New El Gallo in NYC's Fantasticks Is a Former Disney Villain

By Kenneth Jones
03 Aug 2006

Burke Moses
Burke Moses

The producers of the new Manhattan revival of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's The Fantasticks announced Aug. 3 that Burke Moses, who created the role of Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, will assume the role of El Gallo.

Moses takes over from James Moye, who rehearsed and opened the show in previews at the Snapple Theatre Center.

According to a statement, director Jones (who also appears in the production under the stage name Thomas Bruce) "identified the need to move the role in a different artistic direction." Moye was said to have agreed, believing that this decision best serves the artistic needs of the show and himself.

"James Moye is a gifted actor who was a great asset to our company," said Richard Frankel, one of the producers. "We are delighted that Burke Moses is able to join our cast."

Moses, whose is no stranger to swaggering sexuality in roles in Beauty and the Beat, The Frogs and Kiss Me, Kate, will begin performances as the menacing and charming baritone El Gallo Aug. 4.

Moye is a respected actor who snagged a 2004 D.C. Helen Hayes Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Resident Musical for his work in Signature Theatre's 110 in the Shade in Arlington, VA. He also appeared in Broadway's Urinetown, The Full Monty (also on tour) and regional runs of Floyd Collins at the Old Globe, Goodman and Prince Music theatres. He's worked at Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, North Shore and Marriott Theatre and elsewhere.

The new Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks began preview performances on July 29, and opens on Aug. 16, at New York's new Snapple Theater Center, 210 W. 50th Street at Broadway.

Moses joins the previously announced cast Thomas Bruce as Henry, Leo Burmester as Hucklebee, Robert R. Oliver as Mortimer (temporarily subbing for a recuperating MacIntyre Dixon), Santino Fontana as Matt, Sara Jean Ford as Luisa, Douglas Ullman, Jr. as The Mute and Martin Vidnovic as Bellomy.

The Fantasticks is produced by Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel and Thomas Viertel.

The playing schedule for The Fantasticks plays Monday at 8:30 PM, Wednesday at 2:30 PM, Thursday and Friday at 8:30 PM, Saturday at 2:30 PM and 8:30 PM and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM. There will be no Wednesday matinee on Aug. 16. Tickets are $75, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com at (212) 307-4100.

For more information, please visit www.fantasticksonstage.com.