broadway bares – Reading In The Wings

It's Liberation Day.

As an actor, every job you do, you make a new family. There is something special about theatre and its ability to bring people together in a way that is unlike any other. I have made so many amazing friends throughout my career, and many of them share my love of books and literature. Since theatre brings stories to life, I thought I would feature some of my favorite performers (my fabulous friends and cast mates) and see what their bookshelves look like! Welcome to my Broadway Book Chat!

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David Girolmo

Currently performing as Claude Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at The Fulton Theatre

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin. This oddly named book was a recommendation from a friend who nearly cried telling me how much he loved it, and how many times he re-read it. We’ll see…

What is your favorite book series?

Man this is a tough one… There are so many that I have loved over the years; from The Lord of the Rings books, to Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series, C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series, Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski series, Harry Potter, The Dark Tower… Too many wonderful hours. If I have to choose one, I’ll go with John Sanford’s Prey series and his principle character Lucas Davenport. I don’t know how many he’s written (upwards of 30 by now)- but I’ve loved them all. No wait!! It has to be the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. I lived and cried, and loved with this group of people Maupin created for years- re-reading each book like it was the first time. Yep, that’s it. Tales of the City.

Who is your favorite author?

I thought this one would be harder- but my immediate response is Stephen King, and I’ll stick with that. I’ve been reading his work since his first published novel, and we’ve sortof grown up together. Just finished his latest, The Outsider, and loved it. Other favorite authors: John Irving, Peter Straub, Harlen Coben, Armistead Maupin, John Sandford, Craig Johnson, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury…

What book inspires you and why?

frollo

Do plays that I’ve read count as books? There are so many plays I’ve read over the years that inspired me to be a better person/actor/friend/husband… When I was a kid (six or seven years old) I received a boxed edition of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh series for my birthday that I read over and over again. I wanted so desperately for those stories to go on and on forever. I was really bereft when I realized there were no more Pooh books, no more stories. Maybe that’s why I love all these series: The characters go on as long as the author keeps writing. I know I get inspired by characters who behave heroically. I wish I were able to access the better angels of my nature when I read about people doing the right thing against all odds.

Which literary character would you like to play?

Ned Stark… Or Robin Hood… or Walt Longmire… or Iago… Because it would be a BLAST!! Ned Stark, Robin Hood, and Walt Longmire are men of character and virtue who behave heroically. Iago is just as bad a guy as ever was written, and that would be too much fun!

If you could be friends with any of the characters you have played, who would it be and why?

Fred Graham/Petruchio from Kiss Me Kate. Who had more fun than Petruchio? Or maybe Sweeney Todd/Benjamin Barker… maybe I could persuade him not to go back into that pie shop….

What book would you like to see turned into a movie/musical/play?

I’d like to see a musical version of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I’ve seen a pretty badly realized BBC TV movie, and a very small scale play in Chicago. This cries out for a musical.

What book is next on your reading list?

The Listener by Robert McCammon

What show are you currently working on and who do you play?

I’m currently in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Fulton Theatre playing Claude Frollo. The last show I did was Guys and Dolls playing Arvide Abernathy. Two more disparate roles I could never have hoped for in the same season!

What is your favorite show you have been a part of and why?

Probably Sondheim’s Follies because that’s where I met my favorite person in the world– my wife.

Check out David and the cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at The Fulton Theatre!

I feature a new performer every month! I would love some suggestions for questions you would like to ask, or things you want to know! Leave them in the comments and I will add them to future interviews! Thanks to the insanely talented David for sharing with us! ❤

It's Liberation Day.

ElizabethDugas_150-home

Elizabeth Dugas

Currently performing in The Beast in the Jungle

www.elizabethdugas.com

Instagram: @emdugas

What are you currently reading?

Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gilman. Thanks to my dear friend and cast mate, Leah Hoffman, who leant it to me!

What is your favorite book series?

The Baby-Sitter’s Club. That probably sounds like a funny response with all of the amazing options out there, but I was a particularly avid reader as a child and I loved few things more than going to a used book store. It was my personal mission to collect and read every single book from that series… I think I got pretty close actually (There are 131 by the way… and 122 in the spin-off Baby-Sitter’s Little Sister.)

Who is your favorite author?

Currently, Kristin Hannah. Her book, The Nightingale, was one that had me staying up all night because I just couldn’t put it down. I also really like Gillian Flynn and shout out to E.B. White for writing my favorite childhood book, Charlotte’s Web.

What book inspires you and why?

Yes Please by Amy Poehler. In the age of everyone writing self-help books, this one felt particularly real and unapologetically hilarious. One stand out quote, that I found particularly applicable to people in our field:

“You have to care about your work, but not about the result. You have to care about how good you are and how good you feel, but not about how good people think you are or how good people think you look. I realize this is extremely difficult. I am not saying I am particularly good at it. I’m like you. Or maybe you’re better at this than I am.”

Which literary character would you like to play?

Hermione Granger, one hundred percent! She’s strong, loyal, independent, super smart… the list goes on and on and I’m all for playing a badass female!

If you could be friends with any of the characters you have played, who would it be and why?

Lorna from Bullets Over Broadway! Though her track featured a mere one word line, “Hello!”, her subtext and ability to keep David and the play together were vital. She also triggers my Type-A nerdy side and I’m now good friends with the girl that played her on Broadway (shoutout to Brittany Marcin Maschmeyer). I’d also like to be friends with Edie Falco who played her in the movie so…. Lorna FOREVER!

What book would you like to see turned into a movie/musical/play?

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger…. Yes, it’s already a movie, and No, I’m not super into every movie getting a stage adaptation, but I think this would be so fun, and the costumes would be FABULOUS!

What is the next book on your reading list?

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I know I’m super late to the game, but it’s one I really want to read before watching the TV series.

What is your favorite show you’ve been a part of and why?

This is such a hard question, but I think I have to give it to The Beast in the Jungle for a couple reasons. 1) There’s something so special about being a part of creative process, and I’ve been lucky enough to work on two workshops of this production before finding a home at the Vineyard. Which leads into 2) It’s incredibly inspiring to hear the audience’s response to the piece after being isolated with it in a studio for a year and a half. And 3) It’s a story that needs to be told, and I feel everyone can relate to in one way or another. I still get chills offstage every night watching the final scene featuring the brilliant Peter Friedman.

What show are you currently working on?

I am currently in The Beast in the Jungle at the Vineyard theatre. Prior to that I was in Turandot at The Metropolitan Opera, playing an attendant and temptress… also known as Ballet Lady #18 (kidding….. kinda 🙂 )

Check out and buy tickets to see Elizabeth and the cast of The Beast in the Jungle!

Check out Elizabeth’s fundraising page for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and donate to this amazing cause here!

Tag: broadway bares

Broadway Book Chat: David Girolmo