wizard the world has embraced for the past 11 years (that’s half of his life). I believe Daniel Radcliffe has found his true calling. If anything, with the end of the Harry Potter series, Broadway has saved his career by showcasing his genuine talents and sparing him from the process of being typecast.
I have never been a very big fan of casting stars as Broadway leads. Too often, whether these actors can really sing and dance is secondary to the seats their names will fill, not to mention all the choreography modifications made to accommodate a star. This brings me back to a production of A Chorus Line I saw where they cast Mario Lopez as Zach, the director/choreographer. It was one of the most painful things I ever had to watch. The fact that the chorus line had to lower their high kicks and their standards to match his did not make him a very credible choreographer. He simply did not have the technique and whatever he could pull off was not clean. Sorry, Mario, but even your sweet dimples couldn’t save you that time.
I witnessed another surprising performance on Broadway that night. John Larroquette, who I hadn’t seen since Night Court, delivered a stellar performance in every way imaginable.
It is not only difficult, but rare to be a successful television or film star on Broadway. The transition from a set to live performance alone can be daunting for those who spent most of their careers on-screen. Also, for the ones who have unshakable screen personas, it is sometimes hard for an audience to see a different character on stage. Nonetheless, I was floored when I saw Chris Rock in The Motherf**ker with the Hat and forgot that he was, well, Chris Rock!
After seeing so many great shows with very recognizable faces, I am humbled and pleased by the real deal triple threats out there; those who can truly act, sing, and dance without compromise. Those who work hard to harness and nurture their talents in different ways, yet still find the time and energy to maintain their first career. Those who champion the arts by continuing to better themselves, even after they’ve already “made it.” They truly are stars.
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Current and upcoming celebrities on Broadway:
- Kim Cattrall - Private Lives
- Harry Connick Jr. – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- Darren Criss – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
