Stage to PageDear Evan Hansen Star Taylor Trensch’s 10 Most Memorable Theatregoing ExperiencesJeremy Shamos, Zainab Jah, and Amy Morton are among Trensch’s picks.
By
Andrew Gans
August 22, 2018
Taylor Trensch
Matthew Murphy
In February, Taylor Trensch, who made his Broadway debut in the long-running hit Wicked, segued from one Tony-winning production to another. The young actor, who created the role of Barnaby Tucker in the Bette Midler-led revival of Jerry Herman’s Hello, Dolly!, stepped into the title role of the Tony-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen at the Music Box Theatre. The multitalented artist, who brings a devilish charm to all his roles, has been playing to sold-out crowds ever since.
We recently asked Trensch, also seen on Broadway in Matilda the Musical and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, to pen a list of his favorite theatregoing experiences.
The cast of Circle Mirror Transformation
Tracee Chimo, Deirdre O'Connell, Heidi Schreck, Reed Birney, and Peter Friedman in Circle Mirror Transformation Joan Marcus
I am eternally in awe of these five geniuses and try my darnedest to see everything they do.
The cast of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Alex Sharp in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeJoan Marcus
This mind-bendingly talented ensemble of actors made the absolute hardest work look entirely effortless.
Chris Myers in Whorl Inside a Loop
Donald Webber, Jr., Chris Myers, Derrick Baskin, Daniel J. Watts, Nicholas Christopher, and Ryan Quinn in Whorl Inside a LoopJoan Marcus
He made me cry so hard, the seats on either side of mine started to visibly shake.
Lucy Taylor in Dance Nation
Purva Bedi, Lucy Taylor, and Camila Canó-Flaviá
Joan Marcus
The set, the other audience members, time, and space... it all seemed to float away during her hilarious and terrifying and totally brilliant speech.
Jeremy Shamos in Clybourne Park
Christina Kirk, Jeremy Shamos, Annie Parisse, Brendan Griffin, Damon Gupton, and Crystal A. Dickinson in Clybourne ParkJoan Marcus
His dual roles were as compelling and thrilling as they were small-minded and weaselly.
Zainab Jah in Eclipsed
Lupita Nyong'o and Zainab Jah in EclispsedJoan Marcus
If I could “Freaky Friday” with anyone, I would choose Zainab Jah so I could feel what it’s like to be unsurpassably powerful even (or, perhaps, especially) in moments of quiet stillness.
Amy Morton in August: Osage County
Jeff Perry and Amy Morton in August: Osage County
Her performance in this play should be on everyone’s list!
Timothée Chalamet in Prodigal Son
Chris McGarry and Timothée Chalamet
Joan Marcus
There seemed to be no space between character and actor... I believed every single word that came out of his mouth.
Amber Gray, Grace McLean, and Gelsey Bell of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Josh Groban and the Cast
Chad Batka
I loved everyone on that stage, but the singular voices of these three fearless, idiosyncratic superstars will stick with me forevz.
Celia Keenan-Bolger in A Parallelogram, The Glass Menagerie, The Oldest Boy, Peter and the Starcatcher, A Small Fire, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, etc.
Celia Keenan-Bolger and Brian J. Smith in The Glass MenagerieMichael J. Lutch
She expertly balances fragility with strength, humor with pathos, simplicity with layered detail... She is my acting hero.