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.
The George Street production 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.
Colin Hanlon has been seen on Broadway in Rent and Off-Broadway in I Love You Because and The Pirates of Penzance. He starred in the George Street productions of The Last Five Years and tick, tick . . . BOOM!, and he has also performed at Syracuse Stage and the Prince Music Theatre. Hanlon was also involved in the workshops of Wicked, Taboo and Fanny Hill.
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 (732) 246-7717. For more information visit www.GSPonline.org.