Stage to PageTheir Favorite Things: Cheyenne Jackson Shares His Theatregoing ExperiencesAmong Jackson's most memorable productions are Hamilton, The Light in the Piazza and The Normal Heart.
By
Andrew Gans
August 03, 2016
Stage and screen star Cheyenne Jackson, who will return for the sixth season of American Horror Story, released his latest solo album, Renaissance, in June on the PS Classics label. Adapted from his one-man show Music of the Mad Men Era, the recording鈥攚hich features a 22-piece orchestra鈥攈it the Top 10 on the Billboard 鈥淛azz Albums鈥� chart in its first week of release. Below, the acclaimed singing actor reveals the Broadway performances and shows that most affected him as part of the audience.
The Full Monty
Marcus Neville, Andr茅 De Shields, John Ellison Conlee, Patrick Wilson, Romain Frug茅, and Jason Danieley in The Full MontyCraig Schwartz
First Broadway show I ever saw. Caught a matinee my first full day in the city. 鈥淏reeze Off the River鈥� gutted me. 聽
Hand to God
Steven Boyer in the Broadway production of Hand to GodJoan Marcus
Saw it in its first incarnation Off Off-Broadway. Affected me deeply. 聽At intermission I called a Broadway producer friend to tell them to get down there immediately...They'd already seen it...twice, and it was already in the planning stages for future Broadway glory.
The Light in the Piazza
Victoria Clark and Kelli O'Hara
Joan Marcus
So beautiful it hurt.
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda and the company of HamiltonJoan Marcus
Reminded me what is possible with the power of musical theatre.
The Seagull
Peter Sarsgaard and Carey Mulligan
Joan Marcus
Carey Mulligan and Kristin Scott Thomas made me understand Chekhov like I never had before.
Jersey Boys
The company of Jersey BoysJoan Marcus
Crazy good. The original boys were magnificent, and the staging and choreography were thrilling.
Monty Python's Spamalot
Christopher SIeber and Sara Ramirez
Joan Marcus
Fully committed comedy. Sara Ramirez and Chris Sieber killed me. 聽
The Normal Heart
Cast of The Normal HeartJoan Marcus
One of the most electrifying nights I've ever spent in the theatre. 聽I'll never forget Joe Mantello's performance as long as I live.聽
The Book of Mormon
Rema Webb, Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad in The Book of MormonJoan Marcus
I played Elder Price in a couple early workshops, so I knew what I was in for, but what Andrew [Rannells], Josh [Gad], Nikki [M. James] and the rest of the cast pulled off was heartbreakingly perfect.
Billy Elliot
Trent Kowalik and company in the Broadway production of Billy ElliotAlastair Muir
The play by Emil Weinstein is based on the memoir by Abby Chava Stein, an openly transgender woman directly descended from Hasidic Judaism's founder, the Baal Shem Tov.