Colin Hanlon to star in Falsettos!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 10:40am

Colin Hanlon, who was seen Off-Broadway in I Love You Because, will return to the George Street Playhouse this spring.

Playbill.com has learned that Hanlon will play Whizzer in the New Jersey's theatre company's production of the award-winning William Finn-James Lapine musical Falsettos. Hanlon recently played that role in a November 2006 performance of Falsettoland to benefit Miracle House.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/105943.html

Man, I want to go so badly. But of course, it ends just before I'd have the chance.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 10:44am

I forget. is there nudity involved?

[IssaMe]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 11:02am

He also did Falsettos at a benefit late last year in NYC. He was good in the role - but Romain Fruge still is the top for his Whizzer at the Huntington in Boston with Geoff Nauffts as Marvin last year.

Hanlon has been in line to play Whizzer at George Street for some time and has announced it himself a while back so this really is just a confirmation.

Hanlon is a regular at George Street...his "Last Five Years" there was simply BRILLIANT!

Meanwhile, Fruge will be appearing in Terrence McNally's "Some Men" in New York during the same time period.
Updated On: 2/22/07 at 11:02 AM

[Danielm]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 12:46pm

Curtainpulldowner--I think in Mr. Hanlon's honor they should add a shower scene.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 1:52pm

well I haven't seen the show in such a long time, but I think there is a bedroom scene.
Let's hope he takes off his shirt.

[gustof777]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 1:54pm

can't f*cking wait! I loves me some Colin Hanlon!

[tumadre2]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 11:03pm

I heard Sarah Litzsinger will be in this as well. Yay!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 1:31am

Who will be Colin's Boyfriend?

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 10:41am

Yep, what a surprise:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/106171.html

[magic8ball]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 2:17pm

Hanlon did a very nice job as Whizzer at last year's Miracle House benefit. The casting isn't really a surprise at all.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 2:19pm

I didn't know there were gay Irish people

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 2:28pm

duh, THE PIRATE QUEEN??????

[Danielm]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 3:31pm

Very funny Curtainpulldowner. And I've always wondered about Leprechauns.

[ALackOfColor]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 4:41pm

I don't usually post on these boards but I just have to say, I'm extremely excited for this show. I volunteered at George Street over winter break and it's just a wonderful theatre. It will be great to see Colin and Sarah together again. They're both fantastic performers, and Sarah is one of the nicest people I've ever been lucky enough to meet. I can't wait to see it in April!

[thtrguy2]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:28pm

Broadway actor Max von Essen, most recently seen on the New York stage in The Broadway Musicals of 1928 concert at Town Hall, will star in the George Street Playhouse's upcoming production of the award-winning William Finn musical Falsettos.

Playbill.com has learned that von Essen will play the lead role of Marvin in the production, which will also feature the previously announced Colin Hanlon as Whizzer and Sarah Litzsinger as kosher caterer Cordelia.

The George Street mounting of Falsettos, which features March of the Falsettos (Act One) and Falsettoland (Act Two), will be directed by artistic director David Saint. Performances will begin April 10 and run through May 6.

Max von Essen, who was part of the Kennedy Center's production of Mame, appeared Off-Broadway in Finian's Rainbow and in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Baker's Wife. On Broadway the actor has been seen in Dance of the Vampires, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Misérables; his additional Off-Broadway credits include The Fantasticks and John & Paul. Von Essen's regional credits are numerous and include Dorian the Musical, My Fair Lady, Hair, Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He was also part of the all-star benefit concert of Children of Eden.

Falsettos, according to press notes, chronicles "the life of Marvin, his wife Trina and son Jason. As Falsettos begins Marvin talks about his desire to have a 'tight knit family,' which encompasses his ex-wife Trina, his son Jason and his male lover Whizzer. He relies on the advice of his psychiatrist, Mendel, to help him accomplish this, and asks Mendel to tend to his son as well. In making the acquaintance of the son, Mendel becomes enamored with Trina, and eventually they marry. As the first act ends, Marvin has succeeded in alienating all of them in his frenzied desire to keep them all close.

"The second act is set two years later, as Jason prepares for his Bar Mitzvah. The 'family' has grown to include 'the lesbians from next door': Dr. Charlotte and Cordelia, a kosher caterer. As the story progresses, Marvin and Whizzer reunite as all the adults prepare for Jason’s big day. The plans are derailed when Whizzer is struck by a horrible life-threatening disease. As Marvin deals with realities of his situation, his 'tight knit family' circles around him, and by being there, offer their love and support."

March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland were originally presented Off-Broadway. In 1992 Falsettos — featuring March as the first act and Falsettoland as the second — debuted on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre with a cast led by Michael Rupert, Chip Zien, Stephen Bogardus and Barbara Walsh. The musical won Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.

Tickets are available by calling [phone]. For more information visit www.GSPonline.org.


www.playbill.com

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:31pm

von Essen and Hanlon will make a lovely couple.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:34pm

How is it going to work having a BABE play Marvin, I wonder. Whizzer is supposed to be the hunky one of the two. What do you do when they're BOTH hunks? I guess it's a nice problem to have.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:42pm

Aside from the babe factor, is von Essen believably old enough to have a 12 yeard old child? I mean, even if he himself IS old enough, he certainly doesn't LOOK old enough onstage.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 1:02pm

Stop making this show more appealing! No fair.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 7:40am

Two brilliant, brilliant actors - but talk about miscasting!!!!!
But still certainly worth seeing.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 1:05pm

Does anyone know when the opening night is for George Street's FALSETTOS? Are some early performances considered previews, or is the first performance just considered opening night?

Edit: I found out. April 10th, 11th, and 12th are previews. Opening Night is April 13th.

Updated On: 3/6/07 at 01:05 PM

[bjivie2]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:32pm

Liz Larsen is Trina. Thoughts?

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 5:15pm

The George Street mounting of Falsettos...

OK, sometimes I'm sooooo much closer to 14 than 43 so I couldn't help snorting coffee out my nose...

That said, this is one of my favorite musicals. It will be hard to think of anyone but Stephen Bogardus as Whizzer and Chip Zien as Mendel, though. It's another show I saw several times and thought it got better and better. I'll have to see if I can catch the George Street, er, um, mounting .

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 5:42pm

Liz Larson is almost twenty years older than Max Von Essen and Colin Hanlon. I don't understand her casting unless they are going to change the script to say Marvin had an affair with his high school principal.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 5:45pm

Casting is now complete for the George Street Playhouse's upcoming production of the award-winning William Finn musical Falsettos.

Michael Winther, whose Broadway credits include Mamma Mia! and 1776, will head the cast as Marvin. Winther replaces the previously announced Max von Essen, who has departed the production due to scheduling conflicts. Anne L. Nathan, who was part of the original cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie, has also joined the company; she will play Dr. Charlotte.

Winther and Nathan will join Colin Hanlon as Whizzer, Liz Larsen as Trina, Mark Nelson as Mendel, Malcolm Morano as Jason and Sarah Litzsinger as kosher caterer Cordelia.
Winther Replaces von Essen in George Street's Falsettos; Nathan Joins Cast