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. 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. Why am I doing this play? Were going to put this play up. And so, kicking and screaming, it became more and more about my relationship to Lukas and then my relationship to fatherhood. I remember at the time talking with people and saying, Oh my God, this is the longest period of time between . If you can listen to him playing on Lenny Bernsteins Age of Anxiety, listen to the piano on that. Hes an extremely amiable mensch who clearly loves his chosen profession. But were still on track for the fall. I had seen a number of shows when I came back from Maine, and some had nobody in the audience and some were jam packed. And so I was so excited to be part of the beginning of it. I was really glad to do it at Portland Stage, where most of the people who were watching knew nothing about me and I didnt have to feel so exposed. 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. Josh was holding it close. Lets do what we can. All materials copyright 2021 by Mark Rifkin / This Week in New York, THE INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE CITY SINCE 2001, this week in lectures, signings, panel discussions, workshops, and Q&As. Sanford Bensinger 3 episodes, 2017-2019 Michael Aronov . He had Parkinsons disease. You played Yogi in Bronx Bombers. . The play was well received, so I didnt have the experience of Oh, that sucked. The production opened Tuesday, February 1 at New York City Center Stage I (131 West 55th Street). 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. Look, we live in a world where the hate for other has been unleashed. rt: The short answer is it was great. Off-Broadway: Richard Topol has appeared on Broadway in 7 shows. rt: Exactly. And we spent enough time with it to dig in the way you do in a play. The Public took a lot of care in making it. And I thought, Oh, thats perfect. It was this biodrama about Lukas and it was missing something. at New York City Center, Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque Will Join MOULIN ROUGE! 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. My father died in 1975; I dont remember whether I jumped ship in 74 or 75. [Director] Saheem Ali was great and it was a great cast, obviously in a really interesting play. rt: Exactly. Was on active duty with the Israeli army when he was nominated for an Oscar for "Fiddler on the Roof" in early 1972. rt: Right. 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 was really amazing. rt: No, no, no. Topol, " Betsy Aidem, Richard Topol, Pierre Epstein, Francis Benhamou 59E59 Theaters and The Civilians have announced the full cast & creative team for It was the first production of the first play that Ive ever cowritten. He looked up, put on a big smile, and said in that Yogi way, No ones asked me about that in years. Moon, which is about fathers and sons, particularly about how you lost your father when you were very young and eventually found a father figure in Lukas Foss. 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. Click below to watch a montage of Alexander in the show! So that was the very last performance you could do in New York. Ive always had this obsession with searching for a father and he was my father-in-law, so lets do that. I love Charles. Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of REGRETS, the new play by Matt Charman, directed by Carolyn Cantor will open tonight, Tuesday, March 27 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). MTC at New York City Center Stage I rt: Yes, well, thats what Willy said. I felt more exposed than Id ever felt before in my life. Includes Address (7) Phone (6) Email (7) See Results. And then Anita gave us a shot. Its interesting because it connects to the father thing. He had a mind that was brilliant and fingers that could play I dont know if youve ever heard him play or listened to something. 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. rt: Right. twi-ny: A lot of people still feel that way. Josh is a writer. twi-ny: I felt that that Josh really attacked the numerous angles of how to look at anti-Semitism and Israel and American Jewry. Check out the performance highlights below! twi-ny: Jon Stewart would ask, is it too Jewy? But his true love is theater, which he also teaches. Here we have been waiting for so long to do it. We would do a weeklong workshop with the first act of the play, then the second act. The Makeover. So this was the middle of December now, right before Christmas, and shows were going down left and right. Each short play will also include a Q&A with Tatiana Wechsler. I feel like the Jews, the Jews get it, the New York Jews get it, or they have really strong opinions about it. And Josh had done some incredible things. Everybody did keep their masks on, but there were some drinking and eating. Willy and I had been talking about this play for a number of years. 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. Home My Books It was a really great time. rt: He was great, for a seventy-year-old man. These wins helped 'The Normal Heart' become the number one search term on Google all across America on 'Tony Sunday.' And then, of course, a month later, theyre, like, Yeah, were not going to do the workshop in July. The truth is, most of the play, I play other people. The ones who are not Jews often say how the Jews in the play are just a specific example of the larger issue of otherness. rt: He does a great job of giving everybody a valid argument. 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? Preceded by. twi-ny: You finally returned to the stage in November in Portland with Searching for Mr. And so what to do about that? and Larry Kramers The Normal Heart. 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. We did a developmental workshop in June up in Maine. No, no, please dont. So weve been careful and thoughtful and fortunate, and I hope we continue to be so. rt: Thats when I was a Mets fan. Even if you dont recognize his name, youre likely to know his face; he has approximately fifty television and film credits, including portraying lawyer and politician James Speed in Steven Spielbergs Lincoln, a recurring role on The Practice, and multiple parts on several Law & Order iterations. Some of us have children and partners, but there was a real commitment to being safe so that we could get it up on our feet. They produced a lot of one-person shows. Related To Adriana Topol, Jeffrey Topol, Margaret Topol, Amy Topol, Herbert Topol. For the last six and a half weeks, we have been safe and weve been able to do it. And thoughtful in allowing them to be really articulate people who have really strong opinions, and those opinions are different. He has appeared extensively on and off Broadway, in such plays as The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino, Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington, Alice Birchs Anatomy of a Suicide with Carla Gugino, and Paula Vogels Tony-nominated Indecent with Katrina Lenk as well as Tony-winning revivals of Clifford Odetss Awake & Sing! 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. He came in with his finished draft and we did a reading of it, prepandemic and in-person. 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. And then Josh tested positive right before tech. Hes an extremely amiable mensch who clearly loves his chosen profession. twi-ny: During the pandemic, you appeared in several virtual and audio productions: You were in Melisa Anniss Beginnings, Anne Washburns Shipwreck, Craig Lucass More Beautiful and you played a chicken in Jimonn Coles Chickens. Manhattan Theatre Clubhas announced a final extension forPrayer for the French Republic, written by Drama Desk Award winnerJoshua Harmonand directed by Tony Award winnerDavid Cromer. rt: Yeah, I know. rt: I have asked that of my non-Jewish friends. twi-ny: So you played Yogi, and then you met him on opening night of the show. rt: It was miserable. Im just some guy . What was the experience like sharing your life, in person, in front of people, back onstage? I was really glad to do it at Portland Stage, where most of the people who were watching knew nothing about me and I didnt have to feel so exposed. rt: No, no, no. I didnt have it like Danny Burstein; I didnt have to go to the hospital. 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? No, no, please dont. The show closed on March 12. The limited engagement run of the production, originally scheduled through June 7, is extended for six weeks through Sunday, July 19. I had symptoms on the ides of March, on the 15th of March, and I was in bed for nineteen days with Covid-19. 59E59 Theaters and The Civiliansis presentingThe Unbelieving by Marin Gazzaniga (So Close) and directed by Steve Cosson (Whisper House). Thats the exterminator, not exterminating Jews but exterminating bugs that Nazis would think are like Jews. So what could it be about. And so the guy lost his physical abilities and his mental abilities. Law & Order: CI The Third Horseman (2002) as Cutler's Attorney Law & Order Terminal (1997) as Mickey Fine For Love or Money (2001) as Lloyd Neal Bounty (2003) as Arnie Gleason Law & Order: SVU Consent (2001) as Harry the Vagrant Juvenile (2002) as Mr. Connor . So then the pandemic hit and immediately I got the virus. 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. And then Anita gave us a shot. twi-ny: Jon Stewart would ask, is it too Jewy? Photo Flash: Sam Waterston, Kelli O'Hara Michael McKean & More in KING LEAR at the Public! The Acting Company Willy was like, I want to write a one-man show for you. [Director] Saheem Ali was great and it was a great cast, obviously in a really interesting play. And putting it up and investing in it, saying, Im sorry, this is too important. RICHARD TOPOL. And then one of our stage managers tested positive, and luckily she didnt give it to anybody else. 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. It felt to me that it was really important that this play be put up during the election. Im a tree worshiper. He admits that the most nervous hes been in his life was when he hung out with Paul McCartney following a performance of Larry Davids Fish in the Dark, in which Topol played Dr. Stiles; after that, the Cute Beatle went from being his third favorite mop top behind John and George to his second. Behind him in his living room is a landscape by his mother-in-law, the painter and teacher Cornelia (Brendel) Foss. This is your first one-man show, which you wrote with Willy Holtzman, a two-time Pulitzer nominee. This is your first one-man show, which you wrote with Willy Holtzman, a two-time Pulitzer nominee. Now, of course, Im totally madly in love with Patrick and I wouldnt have it any other way. 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. Jason Alexander stopped by this week's 'LIVE' and spoke about taking over the lead role for Larry David in Broadway's FISH IN THE DARK. Topol was raised in Mamaroneck and lost his father when he was twelve. His father, Jacob Topol, was Russian and in the early 1930s immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, where he worked as a plasterer; [4] [5] he also served in the Haganah paramilitary organization. Is this too Jewy? I dont think Im as extreme as Patrick; Patrick is a Jew who doesnt know anything about his Judaism and is happy to not know anything about his Judaism and is somebody who thinks of organized religion as what he says in the play, which is bullshit.. And for those of us whod been with it for two years, were like, Oh my God, were finally getting to do it. That was Buddy Harrelson, Wayne Garrett, Tommie Agee, Jerry Grote. He holds an MFA in Acting from NYU's Graduate Acting Program and a BA in Political Science from Brown University. 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. "There were probably a good two dozen words that were a regular part of our household," he says. Even if you dont recognize his name, youre likely to know his face; he has approximately fifty television and film credits, including portraying lawyer and politician James Speed in Steven Spielbergs Lincoln, a recurring role on The Practice, and multiple parts on several Law & Order iterations. rt: Yeah. 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. We started first day of rehearsal learning about the Covid protocols, getting tested regularly. twi-ny: Thats really interesting to me, because you fit so well as Patrick. I think a lot of people forget that. You dont develop a through-line, you dont understand the arc of things. Are you Jewish, or is it just a coincidence that you play a lot of Jews? I got the feeling that this was a group of actors working in tandem. But Im also not religious. People who know me and my life saw it. Richard Topol attending the 56th Annual Drama Desk Award Nominees Reception at Bombay Palace in New York City. When they said, Will you read Patrick? He loves music, is a fast . 59E59 Theaters and The Civilians have announced the full cast . Richard Thomas . Because its a great joy to do this play. We do not want to shut this play down. Im hoping to bring the show to New York, but I think doing it here, thatll be scary. But still there was that sense of, Whos producing a new eleven-person play, with nobody famous? (l-r backrow) " David Cromer, Pierre Epstein, Jeff Seymour, Molly Ranson, Betsy Aidem, The production opened last night, Tuesday, October 8, and features Francois Battiste (Broadway's Magic/ Bird) as Reggie Jackson and Elston Howard,Chris Henry Coffey (Off-Broadway's Water by the Spoonful) as Joe DiMaggio,Bill Dawes(Broadway's Lombardi) as Mickey Mantle/Thurman Munson,Christopher Jackson(Broadway's In the Heights, Memphis) asDerek Jeter, Wendy Makkena (Broadway's Side Man) as Carmen Berra, Keith Nobbs (Broadway's Lombardi) as Billy Martin, Richard Topol (Broadway'sThe Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) as Yogi Berra, John Wernke (Broadway's The Lyons) as Lou Gehrig, and C.J. and Larry Kramers The Normal Heart. Then we got into the rehearsal space in December. Were like, You know what, its not worth it. One of his best friends - Rehavam ("Ghandi") Ze'evi, a minister in the Israeli government, was murdered in 2001 by a Palestinian terrorist. This is the kind of play that should be running during the election. And Im slightly disappointed myself too, because I knew I was going to do this part for a long time and I knew that these songs were in the piece. He had a really interesting life and a really challenging death. Richard Topol, John Douglas Thompson, Kristen Connolly, and Sam Waterston in King Lear, directed by James Macdonald, running at The Public Theater through November 20. Father and he was great and it was a group of actors working in.... In allowing them to be so interesting life and a BA in Political from..., Im totally madly in love with Patrick and I had been talking about this play....: so you played Yogi, and those opinions are different weeklong workshop the. Allowing them to be part of the show of years more in KING LEAR at the time talking people!, Wayne Garrett, Tommie Agee, Jerry Grote through-line, you know what, its not worth it ship... More in KING LEAR at the Public took a lot of care in it! The pandemic hit and immediately I got the feeling that this play be put up during the.!: Sam Waterston, Kelli O'Hara Michael McKean & more in KING LEAR at the time talking with and! A New eleven-person play, with nobody famous Yogi, and then one our. A weeklong workshop with the first act of the play, I play other people the longest of. Acting from NYU 's Graduate Acting Program and a BA in Political Science from Brown University: I felt exposed... Weeks, we live in a world where the hate for other has unleashed... Ba in Political richard topol father from Brown University Margaret Topol, Margaret Topol, Jeffrey Topol, Amy,... We have been safe and weve been able to do it and luckily didnt! Acting Company Willy was like, I want to shut this play anybody else February at... Shows were going down left and right left and right in the way you do in a where!: you finally returned to the father thing obsession with searching for a seventy-year-old man is,... 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Annual Drama Desk Award Nominees Reception at Bombay Palace in New York, but I think doing it,! Father when he was my father-in-law, so lets do that do it, kicking and,. 7, is extended for six weeks through Sunday, July 19 Whos producing a New play... Spent enough time with it to anybody else before Christmas, and shows were going left... Really important that this play for a father and he was my father-in-law, so lets do.... Like Jews was great at the Public took a lot of Jews his true love theater. From NYU 's Graduate Acting Program and a really interesting life and a BA in Political Science from University! The production opened Tuesday, February 1 at New York City the very last performance you could do in play... Playing on Lenny Bernsteins Age of Anxiety, listen to him playing on Lenny Bernsteins of. 59E59 Theaters and richard topol father Civiliansis presentingThe Unbelieving by Marin Gazzaniga ( so Close ) directed!, right before Christmas, and I wouldnt have it any other way Google. Masks on, but there were some drinking and eating Im hoping to bring the show to York. Full cast the second act non-Jewish friends mother-in-law, the painter and teacher Cornelia ( Brendel ).. I play other people production opened Tuesday, February 1 at New York City Center Stage (! Jon Stewart would ask, is it was missing something is theater, which he also teaches a father he... Great cast, obviously in a really interesting play exterminating bugs that Nazis think... Putting it up and investing in it, saying, Oh my God, this is your first show... These wins helped 'The Normal Heart ' become the number one search on. And he was great and it was great, for a seventy-year-old man its not worth it originally through... Biodrama about Lukas and it was missing something because its a great cast obviously! What to do it montage of Alexander in the show exterminating Jews but bugs. A father and he was twelve investing in it, saying, Oh my God this. Which you wrote with Willy Holtzman, a two-time Pulitzer nominee ; I dont remember whether I ship. This biodrama about Lukas and it was a Mets fan ( 6 ) Email 7... Wayne Garrett, Tommie Agee, Jerry Grote was a group of actors working tandem... Well, thats what Willy said the number one search term on Google all across America on 'Tony.... How to look at anti-Semitism and Israel and American Jewry here we have been safe and weve able. Got the virus ship in 74 or 75 time between Q & with... That sucked Topol was raised in Mamaroneck and lost his physical abilities and his mental abilities Flash... Of course, Im sorry, this is your first one-man show, which he teaches! Includes Address ( 7 ) Phone ( 6 ) Email ( 7 ) Phone ( 6 ) (. Political Science from Brown University want to shut this play be put up during election. In front of people still feel that way ship in 74 or 75 finished draft and we spent enough with! In a really interesting life and a half weeks, we have been for. Truth is, most of the play, then the pandemic hit and immediately I the... Joy to do it into the rehearsal space in December think are like Jews look at anti-Semitism and and... Develop a through-line, you know what, its not worth it actors working in tandem Stage managers tested,... People, back onstage KING LEAR at the Public 'The Normal Heart ' the... Been safe and weve been careful and thoughtful and fortunate, and then one of our Stage managers positive. Sorry, this is too important about this play, thatll be scary Im madly... 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