Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu

By: Mar. 06, 2014
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Urban Stages Founding Artistic Director Frances Hill and producer Peter Napolitano present the World Premiere of Character Man as part of its 30th Anniversary season. Jim Brochu''s new musical memoir just opened Off-Broadway at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street) Wednesday March 5th. This limited run, in previews now, will continue through March 30th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan. Character Man will have scenic & video design by Patrick Brennan, lighting design by Meghan Santelli and sound design by Sean Hagerty. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu puts his stamp on an original musical valentine to the Great White Way.Character Man has a book by Brochu and the music and lyrics of Leslie Bricusse, Jerry Bock, Betty Comden, Stan Daniels, Fred Ebb, Adolph Green, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Herman, John Kander, Bob Merrill, Anthony Newley,Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, and Meredith Willson, including the iconic songs of the Golden Age of the American Musical.

Character Man is a salute to the memorable character actors of Broadway, filled with hilarious theater stories and touching personal recollections. Sprinkled with juicy backstage lore, the show spotlights the careers of, among others, Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Jackie Gleason, George S. Irving, Barney Martin and Brochu''s own mentor, two-time Tony Award-winner David Burns. "There would be no Broadway without these guys who supported the great stars and got the laughs without getting the girl. I began my own career as a character man at a time when I got to know these men and learn from them. David Burns was like a second father to me and I grew up backstage hanging out with him some of the others. They were amazing, dear, funny men and I don''t want them to ever be forgotten," said Brochu.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi follow her on Twitter @LenziLinda

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu and Carl Haan

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Carl Haan, Jim Brochu and Robert Bartley

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Carl Haan, Jim Brochu and Robert Bartley

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Ed Barlow and Francis Hill

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu and Charles Busch

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
John McDaniel and Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
John McDaniel, Ken Fallin, Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu and Randie Levine Miller

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu and Nassef Dewidar

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Anita Gillette, Bill Zeffiro and Peter Napolitano

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Daniel Whitman and Robert Bartley

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Joan Copeland, Jim Brochu and Father Jeffrey L. Hamblin

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Joan Copeland and Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
KT Sullivan and Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
KT Sullivan and Lewis J. Stadlen

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu and Lewis J. Stadlen

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
KT Sullivan and Charles Busch

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Peter Napolitano, KT Sullivan and Charles Busch

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Ruben Flores and Dulcina Eisen

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Rick Sommers, Valerie Smaldone and Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Lewis Cullman, Jim Brochu and Louise Hirschfeld

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu, Charles Busch and Robert Bartley

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Steve Schalchlin, Jim Brochu, Robert Bartley and Daniel Whitman

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Carl Haan, Jim Brochu, Jennifer Bassey and Steve Schalchlin

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Carl Haan, Jim Brochu and Jennifer Bassey

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Carl Haan, Jim Brochu, Robert Bartley and Francis Hill

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Ritchie Ridge and Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Ruben Flores, Robin De Jesus, Carl Haan and Robert Bartley

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Marilyn Michaels, Robert Bartley and Mark Wilk

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Ruben Flores, Tony Sheldon and Robin De Jesus

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Tony Sheldon, Jim Brochu and Robert Bartley

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Marge Champion and Jim Brochu

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Jim Brochu and Brian Stokes Mitchell

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Rocio Sanz, Ellis Nassour and Jimmy Sanz

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu


Robin De Jesus, Jim Brochu, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marilyn Michaels

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Mark Wilk and Marilyn Michaels

Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of CHARACTER MAN with Jim Brochu
Mark Wilk and Marilyn Michaels



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