"Does anyone else find it odd that, although Bartha is playing the lead in this show, all the marketing and press is focusing on Shaloub and LaPaglia? Granted, they are more famous, but they're playing supporting characters. The play is about Max (Bartha)"...
Not odd at all... Bartha is making his Broadway debut and though quite talented, is still up-and-coming and hardly as well known as Shalhoub and LaPaglia, each of whom have earned multiple awards in their long stage, tv, and film careers (Emmys, Golden Globes,etc). They are just better known to a wider theater audience at this time and marketing is about selling tickets so that your show can stay open.
By the way, I'm not sure I agree that LMAT is "Max's play", but even if it were that doesn't ever automatically mean top billing for young Bartha. There are many examples of this in show business. No one would argue, for example, that Angela Lansbury's part is the main character in A Little Night Music (it isn't), but she is a star and her name will always sell more tickets than Alexander Hansons's, who as Fredrik Egerman has a bigger role.
Updated On: 3/15/10 at 12:17 PM