CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Don't tell the producers of this year's West Side Story revival that we're in a recession. The Broadway behemoth has been raking in weekly ticket sales of more than $1 million since it opened in March, breaking the theater's sales records.
Though much of the credit goes to the enduring classic's creators, the theater's seats wouldn't continue to fill up if Matt Cavenaugh, as iconic protagonist Tony, wasn't so successful fulfilling the demanding expectations of sentimental theatergoers, not to mention those of the notoriously persnickety Arthur Laurents, who is directing this production.
'My second and final audition for the part was like a mini-performance -- full of suits. Arthur, Stephen Sondheim, the musical director, the casting director, the choreographer, representatives from the Jerome Robbins estate, the Leonard Bernstein estate, lawyers, producers, publicists,' he says. 'Still, I think Arthur was definitely the hardest to please.'
But Cavenaugh concedes that theatergoers might be tougher. 'People think they know the show so well and can be so rigid about what they think it should be, but the man who wrote it [Laurents] is the only one free to say, 'This part doesn't work anymore. Maybe it did 50 years ago, but it doesn't now.''
Cavenaugh most recently appeared alongside Christine Ebersole in the 2006'2007 production of Grey Gardens and with Harvey Fierstein in 2008's A Catered Affair. Still others may remember the Arkansas native's Broadway debut in Urban Cowboy, thanks to the hot publicity posters that featured Cavenaugh, shirtless and oiled-up, atop a mechanical bull.
Fans of Cavenaugh might have something to covet beside his abs. 'I inherited my dressing room at the Palace Theatre from Liza, and I still have the red carpet she left behind,' he laughs. 'If Liza leaves you a present, you accept it graciously.'
Send a letter to the editor about this article.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
38 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes
November 17 2023 5:18 PM
These are all the celebrities Who came out as LGBTQ+ in 2023
December 31 2023 12:19 PM
29 LGBTQ+ celebs you can follow on OnlyFans
April 18 2024 1:00 PM
26 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
February 28 2024 1:50 PM
16 times male celebrities had to say they weren't gay
April 17 2024 11:57 AM
21 LGBTQ+ reality dating shows & where to watch them
April 03 2024 4:01 PM
15 Unforgettable Gay Kissing Scenes From TV & Movies
February 14 2024 10:20 AM
14 queens who quit or retired from drag after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
April 04 2024 12:56 PM
40 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
January 04 2024 10:54 AM
The 15 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2023
December 04 2023 10:32 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Oliver Stark wants to keep exploring Buck's bisexuality on '9-1-1'
April 18 2024 7:52 PM
11 LGBTQ+ athletes we'll be rooting for at the 2024 Olympics
April 18 2024 5:51 PM
15 pics proving Sarah Paulson & Pedro Pascal are an iconic bestie duo
April 18 2024 5:06 PM
Game, Set, Serve! Law Roach wants fans to wear tenniscore for 'Challengers'
April 18 2024 4:48 PM
Fiancés Ben Platt & Noah Galvin are serious couple goals in new music video
April 18 2024 4:39 PM
Josh Cavallo opens up about the injury keeping him off the field
April 18 2024 1:17 PM
Relatable! Rihanna stans 'Drag Race' & Bravo just as much as we do
April 18 2024 12:36 PM
On Anal Sex Day, crack up with The Bottom's Digest
April 18 2024 10:40 AM
How Todrick Hall is giving back to the community
April 17 2024 8:35 PM
Here's who 'Drag Race' fans on social media want to see win season 16
April 17 2024 5:05 PM