Ready…Set…BROADWAY!

Well, last week was a bit wild…

I’ve been in the lovely Hudson Valley region of New York, rehearsing for Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s upcoming season (about which soon). But last Tuesday, I received an unexpected email from my agent: the Broadway company of Aladdin wanted to know if I was available to step in for the week and provide coverage as a standby for the role of Jafar. Immediately.

Now, Jafar is a role that I performed on tour for close to 2 years, but that touring production closed a year ago. I would have some brushing-up to do! However, this is the sort of challenge and thrill that I live for as an actor, and a show and role that I absolutely love. I HAD to do this.

After receiving the email, I finished up my rehearsal day in the Hudson Valley, hopped on a train, and was at the New Amsterdam Theatre by intermission. Fortunately, the show and all of the lines were still in my brain and in my body, and after a flurry of fittings and a few hours of rehearsal on Wednesday, I was ready to roll.

The week went by very well (and very quickly). And through the kindness of Hudson Valley Shakespeare and the timeliness of the Metro-North train line, I was able to go back and forth, keeping up with my rehearsals for Comedy of Errors by day and making it to the performance of Aladdin every evening. I never had to go on for Jafar, but it was wonderful getting to know everyone in the Broadway company, to see some of my old friends from tour, and to reacquaint myself with the show. It’s over (for now), but I can’t wait until the next time!