PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Night at Silence! The Musical With Stephen BienskieStephen Bienskie, who stars as killer Buffalo Bill in Off-Broadway's Silence! The Musical, invites Playbill.com backstage at the popular unauthorized parody.
By
Matthew Blank
September 13, 2011
Armed with a camera, he takes us through daily rituals and invites readers to spend an evening working, hanging out and goofing around with the tight-knit, slightly twisted cast and crew.
Here's a two-show night (shows at 8 PM and 10:30 PM) at Silence! The Musical:
0
of
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Night at Silence! The Musical With Stephen Bienskie
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Night at Silence! The Musical With Stephen Bienskie
Stephen Bienskie, who stars as killer Buffalo Bill in Off-Broadway's Silence! The Musical, invites Playbill.com backstage at the popular unauthorized parody. Armed with a camera, he takes us through daily rituals and invites readers to spend an evening working, hanging out and goofing around with the tight-knit, slightly twisted cast and crew. Read the Playbill.com story.
65 PHOTOS
Ahhh... East Village Glamour! Our home at Theatre 80.
Stephen Bienskie
This psycho tranny serial killer arising bright and shining from his morning toilette at the crack of 3 (pm).
Stephen Bienskie
Breakfast of Champignons (I speak French too!)
Stephen Bienskie
Jeff does a quick check of how many Weight Watcher points are in air, and Howie downs a soup... we all get our 2-show day energy somewhere.
A picture of the Equity rules about taking pictures.
Stephen Bienskie
That's not my firearm...
Stephen Bienskie
THIS is my firearm!!!!!!!!!!
Stephen Bienskie
What happens in the boys room.....STAYS in the boys room!!
Stephen Bienskie
Ms. Bernadette Peters' dressing area. Wait... how did this picture get in here and what are my underwear doing on her table?
Stephen Bienskie
"Multiple tattoos..."
Stephen Bienskie
Jeff: "What'd you with my pearls???" Callan: "They're in my mouth!!"
Stephen Bienskie
Dinner and a date at Silence!
Stephen Bienskie
We get a daily reminder (warning) from Jenn Harris that, like the song says, "This is the story of CLARICE!"
Stephen Bienskie
This is what happens if anyone forgets that...
Stephen Bienskie
Jeff forgot it.
Stephen Bienskie
But they're besties again in the end. MUCH to Ashlee's amazement.
Stephen Bienskie
Our stunning Dream Clarice, Ashlee Dupre!
Stephen Bienskie
We missed our amazing Lucia Spina on this two-show day but got to play with the incredible Heather Jane Rolff.
Stephen Bienskie
Nate Patten after getting caught going through the contents of my dressing table.
Stephen Bienskie
LOOK WHO THIS B'WAY NOBODY GETS TO SIT NEXT TO!!!
Stephen Bienskie
This is above Brent's mirror. He does a strange chanting/incantation thing in front of it before every show... kind of cool!
Stephen Bienskie
My vocal warm-up: a good strong, guttural throat clear, a yell to the back wall of the theatre and I sound AMAZING!
Stephen Bienskie
Lucia couldn't get away from us.
Stephen Bienskie
Jeff and Howie add up how many WW points a two-show day earns them... and what the vodka equivalent is. Staying in shape at Silence! is all math.
Stephen Bienskie
A visit from our ever sweet and kind director Christopher Gattelli.
Stephen Bienskie
... until he screamed at Jeff to stop ruining the show. Poor Jeff.
Stephen Bienskie
Jenn was next in line for his wrath.
Stephen Bienskie
Jenn to Jodie Foster: "He beats me for not being you!"
Stephen Bienskie
Quitter.
Stephen Bienskie
My artwork and Jenn's music... priceless.
Stephen Bienskie
Are those Tweetie Bird's feathers I see hanging out of my mouth? (Thank you Chris Kong!)
Stephen Bienskie
Almost ready to go!
Stephen Bienskie
PLACES! (No really, Stephen, that's places. Put the camera away and get your ass onstage!)
Stephen Bienskie
That strange chanting I spoke of earlier...
Stephen Bienskie
Callan Bergmann shows Harry Bouvy how he warms up.
Stephen Bienskie
Harry thanks him for it.
Stephen Bienskie
Jenn explains to Christopher why she HAS to punch me in the head every night. Christopher completely understands.
Stephen Bienskie
The producers of "Gayby" wired a GPS device to her.
Stephen Bienskie
LAUGH IT UP, QUITTERS!
Stephen Bienskie
Ain't no other man better than Bouvy.
Stephen Bienskie
That's one handsome serial killer.
Stephen Bienskie
"Lipstick..."
Stephen Bienskie
"And mascara..."
Stephen Bienskie
"Nipple with a ring..."
Stephen Bienskie
Our killer band.
Stephen Bienskie
Dream Clarice
Stephen Bienskie
OK... time for the 2nd show. We hear our 1/2 hour call as we're bowing for the 1st show.
Stephen Bienskie
Jeff to Stephen: "Enough with that f***in' camera, Bienskie."
Stephen Bienskie
Yup... have to do it again!
Stephen Bienskie
Brent sharing Jeff's sentiments about the camera.
Stephen Bienskie
Sometimes we get silly and pretend that it's 1980 and we're in Starlight Express.
Stephen Bienskie
...or A Chorus Line...
Stephen Bienskie
...or Cats...
Stephen Bienskie
... or Annie.
Stephen Bienskie
Jeff... are you ready for show #2??
Stephen Bienskie
Now that we've got a fake ciggy and a cocktail... YES!
Stephen Bienskie
THERE'S THAT B'WAY GODDESS DIEDRE GOODWIN!
Stephen Bienskie
But don't dare call her that. Dee has a strict rule that we refer to her at all times as "Michele Pfeiffer as Angela De Marco in 'Married to the Mob.'"
Stephen Bienskie
I'm not kidding. Nor is Dee.
Stephen Bienskie
Last looks!
Stephen Bienskie
In all seriousness... the happiest... craziest... luckiest... blessed group of people Off-Broadway... ever. Hope you had fun with us, and come see the show!
Stephen Bienskie has originated roles in Zombie Prom (Jake), The Last Session (Buddy), Just So (the Leopard), Tom Jones (Mr. Fitzpatrick), SLUT (Adam) and Silence! The Musical (Buffalo Bill). He was the final Rum Tum Tugger in the closing company of Cats on Broadway and received a Helen Hayes Award for his portrayal of Cal in American premiere of The Fix.
* The twice-extended production, which officially opened July 9, will close on Sept. 24.
Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording in October.
Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, the cast is headed by Brent Barrett and Jenn Harris with Callan Bergmann, Stephen Bienskie, Harry Bouvy, Ashlee Dupre, Deidre Goodwin, Jeff Hiller, Howard Kaye and Lucia Spina.
Silence! The Musical features a book by Tony nominee Hunter Bell and music and lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan.
In the Academy Award-winning film "The Silence of the Lambs," press notes state, "rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling matches wits with the brilliant but insane cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, to catch the serial killer known only as Buffalo Bill. Clarice must face her own demons and race the clock to unlock Lecter’s clues before another innocent girl is killed and skinned by Bill. It’s a hair-raising thriller that’s kept countless millions on the edges of their seats and permeated the pop lexicon with delightfully creepy quotes like 'I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti' and, of course 'It places the lotion in the basket.' And now, at last, this delicate symphony of suspense has been turned on its ear and retold in the only way it can be — as a musical. A singing chorus of floppy eared lambs narrates the action; Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown while kidnapping hapless Catherine Martin; and even Dr. Lecter, scary as ever, sings about the life he’d like to lead someday outside the prison walls."
Silence! is produced Off-Broadway by Victoria Lang, Rich Affannato and Donna Trinkoff. Silence! was the winner of the 2005 FringeNYC award for Outstanding Musical.
Show times are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM and Saturdays at 8 PM and 10:30 PM. Theatre 80 is located at 80 St. Marks Place (between First & Second Ave.). Tickets are $25-$65 and are available by calling (212) 352-3101 or through www.SilenceTheMusical.com.
