THE LEADING MEN: Going to Batt
By Wayman Wong
03 Oct 2005
HE’S ON THE FAST TRACK TO FAME
If theatre is a horse race where young "Leading Men" jockey for stardom, Doug Kreeger has scored a Triple Crown. In May, the 5-foot-9 actor from Honolulu gave a killer performance as the chilling child murderer Richard Loeb in Thrill Me. In August, he won a 2005 Fringe Festival award for portraying a high school nerd in Swimming Upstream. And from Sept. 14-21, this NYU grad was picture-perfect as a gay Army photographer in Yank! at the N.Y. Musical Theatre Festival. Kreeger, 26, says, "It was a gift to originate three completely different characters in three new musicals in New York. I’m doing exactly what I’ve always dreamed."
Whether he’s playing a cold-blooded killer from the 1920s or a sweet-faced soldier from the 1940s, Kreeger carries it off with confidence and charisma. He says, "Loeb was a dangerous part. He had so much anger that it was scary, but I loved it." An added Thrill of working on that show was being directed by Michael Rupert: "He was great, once I got past the fact I was working with ‘Marvin.’ I never told him how much of an effect he and Falsettos had on me growing up. I had seen musicals like Hello, Dolly!, but Falsettos blew me mind."
Next came Swimming Upstream. "I was honored but flabbergasted that I got an award for goofing around with Jessica Snow-Wilson. I played Todd, a guy who wrote a sex-ed musical about sperm. It was broad comedy, and we had these set pieces that look like a vagina, and I thought: ‘There’s no way I’m gonna be upstaged by a vagina.’" Like Todd, though, he knew what it was like to be different: "Everyone in Hawaii surfed and went to the beach. And I spent my time in a dark theater for hours on end. I don’t surf. I’m somewhat scared of the water, which is ridiculous, coming from Hawaii."
Kreeger next received raves for David and Joseph Zellnik’s Yank!, a World War II buddy musical with a terrific, toe-tapping score and a touching story that was full of humor and heart. In it, he played Stu, a war photographer who clicks with Mitch, a macho serviceman magnetically played by Ivan Hernandez. Yank! follows what happens after their private affair becomes public, complete with dream ballet. Joseph Zellnik says, "Doug is a writer’s dream and he’s an incredibly smart actor." Kreeger adds, "I’m really proud of the cast. I hope Yank! has a future life because it’s amazing."
Speaking of the future, Kreeger’s next show is Bob Dylan and Twyla Tharp’s
The Times They Are A-Changin’, which will begin Jan. 25 at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre. Though he loves R&B and hard rock, he says, "I bought a couple of Dylan’s CDs and now I’m an uber fan. Twyla’s a genius, and this show will be brilliant. It’s got three principal roles: a father, a son and a woman who mixes things up. I’m standing by for Michael Arden, and he’ll be great. There’s also a dance ensemble culled from Cirque du Soleil, Twyla’s company and musical theater. It’s gonna be very cool!"
WHERE THE GUYS ARE
There’s so much to see in New York: Scott Alan presents his latest Monday Nights, New Voices on Oct. 10 at 9:30 p.m. at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St. (212-255-5438). Hosted by Chad Kimball, it’ll include Doug Kreeger, Neil Bartram, Gavin Esham and Charles Strouse. … BroadwayWorld.com kicks off its spectacular Standing Ovations IV on Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (212-239-6200). It’ll star "Leading Men" alumni Michael Arden, Cheyenne Jackson and Howard McGillin, plus Andrea McArdle, Melba Moore and Lea Salonga. … The Mabel Mercer Foundation will celebrate its 20th anniversary by moving its Cabaret Convention (Oct. 17-23) to Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th St. (212-721-6500). The illustrious lineup will include multi-MAC Award winners such as Tom Andersen, Jeff Harnar, Phillip Officer, Craig Rubano and Marcus Simeone. Visit www.mabelmercer.org. … Speaking of Harnar, PS Classics releases his album, "Dancing in the Dark," on Oct. 4. It’s a sparkling gem of a CD, set off by Alex Rybeck’s multifaceted arrangements. … The Broadway Cabaret Festival, hosted by Scott Siegel, will be held at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. (212-307 4100). It’ll offer a tribute to John Kander and Fred Ebb (Oct. 21); a double bill of Euan Morton and Eden Espinosa (Oct. 22) and Broadway Originals! (Oct. 23). … Amas Musical Theatre will host a panel called "Leading Men of Color" on Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St. (212-563-2565), with Rob Barnes (Jesus Christ Superstar), Tony Chiroldes (The Capeman), Eric Anthony (Hairspray), Raun Ruffin (The Civil War) and Jerome Lucas Harmann (Swing!). … Finally, here’s a TV and DVD alert: John Tartaglia’s kiddie show, "Johnny & the Sprites," will debut Oct. 9 on the Disney Channel. And our soldout "Leading Men" concert, which Tartaglia hosted May 30 at Joe’s Pub, is now out on DVD. It was so popular at the Broadway Flea Market that it sold out twice. To get a copy ($35), E-mail www.broadwaybeat.com. Proceeds go to Broadway Cares.
Got comments or questions? E-mail me at waymanwong@hotmail.com.
Until next month, let’s hear it for the "boys"!
Wayman Wong edits entertainment for The New York Daily News. He has been a movie and theater critic for The San Francisco Examiner, a writer for The Sondheim Review and a Drama-Logue Award-winning playwright.
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Andy Karl (left) and Doug Kreeger
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| photo by Ben Strothmann |
