Stage to PageTHEIR FAVORITE THINGS: Tony Winner and Heathers Star Anthony Crivello Shares His Theatregoing ExperiencesPlaybill.com's feature series Their Favorite Things asks members of the theatre community to share the Broadway performances that most affected them as part of the audience.
This week we spotlight the choices of Tony-winning singing actor Anthony Crivello, who currently stars in Heathers: The Musical at Off-Broadway's New World Stages.
By
Andrew Gans
June 25, 2014
Anthony Crivello
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
(Clicking on a name bolded in blue will take readers to that actor or show's entry in the Playbill Vault.)
American Buffalo
"
Al Pacino, J.J. Johnston and
James Hayden. Wonderful chemistry amongst the actors in director
Arvin Brown's crackling production. Frank Rich of the NY Times stated: 'Instead of a big story and torrents of grand prose, Mr. Mamet's play provides only an inconsequential anecdote and declarative sentences of one-syllable words. Yet by the time
American Buffalo is over, it, too, has pounded away at the American dream of success until it is left in soiled, hideous tatters.' Sadly, a week after I saw it, James Hayden tragically passed away, life imitating art."
"With a cast that included
Kevin Conway,
Ron Eldard,
Penelope Ann Miller,
David Morse,
James Gandolfini,
George N. Martin, Brad Sullivan … of Budd Shulberg's magnificent 1954 adapted screenplay, how could you go wrong? Several shifts in directors led to a run of 16 previews and 8 performances… showing me how one missing cog makes for 'a short shelf life' in what should have been a longer run. Perhaps one day, it will live on Broadway again. Were that
Elia Kazan was still alive!"
"The Broadway production, directed by
Gordon Davidson, at the Longacre Theatre. The cast included
Phyllis Frelich as Sarah and
John Rubinstein as James. I was extremely moved, mesmerized by the work of those two actors. The commitment, the detail… of the artists."
"I have to include this play — which played Off-Broadway but should have been 'On.'
Extremities by William Mastrosimone was performed in 1982 at the Westside Theatre in New York. James Russo was riveting on-stage. I remember women gasping... both memorized and terrified by his performance — not unlike Brando as 'Stanley.'
Karen Allen was wonderful!"
"I'll never forget when the main curtain was raised in the Brooks Atkinson Theater... being blasted by a wall of cold air… thus being 'physically' transported to a side of a glorious K2 mountain designed by the brilliant
Ming Cho Lee, in Terry Schrieber's (pictured)wonderfully staged Broadway production of the Patrick Meyers play, staring Jay Patterson and Jeffrey DeMunn."
“Original Broadway production with knock-out performances by
Patti LuPone starring as Eva,
Mandy Patinkin as Che,
Bob Gunton as Perón, Mark Syers as Magaldi, and
Jane Ohringer as Peron's mistress. The incomparable Harold Prince directed with brilliant choreography by
Larry Fuller — never forget that overture with the movie screen ascending, those live torches during 'A New Argentina' … those dancing aristocrats and generals circling each other!”
"I met a young, skinny choreographer named
Michael Peters who was staying with my friend John David Wilder. In conversation, Michael stated he was working on a new project entitled 'Project #9' … about 'The Supremes.' Two years later, they were on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre directed by
Michael Bennett, and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. It starred
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones,
Jennifer Holliday as Effie White,
Loretta Devine as Lorrell Robinson,
Ben Harney as Curtis Taylor, Jr.,
Cleavant Derricks as James 'Thunder' Early, and Obba Babatundé as C. C. White. It proved to be a star-making vehicle for several of its performers, particularly Holliday, whose performance as Effie received 'over-the-top' praise. And Michael went on to a wonderful career, sadly cut short by the AIDS epidemic."
"I saw the replacement company at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. Still magnificent. The 'Images' of the Horse, the artistry on stage and 'stage magic' involved in the puppetry, incomparable and lost on film — the depth of feeling, the company singing 'LIVE'… rips at your heart."
"At the Uris Theatre, directed by
Hal Prince and choreographed by Larry Fuller.
Angela Lansbury was perfection –
Len Cariou a ball of manic, terrifying talent. His silence as powerful as his roar. And let’s not forget
Victor Garber,
Sarah Rice,
Merle Louise, Ken Jennings, Edmund Lyndeck, Joaquin Romaguera, Jack Eric Williams...plus an incredible design team… it came as no surprise when those nine Tony Award nominations rolled in, followed by eight wins including Best Musical. And that Hal Prince-designed 'factory whistle' blast to start it all!!?? What can you say? Prince is an 'Icon of Theater.' He is 'The Prince.'"
"Is Bill Irwin a 'theater treasure' or what? The two-man show developed by the incomparable Irwin and clown/artiste Davis Shiner... featuring the music of the Red Clay Ramblers. It played at the Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway. 'THE NEW AGE CLOWNS'… brilliantly delivered. I LOVE to LAUGH!'"
"I saw it twice – Off-Broadway and On Broadway!! Two 'Tour-de-Force' magnificent productions: First time — by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, with then fairly unknown actors Gary Sinise (who also directed) and
John Malkovich playing the leads. It made a big splash when it transferred to New York, where it opened Off-Broadway at Cherry Lane Theatre, and was so successful that a television recording (featuring Sinise and Malkovich) aired on PBS. The second time was with my acting teacher Tony Greco, who was also
Philip Seymour Hoffman's teacher. In 2000, Philip Seymour Hoffman and
John C. Reilly played the leads on Broadway, where they switched parts every so often during the run. They solicited to share a single joint Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play for the production, but were instead each deservedly nominated individually. Wonderful actors each!"
"As the story goes, attorney Fanny Holtzmann was looking for a part for her client–
Gertrude Lawrence–in 1950, and realized that Landon's book would provide an ideal vehicle. She made the pitch to Rodgers and Hammerstein, who although initially reluctant, agreed to write the musical. It’s said their first choice to play the supporting part of the King was
Rex Harrison–who had played the role in the 1946 film based on Landon's book–but he was unavailable, so they settled on the young actor and television director
Yul Brynner. I saw the revival one-and-a-half years before Mr Brynner's death. Prior to curtain, an announcement was made that 'Mr. Brynner was not feeling well this evening' (to which the audience growned) … 'But despite that, he would be performing.' The crowd went crazy, and it made for a glourius night in the theater. Thank God Mr. Harrison was unavailable indeed. Mr. Brynner WAS the 'King of Siam.'"
