Stage to PageZoolander‘s Nathan Lee Graham Shares His Favorite Theatregoing ExperiencesWhich production was "earth shattering" for the Grammy-winning artist?
By
Andrew Gans
April 20, 2016
Nathan Lee Graham
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
It's a busy time for Nathan Lee Graham, the singing actor whose Broadway credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Wild Party. Not only can Graham be seen in the new film Zoolander 2, but he will also be part of concert evenings on both coasts: April 21 in You Oughta Be In Pictures at Hollywood's Catalina Bar & Grill and May 6 in Going Gaga for Gershwin! at New York’s Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York. Here, the Grammy-winning artist shares the performances that most affected him as part of the audience.
Six Degrees of Separation at the Mitzi E. Newhouse
Stockard Channing, John Cunningham, Stephen Pearlman, Peter Maloney and Kelly Bishop in Six Degrees of Separation
I was running late, and I sat in my seat just as the house lights went down... when the show was over, I realized that I never took off my coat nor did I move from the edge of my seat...it was stupendous!
A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre
Robert Lupone and Donna McKechnie in A Chorus LineMartha Swope
I saw this show in 1983. Choreography. Score. I understood the comedy/tragedy mask for the first time...the duality of things you see?
Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk at the Ambassador Theatre
A Scene from Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk
George C. Wolfe letting us have it! Sheer genius from these incredible artists! From the rooter to the tooter!!
Angels in America at the Walter Kerr Theatre
Stephen Spinella, David Marshall Grant, Marcia Gay Harden and Joe Mantello in Angels in America: Millenium ApproachesPhoto by Joan Marcus
What is there to say?? An absolute seminal moment. The whole concept of time stopped for me...for days.
Crazy for You at the Shubert Theatre
The cast of Crazy for YouJoan Marcus
Absolutely seamless. A perfect musical comedy. Bravo Susan Stroman!
The Normal Heart, 2011 revival at the John Golden Theatre
Cast of The Normal HeartJoan Marcus
I left the theatre thinking to myself..."I've never been in love."
Earth shattering.
Sunday in the Park with George, the original and the 2008 revival at the Booth/Studio 54
So, for me, any Sondheim score is the best. "Children and Art" — need I say more?
Grand Hotel at the Martin Beck Theatre
Michael Jeter and Rex Smith in Grand HotelMartha Swope/ The New York Public Library
Tommy Tune, please direct another musical! I simply cannot get the images of this piece out of my head! "We'll Take A Glass Together"!
Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Broadhurst Theatre
Brent Carver, Chita Rivera and Anthony Crivello in Kiss Of The SpiderwomanMartha Swope
Kander and Ebb, Kander and Ebb, come on, say it with me...brilliant ...again!
And, I have one additional word: "CHITA"!
Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
Carleigh Bettiol, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and Anthony Ramos in HamiltonJoan Marcus
You want to know what I love most about this "being" that is Hamilton? It's the fact that it is traditional musical theatre at its absolute best.
Bonus:
I remember going to an AmFar event at Alice Tully Hall, I believe in 1998?? They did Sweet Charity with...get this… ALL of the women who ever played Charity… it was an incredible, magical evening on all fronts!! I remember after the show I saw Gwen Verdon sneak pass the crowd, while everyone was rushing from one famous so-and-so to the next. And, the fabulous Ms. Verdon slung her dance bag over her shoulder and walked away towards Broadway...literally and figuratively. That was the last time I saw her. Bliss.
