Tom Cavanagh of TV's "Ed" Joins Bway's Urinetown May 20 | Playbill

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News Tom Cavanagh of TV's "Ed" Joins Bway's Urinetown May 20 It's a long way from Stuckeyville to Urinetown, but actor Tom Cavanagh makes the trip May 20, leaving behind the Midwestern hamlet of TV's "Ed," in which he plays the title character, for Broadway's darkly comic musical.
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Tom Cavanagh Photo by NBC Photo/Paul Drinkwater

While on break from "Ed," Cavanagh will play rebellious Bobby Strong, who leads an uprising to tell the world that passing water is a God-given right, not a society determined privilege. The musical was a 2002 sensation at the Tony Awards, winning Best Book, Best Score and Best Direction of a Musical.

Back in 1989, when Tom Cavanagh went by Thomas Cavanagh, he appeared in the Broadway revival of the musical, Shenandoah, which starred Urinetown bad guy John Cullum.

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Cavanagh's critically acclaimed work on "Ed" earned him a Golden Globe nomination as well as a TV Guide Award for Favorite Actor in a New Series. In its premiere season, "Ed" won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy Series.

According to his NBC bio, the 34-year-old Cavanagh "was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the second child of five children. When he was 6, his parents moved the family to a small village in the West African nation of Ghana. His father set up an education program to train local teachers in modern methods of learning while his mother taught the village locals. Cavanagh spent his childhood in Ghana but traveled all over Europe during the summer. His family returned to their native Canada and Cavanagh started high school in Montreal. He later enrolled in Queens College in Ontario and pursued his growing interest in theatre and music. He also became an exceptional athlete, playing varsity hockey and basketball." His stage credits include Grease, A Chorus Line, Cabaret and Brighton Beach Memoirs.

On TV, Cavanagh had a recurring role on NBC’s Providence "as a vulnerable young man from Newfoundland who thought he was a dog until he discovered his inner man."

Charlie Pollock, the most recent Bobby in Urinetown at the Henry Miller Theatre, will join the national tour, playing Bobby on the road. Hunter Foster, who originated the role on Broadway, is the new Seymour in the Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors.

Carolee Carmello joined Urinetown April 29, taking on the role of Penelope Pennywise (Victoria Clark left April 27).

Urinetown won 2002 Tony Awards for Best Book, Best Score and Best Direction. The darkly comic musical tells of a futuristic city where a drought and water shortage prompts a corrupt corporation to run public toilets — and charges the citizenry dearly.

The Henry Miller Theatre is at 124 W. 43rd Street. For ticket information, call (212) 239-6200.

 
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