It went really well and theyre, like, We want to produce this and we have a slot. Its a symbol, a metaphor for the journey of our family. Rich Topol starred as stage manager Lemml in Indecent (photo by Carol Rosegg). He shouldnt be a lounge singer. The Pianist features an original score by acclaimed Dutch concert pianist Iris Hond. But because its about one of the hardest things and most personal struggles that Ive experienced for the last forty-six years of my life, since my father died, it was scary to share, but it felt worth sharing. REGRETS stars Alexis Bledel ('Gilmore Girls'), Curt Bouril ('Boardwalk Empire'), Ansel Elgort (Off-Broadway debut), Brian Hutchison(MTC's From Up Here), Tony Award winner Adriane Lenox (MTC's Doubt), Lucas Caleb Rooney (Orphan's Home Cycle), and Richard Topol (The Normal Heart). at Primary Stages, Broadway's The Big Knife,Glengarry Glen Ross) as Babe Ruth. Ive also actually played a lot of Jewish narrators who step into the play. I went to a concert where everybody had to be masked and there were some empty seats, but it was pretty much sold out. That seemed like a good starting-off point, discussing my becoming a father and my seeing the best potential father to me to help me learn how to be a father. Known For The Good Doctor Lincoln Malcolm in the Middle The Blacklist Ghost Whisperer Elementary Manifest Curb Your Enthusiasm Acting 2016 Indignation as Mo Greenberg 2005 Ghost Whisperer ( 1 episode) as James Sutherland 1999 Mickey Blue Eyes as FBI Chef in Truck 1995 Party Girl as Hannah Buff 1994 That seemed like a good starting-off point, discussing my becoming a father and my seeing the best potential father to me to help me learn how to be a father. This is the kind of play that should be running during the election. But then I went to a hockey game and sixteen thousand people are screaming, no masks, lots of eating and drinking. - present) (1 child) See also And she said, You just got an offer from Manhattan Theatre Club for Prayer for the French Republic. And I asked him about managing the 73 Mets. What was the rehearsal process like? 59E59 Theaters and The Civilians have announced the full cast & creative team for He came in with his finished draft and we did a reading of it, prepandemic and in-person. He looked up, put on a big smile, and said in that Yogi way, No ones asked me about that in years. By Steve Feeney Share Rich. twi-ny: If Lukas were still around to see you in the show, would he be happy with your piano playing? It goes from Molly just clinking one note to me playing something schematic to Peyton [Lusk] playing that lovely Chopin piece to the end; the piano has a journey too. Im like, Okay, sure. Then we got into the rehearsal space in December. Theater review: Richard Topol explores his roles as father and son at Portland Stage The Broadway actor's one-man show, 'Searching for Mr. Moon,' is autobiographical. Even those people understand, given what weve lived with, at least certainly for the last few years. For the last six and a half weeks, we have been safe and weve been able to do it. So weve been careful and thoughtful and fortunate, and I hope we continue to be so. Im like, Why is my agent calling me? It goes from Molly just clinking one note to me playing something schematic to Peyton [Lusk] playing that lovely Chopin piece to the end; the piano has a journey too. Youre not invested in a team, the whole idea of a team creating a thing and living together and becoming a version of a theater family, or whatever it is. Richard Topol was born, is Actor, Miscellaneous Crew. Where I feel most soulful and spiritual is when Ive climbed a mountain and I feel small in relation to a large, amazing thing. The show closed on March 12. The show closed on March 12. Im just some guy . Behind him in his living room is a landscape by his mother-in-law, the painter and teacher Cornelia (Brendel) Foss. 59E59 Theaters and The Civilians have announced the full cast . He was by himself and I went over to him and said, Im going to ask you something that no one probably ever asks you about. There had been a lot of preparation. That was Buddy Harrelson, Wayne Garrett, Tommie Agee, Jerry Grote. Tony Award winner Santino Fontana (Tootsie) will star in the new play The Pianist as Szpilman in a by-invitation only development reading Thursday June 23 in NYC. Originally from Larchmont, NY, he now lives in New York City with his wife, actress, Richard Topol as Fritz Haber in Genius: Einstein, Episode 7, Richard Topol as Fritz Haber on Genius: Einstein episode 1. It was the first production of the first play that Ive ever cowritten. in MTC's REGRETS. A few days after Prayer for the French Republic opened at Manhattan Theater Clubs Stage I at City Center, we talked about one-person shows, getting Covid, baseball, and what its like being an actor in lockdown, including a detailed description of mounting a play as a pandemic continues. Richard Topol is the author of Naked City (3.75 avg rating, 5387 ratings, 446 reviews, published 2011), The Maze at Windermere (3.50 avg rating, 2855 rat. My wife came and saw the show. And Josh had done some incredible things. Did you enjoy working on Zoom? If youre a WASP from white privilege, maybe you look at this play and think, like Patrick, Whats the big deal, you know? That theater had stayed open through the pandemic because Maine had so few cases, because of the regulations, and because of their skill at keeping people safe. And on the other hand, it was incredibly scary because it was the first play that Id ever cowritten with anybody, and it was about my life. The language flowed more naturally to Richard Topol, whose grandparents all spoke Yiddish. I mean, I enjoyed working as opposed to not working. Michael 3 episodes, 2018 Saul Rubinek . Tuesday Sunday through March 27, $99 rt: I think he would be disappointed. Then we got into the rehearsal space in December. www.manhattantheatreclub.com. twi-ny: A lot of people still feel that way. Preceded by. Behind him in his living room is a landscape by his mother-in-law, the painter and teacher Cornelia (Brendel) Foss. In the video below, Patrick Healy visited the Tony Award-winning revival of 'The Normal Heart' to see if its relevant to younger gay people today. We did the kind of work that you do in a play before you get up on your feet. And the play started to be about that. Photo Coverage: Kelli O'Hara, Sam Waterston & More Open KING LEAR at the Public! Bikeman will be available to listen to online on demand from September 8-18, 2022. Ive always had this obsession with searching for a father and he was my father-in-law, so lets do that. We have a place upstate that we escaped too, and I got a call two days later from my agents. and Larry Kramers The Normal Heart. Rich Topol meets Yogi Berra on opening night of Bronx Bombers (photo David Gordon). Its interesting because it connects to the father thing. Larry David and Jason Alexander stopped by last night's TONIGHT SHOW to talk to Jimmy about their Broadway play Fish in the Dark. And so the ones that I was willing to share were the ones that couldnt be avoided and, I guess, were the most important. Wayne Alan Wilcox, Richard Topol, Jim Parsons, Ellen Barkin, Joe Mantello attending the Broadway Opening Night Performance for 'The Normal Heart' in New York City. Benhamou, Kenneth Tigar, Richard Topol, Nancy Robinette KING LEAR will run through Sunday, November 20 in The Public's Newman Theater and opened last night, November 8. rt: Right. Jason Alexander Returns to Broadway in Larry David's Comedy Play, VIDEO: Jason Alexander Talks FISH IN THE DARK; Performs Magic Act on 'Live', VIDEO: Jason Alexander and Larry David Talk FISH IN THE DARK on 'Tonight', BWW TV: Sneak Peek at Primary Stages' BRONX BOMBERS. So you cant pick a bone with me if it was because my father had just died and my next-door neighbor was a Yankees fan. He is married to actress Eliza Foss; they have one daughter, and Richard was close with his father-in-law, the late German-American composer, pianist, and conductor Lukas Foss. rt: Yeah. He had a really interesting life and a really challenging death. Everybody did keep their masks on, but there were some drinking and eating. Alexander steps into the role created by David in the comedy about a death in the family. Then when my wife told the story to Willy about when she gave birth the opening scene of the play is her giving birth to our daughter and Elizas parents, in black tie, come in from a gala, bursting into the delivery room because they thought she was about to have a baby she was about to have a baby were like, What are you doing here? During our wide-ranging Zoom conversation, Topol is thoughtful and generous, laughing and smiling . And so the guy lost his physical abilities and his mental abilities. But even though theyre being Covid careful, they have diminished audiences because there are a lot of people who feel, Im not going to see a play. The language is so beautiful. "There were probably a good two dozen words that were a regular part of our household," he says. Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of Lincoln Center Theater's ADMISSIONS, Photo Flash: Billy Crudup, Phillipa Soo, Steven Pasquale, Sutton Foster and More Celebrate HARRY CLARKE Opening Off-Broadway, Photo Coverage: On the Red Carpet for Opening Night of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. He is married to actress Eliza Foss; they have one daughter, and Richard was close with his father-in-law, the late German-American composer, pianist, and conductor Lukas Foss. Its a symbol, a metaphor for the journey of our family. Photo Coverage: INDECENT Company Celebrates Opening Night on Broadway! You played Yogi in Bronx Bombers. About seven years ago, I was sitting in the audience at a play when I recognized the man in front of me, actor Richard Topol. And then because the pandemic happened, we both had the time to really work on it. Get Richard Topol's email address (r*****@cnrs.fr) and phone number at RocketReach. And then the testing protocols, were getting tested every day, and you cant come into the room until youve tested negative, and, knock wood, thats been it. I know I was a Mets fan in 73, and then we moved, and my next-door neighbor was a Yankees fan. During the pandemic, they are looking inside artistic creation with In Process, a series of online presentations written by and starring alumni. twi-ny: So you played Yogi, and then you met him on opening night of the show. Richard Topol is an actor who guest-starred on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Wilson (Happy Now? No, no, please dont. During our wide-ranging Zoom conversation, Topol is thoughtful and generous, laughing and smiling a lot. rt: We were wearing masks around the table. So on the one hand, it was incredibly thrilling. BroadwayWorld was on hang for the big night and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet arrivals. And then the symptoms were gone. He looked up, put on a big smile, and said in that Yogi way, No ones asked me about that in years. Im a tree hugger. I love the progression of the piano in the play. rt: Thank you. People who know me and my life saw it. But I feel like he shouldnt be a better piano player than I am in this play. The truth is, most of the play, I play other people. I feel like the Jews, the Jews get it, the New York Jews get it, or they have really strong opinions about it. Photo Flash: THE NORMAL HEART Production Shots! Rich Topol meets Yogi Berra on opening night of Bronx Bombers (photo David Gordon). And audiences have come. I play my father-in-law. And then, of course, a month later, theyre, like, Yeah, were not going to do the workshop in July. I sing well, and maybe Im justifying, but I feel like I play and sing just well enough but not too well for who he is. You were a Mets fan, then you switched over to the Yankees. And the play started to be about that. He doesnt take over the family business. twi-ny: You guys were great. And putting it up and investing in it, saying, Im sorry, this is too important. Richard Topol attending the 56th Annual Drama Desk Award Nominees Reception at Bombay Palace in New York City. Get the fuck out of here. Related To Adriana Topol, Jeffrey Topol, Margaret Topol, Amy Topol, Herbert Topol. We started first day of rehearsal learning about the Covid protocols, getting tested regularly. 212-581-1212 BroadwayWorld brings you performance highlights below! It was so satisfying. It was a really great time. BWW TV Flashback: THE NORMAL HEART Closes Today on Broadway, STAGE TUBE: THE NORMAL HEART and Today's Gay Youth, STAGE TUBE: THE NORMAL HEART Box Office Triples Since Tony Wins; Broadway Community Shows Support, Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. Im like, Why is my agent calling me? So on the one hand, it was incredibly thrilling. twi-ny: So you played Yogi, and then you met him on opening night of the show. twi-ny: If Lukas were still around to see you in the show, would he be happy with your piano playing? For the last six and a half weeks, we have been safe and weve been able to do it. twi-ny: Thats really interesting to me, because you fit so well as Patrick. And without, I think, insulting anyone and without becoming didactic and preachy. He had Parkinsons disease. I play my father-in-law. We do not want to shut this play down. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT SERIES twi-ny: A lot of people still feel that way. I read it to myself and I thought, this is the best play Ive read in ten years. And I wanted to be his friend. He was even more thankful when I told him that I had included him in my review. We did a developmental workshop in June up in Maine. Itll be sometime in 2021. Hes an extremely amiable mensch who clearly loves his chosen profession. I got the feeling that this was a group of actors working in tandem. I think that most of the major religions are about feeling good to be small under the umbrella of something thats bigger than our oneness, that connects us all. The business is entirely shut down. And we were shut down. And in the scenes where I play myself, most of that writing is me, having written down my versions of stories that Ive experienced. The actor was ecstatic as he began his journey to fatherhood, it had been greatly anticipated, so when it eventually happened, he became dedicated to the course. He shouldnt be a lounge singer. I mean, I also shot some TV shows over the course of the pandemic, so all of the Zoom stuff felt more like the way an actor like me connects to short-term work. And for those of us whod been with it for two years, were like, Oh my God, were finally getting to do it. Is this too Jewy? And so initially we decided it would be about Lukas Foss, who was my father-in-law, a really interesting man who had a really interesting life. Although my mother came and saw the show. You dont develop a through-line, you dont understand the arc of things. twi-ny: Throughout your career, and especially more recently, youve played a lot of Jews: Sam Feinschreiber in Awake & Sing, Fritz Haber in Genius: Einstein, Lemml in Indecent, and now Patrick, who is a nonreligious Jew. A few days after Prayer for the French Republic opened at Manhattan Theater Clubs Stage I at City Center, we talked about one-person shows, getting Covid, baseball, and what its like being an actor in lockdown, including a detailed description of mounting a play as a pandemic continues. and Larry Kramers The Normal Heart. at New York City Center, Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque Will Join MOULIN ROUGE! Rich Topol poses with a hot car on set of EPIX series Godfather of Harlem. MTC at New York City Center Stage I He holds an MFA in Acting from NYU's Graduate Acting Program and a BA in Political Science from Brown University. So thats the sort of glib answer. Willy was like, I want to write a one-man show for you. And then a month later, its, Yeah, were not going to do the play in September. Im hoping to bring the show to New York, but I think doing it here, thatll be scary. And then we did a couple of Zoom workshops. He is currently starring in Joshua Harmons Prayer for the French Republic, a scintillating three-hour exploration of anti-Semitism that travels between 1944 and 2016; Topol plays Patrick Salomon, a nonreligious Jew who has decided not to go into the family piano business. Just last night, Manhattan Theatre Club celebrated opening night of the Broadway premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning How I Learned to Drive, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. We started first day of rehearsal learning about the Covid protocols, getting tested regularly. BWW TV: FISH IN THE DARK Montage! And so the guy lost his physical abilities and his mental abilities. Kate Shindle has been re-elected president of Actors' Equity, the union representing more than 51,000 theatrical actors and stage managers.She was first elected to the post in 2015, having previously served as the union's eastern regional vice president. And I think thats one of the greatest things about the play, because it leaves the audience getting to consider those ideas that youve mentioned from a lot of perspectives. rt: Right. They produced a lot of one-person shows. That is followed March 26-29 with an untitled piece by Joshua David Robinson and Susanna Stahlmann consisting of poems written in response to the protests of the summer of 2020. I felt more exposed than Id ever felt before in my life. And so I was so excited to be part of the beginning of it. Latest News on Richard Topol: Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of THE UNBELIEVING at 59E59 Theaters (Oct 31, 2022) Review: THE UNBELIEVING at 59E59 Theaters- Compelling Play Presents A Meaningful. rt: Well, it started actually in August of 2019, when Josh had been commissioned by Manhattan Theater Club to write a play. I think that most of the major religions are about feeling good to be small under the umbrella of something thats bigger than our oneness, that connects us all. No, no, please dont. rt: Oh, less upsetting because I know Im not a professional. Because when I became a Yankees fan, the Yankee sucked. We did a developmental workshop in June up in Maine. I sing well, and maybe Im justifying, but I feel like I play and sing just well enough but not too well for who he is. And so it was the worst it could be without being bad. So that was the very last performance you could do in New York. . Pierre Epstein, Peyton Lusk, Jeff Seymour, Francis Benhamou, Nancy Robinette, Kenneth Tigar, Ari Brand, Pierre Epstein, Peyton Lusk, and Richard I was in The Chosen a couple of times [Theres a knock at the door and Topol gets up to answer it, then returns.] Yeah, I love that play. [Director] Saheem Ali was great and it was a great cast, obviously in a really interesting play. rt: He does a great job of giving everybody a valid argument. But the larger questions that Josh asks in the play relate to almost everyone. He was beautiful. They want to do a workshop in July and then well go into rehearsal in September and run till Christmas. The Normal Heart made its World Premiere at The Public Theater in 1985 and premiered on Broadway on April 19, 2011 before opening to rave reviews on April 27, 2011. And thats how it came to pass, and Anita Stewart, the artistic director of Portland Stage, was just a real cheerleader for the piece. Were going to put this play up. 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