Chuck Wagner to join Dracula cast

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/17/04 at 10:17pm

Chuck will be standby for Dracula, played by Tom Hewitt in Frank Wildhorn's Dracula previewing in July. Chuck can be heard as Van Helsing on the demo CD of Dracula along with fellow J&H co-stars Robert Evan & Christiane Noll.

Wagner will standby for Count Dracula, as well as Van Helsing and Quincy. Rehersals begin May 24th.

Updated On: 5/17/04 at 10:17 PM

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 5/17/04 at 11:21pm

Interesting.. I was wondering where Mr Wagner had gone.. I was fortunate enough to see him as Jekyll and Hyde before the show turned into a vegas spectacle.

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 5/17/04 at 11:30pm

By the way, where can I hear this demo?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 1:34am

That's great but I think it's time we actually get to see Mr. Wagner nightly rather then having him understudy. The man should be front and center. He was the best thing in the Kiss Me Kate tour.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 1:38am

Patti, do you remember the time I mentioned after a raging issue with Mr Tuttle and WSS2 that I had been WONDERING what Chuck Wagner had been up to lately and you asked what the connection was? Now you know why I mentioned it.

In fact, when you started this thread I almost responded "Calling Mr. Tuttle, come in, Mr. Tuttle," but didn't. Still, he did not disappoint.

Updated On: 5/18/04 at 01:38 AM

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:14am

This makes me SO SO SO happy! Granted, I think he deserves better than standy by, but you've got to start again when you've been out of the business for a while! Yay!!! Chuck Wagner will be back on Broadway...where he belongs!!!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:21am

I think he's a very talented man and very good looking with a great voice. I also wish he'd be seen in a regular role rather than swinging one or understudying - but at least he's working and thats always a good thing.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:23am

He was a fantastic Beast in the Toronto Production of B&B.
Wagner and Kerry Butler, I wish I had been old enough to know the sexyness on that one stage.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:34am

We exchanged e-mails last night and Chuck is very excited to be back on Bd'w in a Wildhorn show. He has a strong stage presence and indeed deserves a principal role.

Frank has a handful of very loyal friends and fans, despite what some think of his abilities. There's an old saying that may/may not fit here but... "Better to have bad breath than no breath at all". At least Frank is out there giving it his best shot and I salute him for that.

Namo, I'm afraid my brain is forgetting this deal. PM me to set me straight, if you like.

The Dracula Demo is not sold in public, sorry. But it is obviously out there.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:49am

Frank Wildhorn is the bane of Broadway. The man writes music that is constantly at odds with the story it's set in. (The music for JEKYLL AND HYDE was much too contemporary for a story set in Victorian England. The use of profanity in the lyrics were completely uncalled for.)

Chuck Wagner's performances have always left me wondering how such a seemingly nice man could be so lackluster on stage. Maybe there's no correlation between "nice" and "talented".

Maybe Wagner and Wildhorn are a match made in heaven.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:51am

I wonder what Dave Clemmons' connection with the show will be. Chuck and Dave have long-standing ties with Wildhorn. I also wish we could see Chuck cast in at least a featured role. He's incredibly talented and a sweetheart, too. I would love to see him in a show again.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:52am

well, Dolly - I certainly agree with you on the Wildehorn subject - the most boring and lackluster writer out there right now.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:56am

Wildhorn isn't just "lackluster"--he's BAD!

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 10:09am

Matt~ Dave Clemmons has worked with Frank both as an actor and via Dave Clemmons Casting. Dave also casts for others, of course. I don't know Dave too well, but he seems a likable fellow.

Dolly, RedHotNYC & co. ~ This is your opinion and I'll not challange it. I've certaintly seen better or worse. It's in my best interest not to go there. I'm just glad another show will get a chance to put some talented people back on stage.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 11:51am

I had the pleasure of seeing the original Broadway cast of Into the Woods. Chuck Wagner was a real stand out, beautiful voice. When he came out the stage door I was dumbstruck, such beautiful eyes, lovely hairy chest, best butt in the cast. I didn't say anything to him, cuz I was, as I said, dumbstruck. He's got a rep for being incredibly kind and gracious to fans. It never made sense to me with all he has going for him that he isn't a name-above-the-title star of longstanding on B'way.

I wonder what he's like when he's not "on?"

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 12:06pm

Namo - You forgot to mention that the man is Goliath. He is way taller than I expected. And you are right about being gracious. He invited my father and I to a Les Mis cast part, but my father was suffering a sinus infection, so we didn't go. He and Dave Clemmons were the best Valjean/Javert team I've ever seen.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 12:21pm

If he's just as super-nice and terrif behind the scenes, it's only a matter of time before he's mentioned for every male lead, like Raul is now!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 12:21pm

I had the pleasure of seeing Chuck as Carl Magnus in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at the Chicago Shakespeare earlier this year. Michael Cerveris was doing the role and I was so looking forward to seeing him, however, he had to leave to go do some other show, (something about crazy actor’s?) so his replacement was Mr. Wagner. I was a bit disappointed not the see Cerveris, but Chuck was “perfection”. I am glad I had the chance to see his performance.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 12:22pm

terrif? Thank you, Miss Millie Dillmount!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 12:30pm

I know, right? I can't IMAGINE what's holding Chuck back!

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 2:43pm

MisterMatt- you are right Clemmons and Wagner were an incredible pairing in Les Miz and even in the Houston premiere of J&H.

I went to the cast party in Houston for both and mentioned to Chuck about my growing up watching "AUTOMAN"-- he laughed and said: "I think you were the only one..."

LOL

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 6:11pm

Incredibly. Talented. Man. Period.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 10:52pm

We all love Chuck. Nobody would tut-tut that!

[DoReMi]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 11:00pm

Who invited the bitter queen to make stupid ass comments?

Guess we all need love. Or at least attention. Updated On: 5/18/04 at 11:00 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/04 at 11:06pm

Hey! Long time no see! Anybody seen WSS2 lately?