NEW YORK — With an impressive lineup of Hollywood actors gracing New York’s theater scene, visitors might consider elevating their experiences by playing a unique game of bingo.
Currently in town are big names such as Robert Downey Jr., Daniel Dae Kim, Jim Parsons, Mia Farrow, and Katie Holmes, while upcoming stars scheduled for spring include George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Nick Jonas, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
For those looking to play a game of connectivity, why not engage with the cast of “Frasier”? Bebe Neuwirth, known for her role as the icy Lilith, is performing in “Cabaret” on Broadway, Dan Butler, who portrayed Bulldog on the show, is in the off-Broadway production “Another Shot,” and in a few months, audiences can enjoy David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles, in “The Pirates of Penzance.”
Butler, who is featuring in a play centered around recovery at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, welcomes the notion that TV fans might come to see him perform. “I think it’s wonderful if it brings people to the theater. The hope is that they’ll experience the unique magic that theater offers, something no other medium can replicate,” he shared. “And maybe it inspires them to return.”
Casting director and producer Laura Stanczyk, who has worked extensively in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions, emphasizes the importance of star power in attracting audiences. “Having iconic actors like Robert Downey Jr. engaging with the New York theater scene increases the necessity of securing recognizable names for shows,” she stated.
Butler stars in a play crafted by Spike Manton and Harry Teinowitz, where he humorously refers to his character as a radio DJ in recovery, quipping, “It’s a bit like Bulldog heads to rehab.”
The blend of film and television celebrities has long been part of Broadway’s heritage, with notable stars gracing the stage for many years. A significant surge occurred in 2010 when talents like Robin Williams, Chris Rock, and Kiefer Sutherland joined the theater scene, yet this season appears to bring an especially remarkable concentration of stars.
Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler lead the cast in “Romeo & Juliet,” Nicole Scherzinger performs in “Sunset Boulevard,” Peter Gallagher and Julianna Margulies shine in “Left on Tenth,” and Sean Astin takes on the role of Santa in “Elf the Musical.”
Stanczyk acknowledges the trend of seeing so many well-known actors on stage since many began their careers in theater. Both Margulies and Zegler received stage training, with Scherzinger being a graduate of Wright State University’s musical theater program. “People often forget that many standout performers began their careers in the theater,” she remarked. “Directors often prefer those who are grounded in theater due to this shared understanding.”
The linkage between “Frasier” alumni is aptly dubbed as “Frasier” Bingo, highlighting Burrows, the famed director whose theatrical roots have influenced his work. Butler reflected on how “Frasier” retained a theatrical essence, noting the excitement of performing in front of a live audience each filming session.
Other television properties like “Law & Order,” “The Good Wife,” “The Gilded Age,” and “Only Murders in the Building” maintain this theater atmosphere by casting actors with robust stage backgrounds.
The Broadway scene is flourishing with off-Broadway productions as well, populated by talent such as Adam Driver in “Hold On to Me Darling,” Marisa Tomei in “Babe,” Kenneth Branagh in “King Lear,” T.R. Knight in “The Merchant of Venice,” and Christian Slater and Calista Flockhart in “Curse of the Starving Class.”
Despite the influx of Hollywood stars, established Broadway performers such as Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, and Patti LuPone continue to hold prominent roles.
Louis McCartney, an emerging star who will soon bring “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” from London to Broadway, expressed his admiration for the stage. “It’s this reciprocal process where you truly deliver everything you have each night. It’s a magnificent experience,” he said.
If playing “Frasier” Bingo isn’t your thing, “Succession” Bingo offers other intriguing options. Jeremy Strong recently appeared in a revival of “An Enemy of the People,” Kieran Culkin is coming up in “Glengarry Glen Ross,” and Sarah Snook will exhibit her talent by performing all 26 roles in an adaptation of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” this coming spring. Alternatively, you can begin “ER” Bingo featuring Clooney and Margulies.
Stanczyk concludes that the growing interest from Hollywood in the theater arises from a desire for these stars to challenge themselves creatively and experience the unmatched electrifying atmosphere that live theater provides. “Every performance brings something new; it’s a one-of-a-kind exchange of energy,” she emphasized. “There’s truly nothing like it.”