The Cast Members and Their Crew
2018/12/05 7:00 A.M.
*Photograph by Ali Arkady / VII Mentor Program / Redux
PAUL ANTHONY (Colin) is thrilled to be making his Broadway début after originating the role in Boston. Notable previous roles include Judge Turpin in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Signor Naccarelli in “The Light in the Piazza,” and a four-episode arc as the corrupt Doctor Chervenko on NBC’s “Ed.” Mr. Anthony’s favorite role, however, is being the proud father to Milo, age eight, and Rachel, age four.
STEPHEN REYES (Jerry) is making his Broadway début, just like Mr. Anthony. Also like Mr. Anthony, Mr. Reyes’s favorite role is being a father. Unlike Mr. Anthony, though, Mr. Reyes would like to go the extra step and dedicate this performance to his daughter, Maria Grace Reyes. This one’s for you, kiddo!
SANDRA BLACKBURN (Lecki) has starred Off Broadway in the Atlantic Theatre Company’s production of “Abracadabra!” and Playwrights Horizons’ “The Fat Suit.” Downtown audiences will recognize Mrs. Blackburn from her Obie-nominated role in “How Eyes Deceive.” Better than this honor, however, was the honor of becoming the mother of twins(!), this past April. Yes, that honor was better than the Obie nomination.
TIASHA PALIKOVIC (Winsome) comes to New York City straight from the hit BBC series “Downton Abbey,” on which she played Nurse Morse for six seasons, receiving numerous accolades and international renown. But Ms. Palikovic would like audiences to know that she would give it all up—the fame, the money, everything—to spend one more day with her youngest son, Tom, who ran away from home on his eighteenth birthday to join a commune outside of Belfast. Tom, or Tommy Bear, as Ms. Palikovic called him, was not only Ms. Palikovic’s son but also her best friend. Tommy Bear was one of those rare kids who transcended his age; he was a shoulder to cry on and a dance partner, an eager listener, and a sage teacher. Ms. Palikovic also played “Woman on Yacht” in “Under the Tuscan Sun.”
MARTY WESTMORELAND (Ron) is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and is absolutely ecstatic to be on the Great White Way! He starred as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Carnegie Mellon’s production of “Guys and Dolls” and feels that now is the best time to devote himself to his craft. In a few years, Mr. Westmoreland would like to settle down, get married, and have a child. Raised by divorced parents, Mr. Westmoreland feels strongly that the hallowed role of fatherhood requires total commitment, which will ultimately preclude him from pursuing a life in the demanding world of theatre. Mr. Westmoreland’s father too often took refuge in drink (Mr. Westmoreland once discovered a trove of empty liquor bottles under the elder Westmoreland’s bed; Mr. Westmoreland’s father denied knowledge of the bottles, but it was clear to Mr. Westmoreland that his father was lying), and Mr. Westmoreland wants to avoid anything that may trigger this behavior, which may be dormant for him so far. That’s why Mr. Westmoreland is using this time to live simply and invest well. He plans on using the money he earns from this show to create a college fund for his unborn child. Follow him on Twitter (@NicelyNicelyCMU).
HAROLD SWERDLOW (Greg) has seen Paul Anthony with his “beloved” son, Milo, and daughter, Rachel. Last week, when they came to visit Mr. Anthony after his matinée, Mr. Anthony was busy “napping” in his dressing room. When he finally emerged, reeking of marijuana, he put Milo and Rachel in a taxi and sent them home to their mother. Let’s just say that Mr. Anthony is emphasizing the “joint” in his joint-custody agreement. Stephen Reyes, who so generously dedicated his performance to his daughter, hasn’t seen her in months. She lives in Seattle, with Mrs. Reyes, and Mr. Reyes encouraged them to stay on the West Coast for the duration of the production so that he could “focus on the show.” Maybe, if he did a little less dedicating and a little more babysitting, Maria Grace would know what a fatherly hug felt like. If Sandra Blackburn mentions her Obie nomination one more time, I’m going to quit the show. Tiasha Palikovic claims that she lost her best friend the day her son disappeared, though one wonders why, instead of actually looking for the boy, Ms. Palikovic opts to whine to strangers about how she lost the “most important person” in her life. Clearly, the only important person in Ms. Palikovic’s life is Ms. Palikovic. Finally, Marty Westmoreland. Jesus. This guy’s a real piece of work. Twenty-two years old, and lectures the rest of us like he’s a Jesuit priest and not starring in a jukebox musical featuring the songs of “Men at Work.” Mr. Swerdlow has two adult children; neither speaks to him.