Get a 1st Look at Ethan Slater in Marcel on the Train Off-Broadway

Written by Slater and Marshall Pailet, the Classic Stage Company production sees the Wicked film star taking on world-famous mime Marcel Marceau.

February 18, 2026 By Logan Culwell-Block, Andrew Gans

Ethan Slater in *Marcel on the Train* (Emilio Madrid)

Here's your first look at Classic Stage Company's world premiere of Ethan Slater and Marshall Pailet's Marcel on the Train. The new work began previews February 5 at the Off-Broadway company, with opening night set for February 22. The extended run continues through March 22.

Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants, Wicked films) leads the cast as world-famous mime Marcel Marceau with Maddie Corman (Accidentally Brave), Max Gordon Moore (Tammy Faye), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), Alex Wyse (Good Night, Oscar), and Tedra Millan (Leopoldstadt) as Berthe plus understudies Harrison Bryan (A Patron of the Arts), Rora Brodwin (A Modest Proposal), and Josh Odsess-Rubin (Miracle on 55th Street). Pailet also directs.

Slater will not appear in Marcel on the Train February 24–25 and March 1. The role of Marcel is understudied by Bryan.

Video: Ethan Slater Was Inspired to Write Marcel on the Train After Googling 'Charlie Chaplin Jewish'

Photos: Marcel on the Train at Classic Stage Company

The work follows Marceau in the years before his worldwide fame, during his time in World War II-era French resistance saving Jewish children from the Nazis. The play received a developmental workshop at Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2024.

The production also features set design by Scott Davis, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Studio Luna, and sound design by Jill BC DuBoff. Casting is by Geoff Josselson.

Marcel on the Train is presented by special arrangement with Mix and Match Productions' Maxwell Beer and Mitch Marois.

Visit ClassicStage.org.