The constellations have nothing on Waitress’ Drew Gehling. When we meet in front of the American Museum of Natural History on a bright Friday afternoon, he’s beaming, eager to revisit one of his favorite New York destinations. As we walk inside, our conversation quickly diverts from casual formalities to an animated discussion about his love of Neil Degrasse Tyson, the famed astrophysicist and director of the museum’s Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. For the Broadway leading man, there is no better way to beat the heat than exploring a museum. “I always grew up going to museums, but it’s only been recently that I’ve realized that as you grow, the museum always grows,” Gehling explains. “Your perception of exhibits change as you change.”
Perhaps it’s his appreciation for the larger world around him that makes Gehling value the intimate moments of summer on Broadway more. “Seeing people in the summer, it’s completely different. It’s not a part of their routine. It’s something unique and special and it might be the only Broadway show they see all year. And that’s exciting to be a part of.”
Flip through photos of the afternoon below:
