PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Twan Baker is Back!" The Young Sondheim Veteran Shares a Two-Show Day at Signature's Sunday in the Park With GeorgeTiny dynamo Twan Baker first burst onto the scene in three regional productions of Into the Woods. With the help of stage parents Hunter Foster, Jen Cody and Brynn O'Malley, Baker has since been a regular on the Broadway stage. A known womanizer, diva and lush, the rising star is also a consummate professional and is currently keeping his Sondheim muscle strong performing in Signature Theatre's Sunday in the Park With George. Baker graciously agreed to let Playbill trail him on a recent day on the job!
By
Matthew Blank
September 02, 2014
Twan Baker's credits include the Weston Playhouse's Pregnancy Pact and the Broadway productions of Annie and Bridges of Madison County. Broadway audiences may expect to see him back on the boards this fall in Honeymoon in Vegas.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Twan Baker is Back!" The Young Sondheim Veteran Shares a Two-Show Day at Signature's Sunday in the Park With George
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Twan Baker is Back!" The Young Sondheim Veteran Shares a Two-Show Day at Signature's Sunday in the Park With George
Tiny dynamo Twan Baker first burst onto the scene in three regional productions of Into the Woods. With the help of stage parents Hunter Foster, Jen Cody and Brynn O'Malley, Baker has since been a regular on the Broadway stage. A known womanizer, diva and lush, the rising star is currently keeping his Sondheim muscle strong performing in Signature Theatre's Sunday in the Park With George. Baker graciously agreed to let Playbill trail him on a recent day on the job!
27 PHOTOS
Hi Playbill.com! Thanks for following Twan’s 2-show day here at The Signature Theatre where we are presenting Sunday in the Park in which Twan plays the pivotal role….
Brynn O'Malley
….of Baby Marie.
Brynn O'Malley
Disclaimer: If Twan’s face looks a little jacked-up it’s because The Bridges of Madison County cast did THIS to him at their closing-night party.
Brynn O'Malley
Good morning! In spite of his extensive resumé (and substance abuse problem), Twan is still a baby. Signature has provided company housing for him and his mother, Brynn O’Malley (Dot/Marie), but not a crib.
Brynn O'Malley
Although Twan has no actual singing (or lines) in Sunday, he insists his mother administer the full netti-pot ritual every morning as soon as he wakes her up. He claims it helps clear his head after a night of heavy drinking. On bad mornings, he also claims it helps with his allergy to “mothers that don’t know when to shut-up.”
Off to the theater! Twan swings by to pick up Claybourne Elder (George) along the way. They met doing the 2009 production of Into the Woods at Kansas City Rep and have been in an intense bro-mance ever since. Most people don’t realize that Clay has a dark, enigmatic side to him and Twan is like a moth to a flame. A dangerous duo, indeed, but it makes for some real electricity on stage. The Washington Post called their chemistry “almost a thing.”
Brynn O'Malley
And we arrive at the prestigious Signature Theatre where they’ve placed the traditional production “painting cut-outs” on the plaza outside the theater for a fun advertising campaign. Signature has filed a restraining order against Twan. He’s not allowed to come within 50 ft of the cut-outs after he was caught on surveillance drawing a certain part of the male anatomy on the Celestes. He claims this is “just what New Yorkers do” to street advertisements.
Brynn O'Malley
Half-hour call! Twan tends to his 1:30pm shadow with Evan Casey (Franz/Lee Randolph) and Greg Maheu (Soldier/Alex). Twan has to maintain a close shave when playing baby Marie. Evan tried to give him a few pointers and Twan barked “I learned this technique from Neil Patrick Harris! Beat it!”
Brynn O'Malley
Paul Scanlan (Boatman/Dennis) walked into the men’s dressing room and caught Twan mocking his performance in front of everybody. Paul is so sweet. He only took issue with Twan touching his props.
Brynn O'Malley
Twan tried to correct one of Donna Migliaccio’s (Old Lady/Blair Daniels) cut-offs in her song “Beautiful” and she was NOT having it. Their relationship is volatile at best. Donna lost all respect for Twan when he kept flippantly calling her song “Changing.” No respect.
Brynn O'Malley
Twan’s got a thing for Angela Miller (Frieda/Betty). A super creepy thing. She was trying to take a quick nap before her late entrance in Act I and Twan was just….lurking…….
Brynn O'Malley
….and then he kicked her off the Equity cot. He played the “baby” card. So manipulative.
Brynn O'Malley
Intermission. Dan Manning (Mr./Charles Redmond) and Twan enjoy a smoke on the loading dock. It’s a nasty habit but, as Twan’s father Hunter Foster instructed, “Let him smoke as much as he wants in DC. Just keep him off the yayo.”
Brynn O'Malley
Twan and Greg go full-out 1983 for the second Act.
Brynn O'Malley
Joseph Mace (Louis/Billy Webster) with Twan and Twan’s understudy. For the record, Twan has never missed a performance. Ever.
Brynn O'Malley
Grabbing dinner in Shirlington between shows. Twan is VERY popular back in the City and has had a LOT of friends come down to see him in Sunday. Today his personal trainer, Katie Kauffman, has traveled to see him along with a girl named Reilly Jennings... whose overnight bag was seen outside of Twan’s drawer the next morning. But Twan maintains they are “just good friends."
Brynn O'Malley
Back for the second show. You may have picked up on the fact that Twan is a bit of a dog when it comes to the ladies. This does not lend itself well to a work environment. Here he is “forgetting to knock first” (his signature move) before entering the ladies’ dressing room.
Brynn O'Malley
Ladies be like……
Brynn O'Malley
Twan has notes for Mitchell Hébert (Jules/Robert Greenberg).
Brynn O'Malley
Twan TRIED to give notes to Clay and...
Brynn O'Malley
... things escalated.
Brynn O'Malley
Twan immediately filled out an accident report. He only follows protocol when it serves his best interest. What a baby.
Brynn O'Malley
Mom-ager Brynn doing damage control at intermission. Word of Twan and Clay’s fight got back to Talent House, the agency that refuses to sign Twan until he gets his act together. Meanwhile, Twan rehydrates at intermission. Brynn, Hunter and Jen Cody (Twan’s stepmother) are trying to use DC as an opportunity to dry him out before he returns to Broadway.
Brynn O'Malley
No such luck. He beat Mom to the lobby bar before she could get out of costume. Oh Twan…..
Brynn O'Malley
She’s doing her best to replace his negative addictions with more positive ones. Every night they unwind watching the "Big Brother" live feeds. He’s Team Frankie, obviously.
Brynn O'Malley
In spite of his devious, depraved behavior, there’s just something about Twan that is irresistible both onstage and off.
Brynn O'Malley
Practically a religious fervor... Thanks Playbill.com! Come see Twan & Co down at The Signature Theatre in Sunday in the Park With George!
The first production of Signature's 25th anniversary season is directed by Matthew Gardiner; performances will continue through Sept. 21.
“Sunday in the Park with George is the perfect start to our 25th anniversary season,” said artistic director Eric Schaeffer in an earlier statement. “In a season that will celebrate the many great artists we have collaborated with over the years, Stephen Sondheim tops the list, with Signature having done 23 productions of his work. It will be wonderful to bring 'La Grande Jatte' into the intimate 276 seat MAX Theatre. It’s the first of many special events to celebrate our 25 years of groundbreaking work and unique connection with Stephen Sondheim.” “Sunday in the Park with George is about the need in all our lives for connection. To connect to one’s surrounding, to the people, and to art,” added director Gardiner. “Through the lens of George Seurat’s 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,' the musical explores the disorder of life and the mediums we use in an attempt to understand it all. It’s about the search for balance and harmony. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s masterpiece left a significant mark on my life as an artist from a very young age, and I feel extremely lucky to give life to their words and music with an incredible group of actors and designers in this new production at Signature Theatre.”
The cast is headed by Claybourne Elder as Georges Seurat/George and Brynn O'Malley as Dot/Marie.
They are joined by Evan Casey (Franz/Lee), Susan Derry (Celeste #1/Photographer), Erin Driscoll (Celeste #2/Elaine), Maria Egler (Nurse/Harriet/Mrs.), Mitchell Hébert (Jules/Bob), Valerie Leonard (Yvonne/Naomi), Joseph Mace (Louis/Billy), Gregory Maheu (Soldier/Alex), Dan Manning (Mr./Charles), Donna Migliaccio (Old Lady/Blair), Angela Miller (Frieda/Betty), Paul Scanlan (Boatman/Dennis) and 11-year-old Sadie Rose Herman (Louise) and 9-year-old Lucy Alexa Herman (Bather/Ensemble).
The production also has musical direction by Jon Kalbfleisch, scenic design by Dan Conway, costume design by Frank Labovitz, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design by Lane Elms, video design by Robbie Hayes and wig design by Samantha Birchett-Hunter. The production stage manager is Kerry Epstein.
Sunday in the Park with George opened on Broadway in 1984, where it received two Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama followed in 1985. The show has also received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical, numerous Drama Desk Awards and the 1991 Olivier Award for Best Musical.
