Broadway Boys: Mr. April 2011: Charlie Williams

WARNING: SOME PHOTOS BELOW MAY NOT BE WORK SAFE!

Mr. Broadway April 2011:

Charlie Williams

WHY HE'S MR. APRIL: Frequent visitors to this blog might be asking the more obvious question: why wasn't he Mr. Broadway sooner?  Well, as my followers know, Charlie Williams has been a favorite of mine since I saw him in Memphis.  But the Mr. Broadway for that show went to its star, Chad Kimball, and so it has taken Charlie's run in that show, along with a trip out west to premiere Leap of Faith, and finally a return to Broadway in the sizzling hot revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying  in order to be eligible for the honor again.  Of course, I'm sure I'd have named him this month anyway had I never seen him before.  That's just how great he is in this show.  What a dancer!  What an actor - yes, the ensemble acts!  And what a great, charming smile.  Then there is his kind, giving heart.  His Broadway castmates refer to him as "Charity Charlie," so often does he participate in charity events.  Who could forget his sexy turn in Broadway Bares XX: Strip-opoly?  Or the related photo shoots?  Or his being named Mr. Broadway 2010 in last year's Broadway Beauty Pageant.  The guy has it all - talent, good looks and sincerity. 

INFO:

• Currently appearing in: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as Mr. Jenkins and u/s for Bud Frump.  He is also an assistant choreographer on the show.
• Birthdate: He's 23... as of March 30th!
• Other credits: Broadway debut in Memphis; nominated for an Astaire Award for his work in Memphis; appeared in The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular; regional/pre-Broadway Leap of Faith
• Website: http://www.iamcharliewilliams.com/
• Look for him here: www.HowToSucceedBroadway.com or here http://www.afterelton.com/people/2010/05/charlie-williams-memphis or at http://www.broadwaybares.com/

PHOTOS:

Headshots

 Memphis

(Top to Bottom)

Dancing in Memphis; Celebrating performance number 200;

Enjoying a slice of Memphis-inspired pizza with castmates

 Mr. Broadway 2010

4th Annual Broadway Beauty Pageant

(Top to Bottom)

PR Shot; Talent; Swimsuit

The crowning!

Sex and Silly Sell:

Fun Photo Shoots

 

Serious Photoshoots

Broadway Bares XX: Strip-opoly

Poster Boy

The Broadway Bares/Next Magazine

Photo Shoot

No matter what the angle, this bellboy

can move!

Leap of Faith

Charlie is second from the left

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

"How To..": Charlie is to the right of Daniel Radcliffe,

in the front of the two rows of dancers

VIDEO:
Mr. Broadway 2010 Competition

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Charlie is featured in "How to Succeed," "Coffee Break, " "The Company Way," and "The Brotherhood of Man."


Who would YOU like to see as Mr. or Ms. Broadway in the coming months?  Leave your suggestion here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff

2.213

On the Radar: Leap of Faith

I've never seen the Steve Martin - Debra Winger movie, but from what I've read about the plot and characters, Leap of Faith seems like a natural for the drama of live theatre and seems ripe for natural places to put in musical numbers.

The story of a traveling evangelist/flim-flam man, Reverend Jonas Nightengale (Raul Esparza) who, along with his sister/sidekick, Sam (Kendra Kassebaum), makes a stop in a small mid-western town.  There, he is challenged in everything he believes in by Marva (Brooke Shields), a waitress and struggling single mother.

The Stars: Raul Esparza, Brooke Shields,

Kendra Kassebaum and Jarrod Emick 

The show is written by Janus Cercone, who wrote the screenplay, and Glenn Slater, who also contributes lyrics to Alan Menken's (Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) score.  Menken and Slater last collaborated on The Little Mermaid.

The Writers: Alan Menken and Glenn Slater

The potent combination of religion vs ethics, the poor looking for something to believe in again, and a villain who undergoes a metamorphosis really appeals to me.  I am hoping that that the show will have several strong themes and won't be afraid to address them, rather than sugar-coat the issues. 

Headlined by  Esparza (Company, Taboo), Shields (Grease!, Cabaret, Wonderful Town) and Kassebaum (Wicked), the show co-stars Jarrod Emick (Tony-winner, Damn Yankees, The Boy from Oz), Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone), Nicholas Barasch (West Side Story) and newcomer Leslie Odom, Jr. 

The ensemble is also full of Broadway veterans and newcomers: Brad Anderson (A Chorus Line), Bradley Benjamin, Tom Berklund (Broadway Bares 19.0), Christopher Bones, Krystal Joy Brown, Ta'Rea Campbell (The Lion King), Eric L. Christian (Cry-Baby, South Pacific), Michelle Duffy, Harvey Evans (Anyone Can Whistle, Sunset Boulevard) , Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, Jennie Ford (All Shook Up, Dance of the Vampires), Bob Gaynor (Taboo, AIDA), Angela Grovey, Shannon Lewis (Fosse, Curtains), Michael X. Martin (Curtains, Ragtime), Maurice Murphy (Spelling Bee), Anise E. Ritchie, Darcie Roberts (Curtains, AIDA), Bryce Ryness (Hair, Legally Blonde), Ariel Shepley, C.E. Smith (The Full Monty), Alex Michael Stoll, Dennis Stowe (Shrek, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Katherine Tokarz (Rock of Ages, White Christmas), Brandon Wardell (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Assassins), Karl Warden, Natalie Willes (Saturday Night Fever) and Charlie Williams (Broadway Bares 20, Memphis).

The Director/Choreographer:

Rob Ashford

Considering the pedigree of the creative staff - the show will be directed and choreographed by Promises, Promises' Rob Ashford - and the top notch cast, this seems to really be pushing for Broadway.  Let's hope it goes the way of Hairspray, and not the way of The First Wives Club!

The world premiere will run at L.A.'s Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, September 11 - October 24, with opening night scheduled for October 3.

Comments?  Leave one here or email me at jkstheatrecene@yahoo.com.
Jeff