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Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

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#1

Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:14pm

I know he did his stand-up special on Broadway. Does anyone know if he has ever done any professional theatre?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#2

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:19pm

Not much since grad school. He went to Julliard where he studied under John Houseman for years, doing classical to contemporary work in rep. In the 80s, he did an acclaimed production of WAITING FOR GODOT directed by Mike Nichols with Steve Martin, Bill Irwin and F Murray Abraham. He's been flirting with coming back for years, if he can find the right role.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 12:19 PM

#3

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:20pm

well, he is classicly trained from Julliard, and he has done "mock monologues" in his stand up routines. I would love to see him perform in a live play and take on a very challenging Shakesperian role. I guess the film industry got him pretty young, and that is where he stayed.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 12:20 PM

#4

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:22pm

did anyone get to see him in that production of "Godot"

it must have been a wonderful night at the theatre.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
#6

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:29pm

If the definition of Theater extends to Improv performances then he's done a lot. Before he got famous he was an Improv star in LA - he had a huge following. He was plucked from the Improv ranks to star in Mork and Mindy and never looked back.
Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!
#7

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:32pm

"I would love to see him perform in a live play and take on a very challenging Shakesperian role."

Remember his faux Shakespearian bit,Pippin?
"Hark! The moon, like a testicle, hangs low in the sky!"

Godot was one of the most amazing theatre experiences I have ever had. An incredible amount of talent on one little stage. The usually silent Bill Irwin doing Lucky's famous monologue, the very excellent F Murray Abraham (where is he these days?), and of course, the truly incredible comic timing of Williams and Martin.

Still ringing in my ears..."Crrrritic!"

An inspired and magic evening.
#8

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:36pm

The producers of "Spamalot" (and Mike Nichols) attempted to get him to fill in for Hank Azaria as Lancelot when he temproarily left to do his tv series, and supposedly he actually considered it, but eventually decided against it in order to do a movie.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 12:36 PM

#9

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:39pm

"lo, my words, like feces, fall upon the ground"

now that's comedy.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
#10

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:36pm

In PBS broadcasting of "Bill Irwin, the clown prince", there are some clips of Lincoln center's "Godot".
#11

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:46pm

Considering how Lincoln Center had to resort to a lottery system to sell tickets to Godot, and considering how popular the show was, why didn't they broadcast it or film it?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 01:46 PM

#12

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:07pm

He'd be a great Banjo in THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER...although he only appears in one act.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#14

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:28pm

He briefly attended an acting conservatory in my home town, but he got kicked out for smoking pot, or at least that was the rumor when I was doing shows there as a kid.
#15

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:29pm

He's done drugs!!!!!!??????
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
#16

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:16am

i actually acting with robin in a batch of shows in california in his youth...always was a funny guy.
#17

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/22/06 at 8:17am

I seem to remember he was in a televised production of TAMING OF THE SHREW, playing one of the minor roles. Also in the cast was Tom Hanks. This was in the early 70s. The show was done in the style of the commedia dell arte, so there was a lot of slapstick. Petruchio was played by Marc Singer, best known of course as The Beastmaster.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#18

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/22/06 at 11:34am

Robin Williams was a funny guy? Get out of town. You must really know him well.
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
#19

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/22/06 at 11:56am

i actually acting with robin in a batch of shows in california in his youth...always was a funny guy.


This sentence isn't very gramatically sound, therefore it doesn't seem viable...

--

I'd love to see him do theatre, after being trained at Juliard he must be a talented stage actor. One day...
#20

re: Has Robin Williams done any theatre?

Posted: 7/22/06 at 2:19pm

I saw him in Godot. It was a great production and he shockingly stuck to the script! (for the most part...)
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

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