NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Chaplin With Wayne Alan WilcoxWayne Alan Wilcox, who co-stars as older brother Sydney in the new Broadway musical Chaplin, takes Playbill.com behind the scenes during a busy two-show day at the Barrymore Theatre.
By
Matthew Blank
December 04, 2012
Armed with digital camera, Wilcox shares his morning rituals, shows off some favorite neighborhood haunts and invites readers into the theatre as he works, plays and kisses his way through the backstage world of the show.
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Throwback! Three Years After Opening, a Backstage Tour of Broadway's Chaplin With Wayne Alan Wilcox
Throwback! Three Years After Opening, a Backstage Tour of Broadway's Chaplin With Wayne Alan Wilcox
Wayne Alan Wilcox, who co-stars as older brother Sydney in the new Broadway musical Chaplin, takes Playbill.com behind the scenes during a busy two-show day at the Barrymore Theatre. The show opened Sept. 10, 2012.
75 PHOTOS
Top of the Morning! During the week, I am usually awoken by my private string quartet softly playing a Bach Suite, and of course my footmen attend me. But I gave them the day off today and decided to take the train to the gym. First a coffee stop!
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Mmmmmmm, coffee and music. And a weird close up of my nose.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Well, good morning NYC.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
For the tourists and my fans outside of NYC ( hi and I love you), this is Chelsea Market. En route to the gym, I’ll take you to a few of my favorite spots inside.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
When I said I was going to the gym, I meant going to wine. It’s 9 AM and I want wine. What’s wrong with me?
Coolest wishing well you’ll ever see is right in the middle of Chelsea Market. I recommend throwing as many pennies in here as humanly possible.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Buon Italia is an all-Italian, straight from Italy market. Some of the best olive oil I get from here. And all the ladies treat me like I’m their son. Who doesn’t eat enough Lasagna. They say, “Look-a how e-skinny you are-ah!”
Wayne Alan Wilcox
See, I wasn’t lying about the time. Oy. It’s the early worm that gets to the bush with two birds in it. Or something like that.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Cool light floors and a face. Look at how stooopid I am.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Look at that. That’s there! That thing I’m looking at is right there. What it is?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Leftover Halloween craftsmanship.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Dripping piano, anyone?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
We made it to the gym. Let’s do it. It’s 9:15. You’re welcome, America.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Some of the machines at the gym look like torture devices. Avoid them.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Honey badger don’t care, he wears mismatched socks to abs class.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
This is Kristi Molinaro, fitness godess and creator of 30/60/90, which is a gym class that will kick yo butt. You’re gonna sweat, trust.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I’m meeting some friends for brunch at COOKSHOP, a spot in Chelsea I used to work in. I’ve poured more glasses of wine and made more drinks here than anyone. Ever.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Brunch is crazy out of focus. But apparently really happy. PS, I’m drinking water. I have two shows today. I’m jealous of the bloody mary, tho.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Brunch is gooood here.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
It’s 1pm now, and I’m almost to work. I love my job.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Just press the button and you’re in.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Silence is golden. Who wrote that? I’ll give you twenty pesos if you said The Four Seasons.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
When your last name starts with a W, you’re always on the bottom of the call sheet. I was always called last in school.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Extreme close up of our Stage Manager, Kim Vernace.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
We’re raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS this week. All these signed playbills are gonna go in a handy plastic sleeve and go for 20 bucks a pop. Just doing our part for charity folks.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Let’s see how many people I can kiss backstage before it appears awkward. So far, 1. Rico, one of our stage managers.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Home, sweet Home. My dressing room.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
A Charlie pillow I got from my dear friends Barry and Buzz for opening night. I sit on his face. Is that weird?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Some of my research for Sydney. And Charlie, and the world of our little “shew”
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Broadway musical survival kit.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I think I have too much time on my hands.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Maureen and Dora, two of our esteemed dressers. They’re in love with me.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
So is Emily Tyra.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Shhh. This is my secret warm-up place in the house. Nobody knows it’s me warming up in here. Even though they can all hear me and totally know it’s me in here.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
It’s almost time to let the people into the theater. Soon gonna be a full house.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
And here’s a light fixture. It’s in the theater, so I think it’s relavent. Right?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Full on smooching Sandy, Rob’s esteemed dresser. She’s a great kisser.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Goofing off with Ethan and Zack and Zack’s brother, Noah.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Cinematic grey scale movie make-up time. Step 1
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Step 2. PS: what is that expression? Like, what’s going on with my lips in this one?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Step 3. And smile.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Step 4. The lips. And, again Wayne, what’s up with that face?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Almost there. Almost time to go say hi to the band.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I call this: Priorities.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Jenn Colella and I have a dinner date after the matinee.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Again: Priorities.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Jim, my esteemed dresser, won’t let me kiss him. But he will put my mic tape on my back.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I’m trying to bring back the saucer.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
It’s THE BAND!! What up, pups!
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Stephanie, in our esteemed sound dept. goes full tongue on me.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Ian Liberto and Sarah O’Gleby really enjoy each other’s company, while Rico decides if he should call Human Resources. Again.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Right before places. A brothers' moment before the controlled chaos ensues.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
This is how many Ricola lozenges I went through at the matinee. Just me.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
It’s Erin Mackey with Steven, of our esteemed hair/make up dept.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
This is our Saturday Intermission Picture. Follow us @ChaplinBway, and look for #SIP to see them all.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
NYU students came to the matinee. And they know that every good audience member brings flowers. Or, they know that I just like presents.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Yay, fans. I wanna take a picture of YOU GUYS!!
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Jenn and I are going to skip to dinner now. See you there.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
My favorite restaurant in midtown. It’s becoming my CHEERS, where everybody knows my name.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I got Jenn to let me kiss her. Well, her hair. It’s tasty.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Back at the theater after dinner, I take a quick nap, with Charlie Chaplin. Odd?
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I get one from Ian.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
More stage managers. They’re multiplying.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Hayley Podschun!
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Walking to places for the second “shew”
Wayne Alan Wilcox
In the wings, right before the downbeat to start the shindig.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
I got Erin Mackey to kiss me!!
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Double tongue from Jenn Colella and Hayley Podschun!
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Michael Mendez, Tim Hughes and Hayley
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Okay, so I can’t tell you why Steph is smiling. All I can say it’s part of mine and Jenn Colella’s track. We have to do it.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
A tiny break before I go back on for the end of the second show.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
Total for the day. Yikes. Just me.
Wayne Alan Wilcox
And now. It comes off….
Wayne Alan Wilcox
one layer at a time…
Wayne Alan Wilcox
And I’m back!! That’s my 2-show day! I’m going to a birthday party tonight, and then home to bed cause I’ll come back to tomorrow for the last show of the week. Peace out, everybody.
The musical, which officially opened at Broadway's Barrymore Theatre Sept. 10, stars critically acclaimed Barrymore Award winner Rob McClure in the title role. Performances continue through Jan. 6, 2013.
McClure, who previously starred on Broadway in Avenue Q, originated the role of Chaplin in 2010 at La Jolla Playhouse, where the musical received its world premiere under the title of Limelight; that staging received Craig Noel Awards for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (McClure) and Outstanding New Musical.
Chaplin features music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis, a relative unknown who played piano at Chez Josephine in the midtown theatre district, and a book by three-time Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Curtis. Bryan Perri is the musical director, and orchestrations are by Larry Hochman. Jonathan Tunick and Michael Starobin provide additional orchestrations with vocal arrangements by Bryan Perri and dance arrangements by Perri and Curtis.
Drama Desk nominee Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow; Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway), choreographer of the out-of-town tryout, returned as director and choreographer for Chaplin's Broadway bow.
Joining McClure in Chaplin are Jim Borstelmann (The Addams Family, Young Frankenstein) as Alf Reeves, Chaplin's longtime friend and production manager; Jenn Colella (High Fidelity, Urban Cowboy) as Hedda Hopper, a powerful gossip columnist determined to bring down the Little Tramp; Erin Mackey (Anything Goes, Wicked) as the young Oona O'Neill, Chaplin's last wife; Michael McCormick (Elf, Curtains) as producer Sennett, McGranery/Emcee; Tony Award nominee Christiane Noll (Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde) as Chaplin's mother, Hannah, who appears through a series of flashbacks; Zachary Unger (Encores! Merrily We Roll Along) as Young Charlie/Jackie; and Wayne Alan Wilcox (The Normal Heart) as older brother Sydney Chaplin.
Rounding out the ensemble are Justin Bowen, Emilee Dupré, Sara Edwards, Leslie Donna Flesner, Lisa Gajda, Timothy Hughes, Ethan Khusidman, Ian Liberto, Renée Marino, Michael Mendez, Sarah O'Gleby, Hayley Podschun, Adam Rogers, William Ryall, Eric Santagata and Emily Tyra.
Here's how producers characterize the new musical: "From the slums of London to the heights of Hollywood, Chaplin is the showbiz Broadway musical about the silent film legend the world couldn't stop talking about — Charlie Chaplin. The brand new 24-person musical reveals the man behind the legend, the undeniable genius that forever changed the way America went to the movies."
The creative team members paint the two-act musical in shades of black, grey and white. They are scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designers Amy Clark and Martin Pakledinaz, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designers Scott Lehrer and Drew Levy and projection designer Jon Driscoll. (There is a generous use of film in the production, often featuring McClure as the Little Tramp, including recreations of famous Chaplin movie moments.)
Chaplin is produced on Broadway by the Rich Entertainment Group, Roy Gabay, and John and Claire Caudwell, the Viertel Routh Frankel Baruch Group, Chunsoo Shin/Waxman-Dokton and Broadway Across America.
The Barrymore Theatre is located at 243 W. 47th Street. Tickets, which range in price from $66.50 to $135.50, can be purchased through Telecharge or by calling (212) 239-6200.
