Certain fads are too cool to die and live theatre is proving itself to be one of them. The charm, elegance and timeless draw of the big stage is almost every star's first introduction into the broad, hectic world of acting. After all, everybody has to start somewhere. Whether it be their high school drama program or a child star period where their mother dragged them to every Pampers commercial audition in Los Angeles, raw, uncut live artistic storytelling is pleasantly familiar.
Bradley Cooper arrives at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los
Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2014. (Kirk McKoy/
Los Angeles Times/MCT)
However, this year's star-laced line up is nothing short of spectacular. Actors like Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Jake Gyllenhaall, Matthew Broderick, Jason Biggs, Jim Parsons and even Vanessa Hudgens have their names printed in classic Broadway playbills.
Broadway fans alike have reason to get excited — perhaps one of the most anticipated productions of the year, "The Elephant Man," is currently running at Booth Theatre this month. Stars like Patricia Clarkson, Bradley Cooper and Alessandro Nivola make up the cast of the Tony Award-winning classic by Bernard Pomerance.
Even though he may be off camera currently, Bradley Cooper can't get too far from his film-acting career, with shows being canceled and postponed under rumor so that Cooper could attend the Oscars.
America's up-and-coming sweetheart who began her acting career no farther than 20 feet from the Downtown campus at Valley Youth Theatre, Emma Stone, stars in "Cabaret." Critics worried Stone may not have been able to carry the stage weight after Liza Minnelli and most recently Michelle Williams did the role complete justice. But, as always, Stone captures hearts and makes the role her own.
There is little difference between the stage and the screen for these faces we know and love. And if a trip to New York was as easy and a taking the light rail to downtown, we'd be there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we'll just have to wait to see our favorites until the success inspires touring deals alike.
Emma Stone arrives at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills,
Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los
Angeles Times/TNS)
Until then, be sure to check out the Broadway shows ASU Gammage is hosting this season. Touring Broadway shows like Dirty Dancing, Cinderella, Chicago, Motown the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked all hit the main stage this year and are 10 times as affordable.
So, take your mom, take your friends, take that intramural team whose butt you kicked last week, but by all means, keep the long time love of theater alive and thriving.
Reach the reporter at Faith.Decker@asu.edu or follow @TheFaithDecker on Twitter.
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