In theatre, leading roles may get the final bow, but ensembles make the first impression. The ensemble (or chorus), particularly of a musical, are the scaffolding on which a production is built. Filled with triple threats鈥攚ho are asked to do more and more as musical theatre evolves and creators add everything from skateboarding to gymnastics to playing your own instruments to their duties鈥攖heatre鈥檚 ensembles are home to some of the hardest working people in show business, tasked with creating the onstage world. That鈥檚 why our friends at The Ensemblist recognize four individuals who represent the creme de la creme. Last year鈥檚 winners鈥擪evin Worley, Gregory Haney, Kim Faure, and Denis Stowe鈥攅ach named their pick for this year鈥檚 Fourth Annual Ensemblist Awards, created by Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone of The Ensemblist podcast. Look out for these four actors who embody the ensemblist spirit:
Current Show: Chicago
Broadway Credits: Spamalot, White Christmas, Bullets Over Broadway, Something Rotten!
First ensemble: My high school鈥檚 production of Bye Bye Birdie! Professionally, the 1st National Tour of 42nd Street.
Your most memorable ensemble experience: My Broadway debut was Spamalot, and during bows, Tim Curry (who played King Arthur) stepped aside and moved me forward into his spot in the principal bowline. I鈥檒l never forget that moment and how gracious he was to me.
Why you鈥檙e proud to be an ensemblist: The ensemble is the heart & soul of a show. Being in the ensemble is unselfish. You serve the show not for accolades for yourself but as a unit. It鈥檚 refreshing to see a group of people not serving themselves but serving the story. The ensemble works so hard for the love of art. There鈥檚 nothing I鈥檓 more honored to be a part of than giving 150 percent in an ensemble, even if I鈥檓 in the back corner upstage. That鈥檚 a true ensemblist.
Nominated by Kevin Worley: 鈥淔irst of all, her performance is ALWAYS 110 percent and always flawless!鈥� says Worley. 鈥淪econdly, she may be the nicest and most positive person ever to grace a Broadway stage. Thirdly, she is the true embodiment of family, tribe, ensemble, pack, herd, whatever you want to call it. She organizes, she promotes, she participates, she brings goodies and she always says 鈥榶es.鈥� She is a JOY to work with!鈥�
Current Show: Waitress
Broadway Credits: Tarzan, Hair, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, The Book of Mormon, Violet
First ensemble: My first professional ensemble job was a Dynamite in Hairspray.
Your most memorable ensemble experience: Getting naked in Hair the musical or flying in Priscilla.
Why you鈥檙e proud to be an ensemblist: I鈥檓 proud because I am a part of a community of fabulous artists who love to tell stories!
Nominated by Gregory Haney: 鈥淭he only way to describe Anastacia is exceptional,鈥� says Haney. 鈥淪he鈥檚 everything you want in a performer. Genuine, generous, smart, and captivating. I love her!鈥�
Current Show: Hello, Dolly!
Broadway Credits: On The Town, Kiss Me, Kate, Into the Woods, Nine, Wonderful Town, Young Frankenstein, Anything Goes, Cinderella, On The 20th Century, Beautiful: the Carole King Musical
First ensemble: On The Town directed by George C. Wolfe.
Your most memorable ensemble experience: Kiss Me Kate stands out in my mind as an exceptional experience. The director, Michael Blakemore, really drove home the fact that the work of the ensemble is extremely important. I remember him saying that the world of the show is conveyed by the specificity of the ensemble. The deeper the work from the ensemble, the more rich the world of the show will be.
Why you鈥檙e proud to be an ensemblist: What is the quote from Angela Lansbury? 鈥淗ave you ever been in the ensemble?鈥� 鈥淣o.鈥� She said, 鈥淚鈥檓 not talented enough to be.鈥� Something to that effect.
Nominated by Kim Faure: 鈥淟inda Mugleston is the unsung hero of Broadway, in my opinion,鈥� says Faure. 鈥淪he is the most gracious, professional, wise, and hilarious dressing roommate and ensemble member, and then transforms effortlessly into every major role she understudies with poise and confidence. I have had the honor of performing in two Broadway shows with Linda, and have looked up to her since the first day I walked into the Anything Goes dressing room.鈥�
Current Show: The Book of Mormon
Broadway Credits: Rent, All Shook Up, Memphis
First ensemble: My first ensemble was when I was a senior at LaGuardia High School here in New York City. We did Marat/Sade. Initially, I was secretly mad that I hadn鈥檛 been cast in a role. I didn鈥檛 want to be in 鈥渢he chorus.鈥� When my professor Bill Britten got wind of it he said, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not in the chorus, you're in the ensemble鈥here鈥檚 a difference.鈥� I carry that with me today. Even when I鈥檓 in what looks like a 鈥渃horus鈥� I work from the 鈥渆nsemble鈥� point of view. I鈥檓 nobody鈥檚 backdrop. Big or small, my contribution matters.
Your most memorable ensemble experience: I got a chance to see The Book of Mormon in London. Watching another cast do a show that I had a part in creating and seeing it live and breathe was thrilling. I saw all the work that we did here in New York City come to life somewhere else. That makes my current ensemble the most memorable.
Why you鈥檙e proud to be an ensemblist: I鈥檓 proud to know that what I do and how I do it can resonate and inspire other artists. You never know how you can change someone鈥檚 life by the work you do and how you move through the world.
Nominated by Dennis Stowe: 鈥淚 choose him because he鈥檚 not only one of my oldest and dearest friends but also extremely talented, a consummate professional, and the epitome of grace when balancing life and career and someone who I strive to be more like,鈥� says Stowe. 鈥淎bsolutely deserving of this honor!鈥�
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