Smash and Addams Family Star Wesley Taylor Shares His Theatregoing Experiences | Playbill

Stage to Page Smash and Addams Family Star Wesley Taylor Shares His Theatregoing Experiences The actor—who made his Broadway debut in Rock of Ages—picks his most memorable nights at the theatre.
Wesley Taylor Eric McNatt

Christian Borle in Peter and the Starcatcher

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Christian Borle in Peter and the Starcatcher

"Comedy is in his blood. The thing about Christian is no matter how good of an actor he may be, he is also this incredible performer. This was such a high-voltage performance, and I ate it up with a spoon."

Laura Benanti in Gypsy

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Laura Benanti in Gypsy. Joan Marcus

"I can't get enough of this broad. I've always thought she was a total star."

Nathan Lane in Waiting for Godot

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Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane in Waiting for Godot Joan Marcus

"I had just been cast in The Addams Family, and at the time Nathan was doing some sensible, existential Beckett. I'm not usually one for intellectual masturbation, but damn...he is the most brilliant clown. I would go see Nathan read the phone book."

Laura Linney in The Crucible

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Liam Neeson, Brian Murray and Laura Linney in The Crucible Photo by Joan Marcus

"She's one of those actors that can be so hardened and at the same time very vulnerable. I was 14 years old when I saw this play, and my dad was asleep next to me...(expensive nap)."

Denis O'Hare in Take Me Out

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Denis O'Hare and Daniel Sunjata in Take Me Out. Joan Marcus

"I was craaaaaazy about this play, and not just because there were beautiful men taking showers with each other on stage. Denis floored me in this show. He was incredibly funny but also so rooted to the ground. I used his speech about democracy and baseball as a monologue in high school."

Bernadette Peters in Gypsy

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Bernadette Peters in Gypsy. Joan Marcus

"Yeah... I picked one, so what? Bernadette is a great American treasure. I was 16, and she gave me a kiss on my cheek at the stage door. A couple months ago, I brought the photo to the set of Smash and showed her. That was fun."

Mark Rylance in Boeing-Boeing

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Mark Rylance in Boeing-Boeing Joan Marcus

"Rylance is the real thing. I don't even want to articulate it. I saw this with Lauren Molina, and we laughed till we cried."

Mark Rylance in Jerusalem

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Mark Rylance in Jerusalem Simon Annand

"C'mon. He's like the Daniel-Day of the stage."

Robin De Jesus in In the Heights

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Robin De Jesus, Karen Olivo and Lin-Manuel Miranda in In the Heights Joan Marcus

"That kid didn't miss a single opportunity. Perfect example of taking a small part (with NO song!) and running away with a show."

Norbert Leo Butz in Catch Me If You Can

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Norbert Leo Butz in Catch Me If You Can Joan Marcus

"This man can do no wrong. I feel like growing up I learned how to sing/tell a story through song by listening and watching Norbert. He was who I aspired to be. I'm still trying to be his friend...which is probably why we're not really friends."

Joe Mantello in Angels in America

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Joe Mantello and Stephen Spinella in Angels in America

"Before he was a director, this man was acting circles around most. I watched an archive of this, not the real thing...but was knocked over, nonetheless. Broke my heart with a generally unlikable character."

Brenda Blethyn and Edie Falco in 'night, Mother

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Edie Falco and Brenda Blethyn in 'night, Mother Joan Marcus

"OMG. These two were so hilarious in this (kidding...suicide isn't funny, except when it is). But seriously they wrecked me in this, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks after.

 
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