Special FeaturesHow Two-Time Tony Winner Christian Borle Discovered His Own VersatilityBorle takes us inside his creative genius as he pivots from the emotional Falsettos to the fantastical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
By
Ruthie Fierberg
April 24, 2017
Jake Ryan Flynn and Christian Borle
Joan Marcus
鈥淪enior year of college, I wanted to be the Emcee in Cabaret, and I didn鈥檛 get it and instead I was the gorilla, and the kiss couple, and the head waiter, and all these amazing parts,鈥� says two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle. 鈥淭he opportunity to play a bunch of different parts in one show is just as thrilling to be given the opportunity to play one person in one season.鈥� So imagine how thrilled Borle feels to play two principals in one season.
After a successful run leading the fall revival of Falsettos as Marvin (a man who leaves his wife and son for another man), Borle slips into purple tails and a top hat to originate the role of master chocolatier Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, now playing the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
John Rubinstein, Ben Crawford, Emma Pfaeffle, Jake Ryan Flynn, Christian Borle, Trista Dollison, Alan H. Green, Jackie Hoffman, and Michael Wartella
Joan Marcus
鈥淭he sweetest thing about this season,鈥� says Borle, 鈥渉as been the balance of the tone of the material and what鈥檚 required for something like Falsettos, and then the expectation of what Willy Wonka should be.
鈥淰ariety is fantastic,鈥� he grins. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my favorite thing.鈥� From romantic leads like Thoroughly Modern Millie鈥檚 Jimmy and Legally Blonde鈥檚 underdog Emmett to Tony-winning turns as Peter and the Starcatcher鈥檚 out-ra-geous Black Stache and Something Rotten!鈥檚 hubristic Shakespeare, if there鈥檚 anyone who could play both Marvin and Wonka鈥攍et alone in the same season鈥攊t鈥檚 Borle.
In fact, Black Stache marked a turning point in Borle鈥檚 career. 鈥淎ctors, myself included, are such insecure, self-effacing, self-deprecating beings,鈥� he admits. 鈥淏ut there was something about the collaborating of Peter and the Starcatcher and the creating over the course of years and being trusted. 鈥� Peter was the first experience I had where we got it to the point where everything landed.鈥�
Borle鈥檚 success in the role first unearthed his gift for versatility, which relies on his ability to relate to his characters. 鈥淭he trick with Willy Wonka has been finding how close he is to me,鈥� says Borle, 鈥渁nd he鈥檚 closer than I expected, actually.
鈥淲e鈥檙e finding ways to hopefully humanize him right out of the gate,鈥� says Borle. Though his Wonka feels more grounded than other portrayals, he鈥檚 still a dreamer. In that way, Borle feels completely in tune with Wonka. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very easy to translate the fun and excitement I feel just getting to be onstage and the glee that Willy Wonka feels at having his amazing factory,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he theatre continues to be the most amazing place to get to work.鈥�
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Enter a World of Pure Imagination With a First Look at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway
Enter a World of Pure Imagination With a First Look at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway
The new musical stars Christian Borle as candy impresario Willy Wonka.
6 PHOTOS
Ben Crawford, Emma Pfaeffle, Kathy Fitzgerald, F. Michael Haynie, Alan H. Green, Christian Borle, Trista Dollison, John Rubinstein, Ryan Foust, Jackie Hoffman, and Michael Wartella
Joan Marcus
Jake Ryan Flynn and Christian Borle
Joan Marcus
Kristy Cates, Madeleine Doherty, Paul Slade Smith, Emily Padgett, John Rubenstein, and Ryan Sell
Ryan Foust
Joan Marcus
John Rubinstein, Ben Crawford, Emma Pfaeffle, Jake Ryan Flynn, Christian Borle, Trista Dollison, Alan H. Green, Jackie Hoffman, and Michael Wartella
