Davidson (State Fair, Oklahoma!, "The Happiest Millionaire," "Hollywood Squares") first appeared as the Boy in the 1964 television presentation of The Fantasticks. He returned to the current Off-Broadway production as Henry, The Old Actor in June and will now continue through Sept. 2 at the Snapple Theatre Center.
"That first moment of being Henry is my favorite moment in the show," Davidson told Playbill.com in a recent interview. "The biggest thrill of appearing in this production is the the thrill of being under lights again – the joy that every actor feels when he gets hit with that spotlight. Standing on that box in the spotlight and saying, 'Sir, the players have arrived!' is still a thrill. I'm 70 now and just to have a job back in the theatre in New York is a thrill. To paraphrase Henry, there are no small theatres—only small actors."
Visit Davidson's page on the Playbill Vault.
The cast also includes pop singer Aaron Carter, Jeremiah James (Carousel), Bill Bateman (Gypsy, Hello, Dolly!), Tom Flagg (Will Rogers Follies, How To Succeed...), Jeremy Greenbaum (Preface), Matt Leisy (The History Boys), Addi McDaniel (Little House on the Prairie), Michael Nostrand (Jelly's Last Jam, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Dan Sharkey (The Music Man, Show Boat), Juliette Trafton (Phantom of the Opera) and Scott Willis (Annie, State Fair, Crazy For You).
The Fantasticks is the world's longest-running musical, having played a record-breaking run of more than 17,000 performances in Greenwich Village. Harvey Schmidt wrote the music, and Tom Jones penned the book and lyrics. The Fantasticks originally opened at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in May 1960 and closed Jan. 13, 2002. The original company included Wedding Singer star Rita Gardner and the late Jerry Orbach.
Book writer and lyricist Jones staged the revival of The Fantasticks, which has choreography by Janet Watson. Terzetto LLC, Pat Flicker Addiss and MARS Theatricals (Amy Danis and Mark Johannes) produce.
The Fantasticks resumed performances Off-Broadway at the Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater June 16, 2008.
Premium tickets are also available. For tickets phone (212) 921-7862 or visit Ticketmaster.
