NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Off-Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher With "Tubby Ted," Nate MillerSpend a two-show day with Nate Miller, who plays the food-loving orphan "Tubby Ted" at Off-Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher. He shares his intense pre-show rituals and documents backstage antics with his castmates at New World Stages.
By
Matthew Blank
October 02, 2013
"Hello theatre lovers," says Miller. "Off-Broadway’s Nate Miller here to take you on an adventure of epic proportions. Join me on an endeavor down into the depths of subterranean midtown on a quest for the perfect Two-Show Day. I play Tubby Teddy at New World Stages and on days like today I’m gonna double up on orphan duties and tubbiness. Join me! Slight nudity to follow. Here we go!"
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The imaginative work, which originally dawned at the New York Theatre Workshop, transferred to New World Stages March 18 for a new Off-Broadway run.
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Starcatcher first premiered Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop March 9, 2011, where it extended its run twice. The entire Off-Broadway cast returned for the Broadway transfer that began March 28, 2012, and opened to acclaim April 15 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. It ended its Broadway run Jan. 20, 2013. The new Off-Broadway transfer is open-ended.
Tony Award nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family) authored the stage adaptation that is co-directed by Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers and Tony winner Roger Rees (The Addams Family, Nicholas Nickleby). It features original Tony Award-nominated songs by Wayne Barker.
The cast includes Rick Holmes (Black Stache), Nicole Lowrance (Molly), Jordan Geiger (Boy), Edward Baker-Duly (Lord Aster), Matt D’Amico (Slank), Kevin Del Aguila (Smee), Jimmy Keiffer (Alf), Josh Grisetti (Fighting Prawn), Alex Hernandez (Captain Scott), Nate Miller (Ted), Andrew Mueller (Prentiss), Jon Patrick Walker (Mrs. Bumbrake), Joanna Howard, Evan Johnson, José Restrepo, and Graham Stevens.
Starcatcher received nine Tony Award nominations, and took home honors for Best Costume Design (Paloma H. Young), Best Lighting Design (Jeff Croiter), Best Sound Design (Darron L. West), Best Scenic Design (Donyale Werle) and Best Featured Actor (Christian Borle).
The play, according to producers, takes audiences on "a journey to answer the century-old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Never Grew Up? This epic origin story of one of popular culture’s most enduring and beloved characters proves that an audience’s imagination can be the most captivating place in the world."
Steven Hoggett (American Idiot, Black Watch, Once) created the movement for the production, which has set design by Tony Award winner Donyale Werle, costume design by Tony Award winner Paloma Young, lighting design by Tony Award winner Jeff Croiter, sound design by Tony Award winner Darron L West and musical supervision by Marco Paguia. Greg Anthony is musical director.
Disney Theatrical Productions commissioned the work. Peter and the Starcatcher began life at the La Jolla Playhouse as part of the company's Page To Stage Play Development program.
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Off-Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher With Nate Miller
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Off-Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher With Nate Miller
Spend a two-show day with Nate Miller, who plays the food-loving orphan "Tubby Ted" at Off-Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher. He shares his intense pre-show rituals and documents backstage antics with his castmates at New World Stages. Read the Playbill.com story.
31 PHOTOS
I start most Saturdays making this face as I exit my dreams (dreams of doing my own One-Man Off Broadway Musicalé) and rejoin the real world. Seriously. This is what I look like when I fake sleep and take a selfie. Who needs headshots?
Nate Miller
Pre-Show shave to get the “Orphan Look” really going. Oxford shirt unbuttoned, cuz, y’know. Orphan. Never had a mother to teach buttoning.
Nate Miller
The next series of photos involve my pre-show routine Jason Ralph is a big part of this. He is my Warm Up Partner and Orphan Coach. Here is step 1: Sugar Rush!/Pre-Show Cake! Should be noted for those who look carefully… Nip Slip!
Time to Dirt Up!!! No Orphan is complete without his dirt. It’s the essence of my whole character. Again for the close lookers… Nicole Lowrance is trapped sideways in a rolled up poster. . If her name was Waldo, we all would have won.
Nate Miller
5 Minutes to Places! I help Matt D’Amico put his belt on (He never learned belts at Juilliard.)
Nate Miller
1 Minute to Places! Matt D’Amico reads me the weekly news. (I never learned to read at Juilliard.)
Nate Miller
Places! One more cupcake (made by the illustrious Karli Brae) to keep my resolve/Tubbiness up and now we hit the stage for Act 1 of Show #1!!!
Nate Miller
Intermission! I reset my microphone as Andrew Mueller does some tongue strengthening exercises. He’s a linguist. Yes, I’m aware my chest hair resembles the Bat Signal. It’s a blessing and a curse.
Nate Miller
The lovely Joanna Howard helps me with my bra before Act 2. She’s a saint to do it. And though it can be painful… It’s my favorite part of every show. Beautiful. Talented. Vivacious. And Vicious! And so is Joanna.
Nate Miller
5 Minutes to places for Act 2! I contemplate life as a mermaid for a brief moment. In this one my chest hair looks like a death eater. “Very versatile in the chest" That’s what all my directors have told me.
Nate Miller
It's good to keep yourself informed. That’s why Smee and I look at the pictures in “The New Yorker” before the 2nd Act…. PLACES!
Nate Miller
Show # 1 is over. So, now its time to run some errands and grab a quick bite. I don’t take my dirt off between shows. I like to stay in the “Orphan Zone.” This is me at the post office where I was told twice I had something on my face.
Nate Miller
After my snack and errand running, I take a quick “Einstein” Nap. 30 minutes in my travel hammock in the depths of New World Stages. Don’t knock the travel Hammy. I can sleep anywhere. And I swing while I do it. Take that, Boxcar Hobos!
Nate Miller
I’m awake now and almost ready for show # 2 but there is one more stop before we do it all again! (and yes, I sleep next to a firehose. My dad was a firefighter… we don’t need to delve into it but fire safety calms me.)
Nate Miller
Physical Therapy with the lovely Carolyn Chamberlain! Deeply relaxing! It’s my Stress Yoga/meditation/Pain time.
Nate Miller
Back down in the gallows of NWS we celebrate our two-show Saturdays by playing “Dollar Saturday” The incomparable Captain Kate Wallace collects the cash. And no… I don’t ever button this particular shirt. I see kids do it in Wiliamsburg all the time.
Nate Miller
To prep for show #2! I like to perform Feats of Strength. This particular Saturday I decide to arm-wrestle our own personal Hercules, Alex Hernandez
Nate Miller
I let him win, because I’m a gentleman and I don’t like to show off my strength and power… especially when there are cameras around. Plus, I’m saving my energy so I can pull as much focus as possible during the evening performance.
Nate Miller
Alex rubs some Icy Hot on my arm. Previous injury. Totally unrelated to the arm wrestling. Don’t worry about it.
Nate Miller
At 5 minutes to places for show #2, our newest addition, Evan Johnson (Understudy Extraordinaire) gives me notes on the first show. NFL Athletes watch tape, I get Evan telling me to stop mugging to the audience. He’s right. But I won’t stop.
Nate Miller
At intermission it is announced that our darling Nicole Lowrance has won Dollar Saturday. We all know she cheated but we’re happy for her anyway.
Nate Miller
She’s nice enough to give me money to tip my dresser. It’s strange and terrifying but when money is being stuffed in my bra I just bite my tongue and say thank you. PLACES for Act 2 of Show #2!
Nate Miller
After the show (once we’re all out of costume) I have Rick Holmes look over my contract. Apparently I’m not allowed to hug him in public. It’s been a point of contention.
Nate Miller
After the second show I treat myself to a nutritious candle lit dinner. Teddy is Tubby and Nate Miller is classy. Cuz, you know… candles.
Nate Miller
Finally a night cap. The 2-show day is almost over. Expired diner Bud light with a cooler label? Or non-expired Diner Bud light with a normal label? Decisions….
Nate Miller
And finally home! I end my 2-show day like any other Off-Broadway actor: drifting into slumber on a pile of cash. I don’t act for the money. But I do sleep on it. Seriously you guys, you don’t even need a mattress if you’ve got greenbacks. Jay-Z does it.
Nate Miller
Thanks for joining me on this 2-show day, friends! Follow your dreams and keep at it! One day you too can do 2 shows a day in a basement and have chest hair that resembles the "Assassin’s Creed" symbol and rock hard abs like me!
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