PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "When I Grow Up..." A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Matilda With Ryan SteeleAstaire Award-nominated dancer Ryan Steele, currently appearing in Matilda The Musical, invites readers to join him at a recent two-performance day. He shares his daily routines, offers a backstage tour, a peek at "gym check" and introduces the cast of "maggots" who inhabit the Shubert Theatre eight times a week.
By
Matthew Blank
September 13, 2013
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "When I Grow Up..." A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Matilda With Ryan Steele
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "When I Grow Up..." A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Matilda With Ryan Steele
Astaire Award-nominated dancer Ryan Steele, currently appearing in Matilda The Musical, invites readers to join him at a recent two-performance day. He shares his daily routines, offers a backstage tour, a peek at "gym check" and introduces the cast of "maggots" who inhabit the Shubert Theatre eight times a week.
52 PHOTOS
Good morning, Playbill! You're stuck with me all day :) Muahahaha.
Ryan Steele
First things first.
Ryan Steele
Must.Get.Coffee. Cafe Grind is my favorite neighborhood coffee shop. This frog knows what's up.
Ryan Steele
My first big decision of the day. Sugary goodness... or an apple?
Time for work. But wait... no bikes?! You mean... I have to WALK?! CitiBike really let me down this morning. (But don't worry, CB. I still love you)
Ryan Steele
Saw some of our behind the scenes stars of the show at the stage door: our "Revolting Parents" (and brothers and sisters)
Ryan Steele
Our call board says hello! We ran out of B's.
Ryan Steele
To be on Broadway, you MUST be organized.
Ryan Steele
On the way to warm up, I got a sneaky shot of the kids getting notes from our Dance Captain, Nadine Isenegger.
Ryan Steele
I also passed the CHOKEY (School room/office). Stay far away!
Ryan Steele
Even Tony/Olivier award winners warm up. Gabe is so handsome.
Ryan Steele
Our two Matildas for the matinee. Bailey is on and Oona is on stand by.
Ryan Steele
The kids have a group warm up that some of the adults crash. Nadine is leading the kids today.
Ryan Steele
One of our vocal health team members, Alethia, leads the kids in a voice warm up. "Have a stretch. Have a yawn. Have a sigh"
Ryan Steele
The kids finish their warm up around the piano. PS- this week is spirit week. You may be able to guess what today is. Purple Day!.... Just kidding it's Yellow day.
Ryan Steele
John Mara Jr. and Krystal Rowley are two of our kick butt Maggot Wranglers.
Ryan Steele
Time for safety checks! If you've seen the show, you know there are a few elements that seem a bit dangerous. Not to fear! They're WELL rehearsed before every show. Here are the adults practicing our "Superman" swing.
Ryan Steele
Safeties also include "Gym Check" led by our fearless Gym Captain, Clay Thomson (who is in full spirit, sporting a GORG yellow ensemble.)
Ryan Steele
After swing check, I tried to say hello to Lesli Margherita. She told me to never come back and slammed the door in my face. (Oh HEY Rob Pat!)
Ryan Steele
Show time. Apparently my morning coffee really kicked in before this photo was taken. Yikes.
Ryan Steele
Oh look! The Real Housewives of the Shubert Theater. (Arty Mum, Tweedy Mum, Mrs. W., Posh Mum and Stokes Newington Mum)
Ryan Steele
Intermission in the mens dressing room means three things. First is a visit from Miss Tamika Sonja Lawrence herself.
Ryan Steele
Second is Candy Crush and social media.
Ryan Steele
...and third is FOOD from the snack corner.
Ryan Steele
The ghost of the Shubert Theater drops by to give us our Act 2 places call. Thanks gurl!
Ryan Steele
One of our newest cast members, Scott Difford, goes over a new track. Overwhelmed, Scott?
Ryan Steele
Lesli stole my camera.
Ryan Steele
See?
Ryan Steele
Show is over and LOOK who I ran into in Shubert Alley. Some of my very best pals: Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Ben Fankhauser and Garett Hawe. HAI GUYS! Let's get some dinner!
Ryan Steele
My friends and I decided to treat ourselves to an elegant dinner at a charming, little, hole in the wall bistro that we just love- The Jekyll and Hyde Club.
Ryan Steele
It's SO scary!
Ryan Steele
Oh look! Ryan Breslin! Fancy meeting you here! He loves Jekyll and Hyde too.
Ryan Steele
Just some live entertainment to enrich our dining experience.
Ryan Steele
Thanks for the RICH time, Jekyll and Hyde! Time for the second show.
Ryan Steele
Sometimes Rose locks me out. But I totally don't hold it against her, because I'm told she did the same to Donna McKechnie
Ryan Steele
...and she always brings candy.
Ryan Steele
"Did you say candy?!"
Ryan Steele
Supermodel Documentary Hour! I got to the theatre with time to spare to get goofy with our two Matildas for the evening. Sophia Gennusa (right) is on, and Milly Shapiro is on stand by.
Ryan Steele
I HAD to get these nuggets in as well. Two of our newest Maggots- Analise and Marcus.
Ryan Steele
Warm up again! This time lead by one of our associates- Sara Brians.
Ryan Steele
Our maggots at gym check.
Ryan Steele
Our "Doctor" needs a doctor. John Arthur Greene seems to be feeling the effects of a raked stage.
Ryan Steele
Show two essentials.
Ryan Steele
Not even going to try to give this one a caption. This is just...Thayne.
Ryan Steele
Stretching is important. My good friend (and stage wife), Samantha Sturm, is really helping me out.
Ryan Steele
Don't let her slammin' bod fool you. Lauren Ward knows how to snack.
Ryan Steele
...aaaaand we're done! Taylor Trensch celebrates the end of our second show with a bell kick. Excellent execution. YOU GOT IT, TAYLOR!
Ryan Steele
Really, CitiBike? Again? It might be time for us to take a break. It's not me, it's you. Guess I have to walk again. But it's okay...
Ryan Steele
...because these three are worth the walk. (Awww. Ooooo. Cute. mushy mushy aww!)
Ryan Steele
Dinner numero dos.
Ryan Steele
I've brought Annie Golden on board to help me bid you farewell. Thanks for hanging with me and my silly cast, crazy friends, and sub par jokes. You guys rock. See you at the Shubert!
Steele has appeared on Broadway in Newsies, Billy Elliot and West Side Story. Visit www.ryansteelenyc.com.
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Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing, La Bête, Ghost) staged the inventive, kid-packed musical that has a book by Dennis Kelly and a score by Tim Minchin. It opened on Broadway April 11. An original Broadway cast album will be released in the coming months.
Matilda received four Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actor (Gabriel Ebert), Best Lighting Design and Best Scenic Design.
The U.K. hit premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Courtyard Theatre in November 2010 and later transferred to the West End's Cambridge Theatre, where it continues to run. The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers present the Broadway run.
According to producers, Matilda "is the story of an extraordinary little girl who decides that despite a bad beginning filled with rotten parents, a terrifying school and a vicious head mistress, her story is going to be an astonishing one. With the help of her teacher, her friends and a little bit of imagination, Matilda proves that even if you're little, you can do big things."
The production has set and costume design by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone and sound design by Simon Baker.
For tickets go to Telecharge.com. The Shubert Theatre is located at 235 West 44th Street.
