Welcome to Broadway- The 10 Biggest Debuts of 2014
By: BWW Special Coverage Jan. 02, 2015
It was a big year for Broadway newbies! From young newcomers to seasoned Hollywood stars, Broadway welcomed many new faces to the family in 2014. Many earned critical acclaim, a brand-new fanbase, and some even walked away with Tony nominations (and awards)!
Below, BroadwayWorld celebrates just a few of our favorite new stage stars!
Her Debut: March 13 at the Winter Garden Theatre
The Role: Adrian in ROCKY
About: She was seen in the Off-Broadway production of Tamar of the River at Prospect Theatre Co. Regionally she has performed in Candide at the Goodman Theatre/ Shakespeare Theatre Co.; In This House, Orestes: A Tragic Romp at Two River Theatre Co.; Arcadia at the Folger Theatre; The Boy Detective Fails at Signature Theatre; Next to Normal and Pregnancy Pact at the Weston Playhouse; as well as new work development at Playwrights Horizons, the O'Neill, New Dramatists and NAMT. She has appeared on television on "Boardwalk Empire."
Click here to read BWW's exclusive Debut of the Month interview with Margo Seibert
Michah Stock
His Debut: October 9 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
The Role: Gus P. Head in IT'S ONLY A PLAY
About: Off-Broadway: World Premiere of Terrence McNally's And Away We Go (The Pearl). Regional: Sundance Theatre Lab, Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival, Long Wharf Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival. Film:King Kelly (Official Selection: SXSW, Puchon Film Festivals). TV: "Pan Am", "Law & Order: SVU", and a recurring role on NBC's "Deception". Education: BFA, SUNY Purchase Conservatory.
Click here to read BWW's exclusive Debut of the Month interview with Micah Stock
Chris O'Dowd & James Franco
Their Debut: April 16 at the Longacre Theatre
The Roles: Lennie and George in OF MICE AND MEN
About: O'Dowd is well known for his starring role in Bridesmaids opposite Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. For his role in the film, Chris was nominated for a BAFTA "Rising Star Award," a Screen Actor's Guild Award for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture" and won the Irish Film and Television Award for "Best Supporting Actor - Film. Chris was recently seen starring in Lena Dunham's HBO series, "Girls" and Judd Apatow's This is 40. His other film credits include Thor 2 opposite Natalie Portman; Chris Wedge's animated film Epic opposite Jason Sudeikis, Amanda Seyfried, and Aziz Ansari; Jennifer Westfeldt's Friends with Kids opposite Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph; Jay Roach's Dinner for Schmucks opposite Paul Rudd and Steve Carell; Rob Letterman's Gullivers Travels starring opposite Jack Black, Jason Segel, and Emily Blunt; Richard Curtis' FOX, The Boat that Rocked opposite Phillip Seymour Hoffman; and Gareth Carrivick's Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel opposite Anna Faris. Chris also starred in Festiva which was nominated for two BAFTA Awards including "Best British Film," and won him a BAFTA Scotland Award for "Best Actor in a Scottish Film."
Franco's metamorphosis into the title role of the TNT biopic James Dean earned him career-making reviews, as well as a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture made for Television. He also received nominations for an Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award for this memorable performance. Franco earned an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award and recognition from numerous critics' associations for his starring role in Danny Boyle's critically acclaimed drama 127 Hours. His performance alongside Sean Penn in Gus Van Sant's Milk earned an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor and he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in David Gordon Green's comedy Pineapple Express, in which he starred opposite Seth Rogen. He is also known for his starring role as Harry Osbourne in Sam Raimi's Spider-man trilogy. Franco most recently starred in the comedy This Is The End with Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and Danny McBride as well as Sam Raimi's Oz: The Great and Powerful and Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers.
His Debut: October 5 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre
The Role: Christopher Boone in THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
About: Sharp was born in London but grew up traveling constantly. He closed out his time at Juilliard (from which he graduates end of May) playing Hally in Athol Fugard's Master Harold...and the Boys, while simultaneously directing a production of A Clockwork Orange the play, which he also adapted.
Her Debut: February 20 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
The Role: Marian/Chiara in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY
About: Off-Broadway: The Fantasticks. Regional Theatre: WTF, Goodspeed, Dallas Theatre Center, Kennedy Center. Tours: Happy Days, Whistle Down the Wind. Film: Off The Black. TV: "Boardwalk Empire", "All My Children." Education: U of Michigan.
Click here to read BWW's exclusive Debut of the Month interview with Whitney Bashor
Her Debut: January 16 at the American Airlines Theatre
The Role: Young Woman in MACHINAL
About: Most notably, Hall has performed in productions such as Mrs Warren's Profession, which earned her the Ian Charleson Award in 2003, As You Like It (Ian Charleson nomination), Man and Superman, The Fight for Barbara, Galileo's Daughter, Don Juan, A Winter's Tale (Ian Charleson Award winner), The Cherry Orchard (Evening Standard Theatre Award nomination) and Twelfth Night. Ms. Hall has also established an award-winning film and television career. On screen, Hall can currently be seen as Claudia Simmons-Howe in the international suspense thriller, Closed Circuit, and most recently starred in Marvel's Iron Man 3. Hall received critical acclaim for her starring role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, receiving Golden Globe, BAFTA Orange Rising Star, London Critics Circle and Gotham Award nominations. She can also be seen in Lay the Favorite, The Awakening, The Town, Everything Must Go, Please Give, Dorian Gray, Frost/Nixon, The Prestige, and Starter for 10, which marked her feature film debut. Hall also recently starred in Susanna White's "Parade's End," for which she won a Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress, as well as received a BAFTA Television Nomination for Leading Actress, and a Critics Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series.
Her Debut: April 3 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre
The Role: Ruth Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN
About: Okonedo is an Academy Award nominee for her performance in the film Hotel Rwanda. A regular on the English stage where her credits include productions at the Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic. Her many film credits include acclaimed performances in Skin (Best Actress British Independent Film Award nomination), The Secret Life of Bees (NAACP Image Award nomination), Dirty Pretty Things (Best Supporting Actress, British Independent Film Awards). For her performance in Hotel Rwanda, Sophie was also nominated for the Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Awards. Her TV credits include HBO's Tsumani: The Aftermath (NAACP Image Award, Golden Globe Award nomination, Best Actress), and, for the BBC, "Criminal Justice" (BAFTA nomination, Best Supporting Actress) and Winnie Mandela in Mrs. Mandela (BAFTA nomination/Best Actress).
Her Debut: October 16 at the Lyric Theatre
The Role: Ivy Smith in ON THE TOWN
About: Principal dancer with New York City Ballet, Firchild's featured Roles: George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Coppélia, Donizetti Variations, Duo Concertant, Jewels, Raymonda Variations, Serenade, Tarantella, Theme and Variations, Tschaikovsky Pas; Jerome Robbins' Andantino, Dances at a Gathering, The Four Seasons; Peter Martins' Barber Violin Concerto, The Sleeping Beauty, Zakouski; Alexei Ratmansky's Russian Seasons, Namouna; Susan Stroman's Double Feature; Christopher Wheeldon's DGV. TV/Film: Sugar Plum Fairy in PBS' Live From Lincoln Center telecast of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (2011) also screened in movie theaters worldwide, AOL Original Series city.ballet. Collaborating with Cole Haan on a ballet flat collection, launching this Fall.
Click here to read BWW's exclusive Debut of the Month interview with Megan Fairchild.
His Debut: March 23 at the Imperial Theatre
The Role: Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES
About: In London, Karimloo performed as "The Phantom" in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera, as well as the show's 25th Anniversary production at the Royal Albert Hall. He was personally selected by Andrew Lloyd Webber to play "The Phantom" in the London world premiere of the show's sequel,Love Never Dies, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award as Best Actor in a Musical. His association with LES MISERABLES and The Phantom of the Opera also includes having played "Enjolras" and "Raoul," respectively, in the West End productions of each show. He was also honored to have performed the role of "Enjolras" in the LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena in London. He also performed in the U.K national tours of Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard. He has toured extensively performing his own special genre of music, Broadgrass. His solo album Human Heart is available from Sony Records. Ramin is Iranian-born and was raised in Canada.
His Debut: March 6 at the Neil Simon Theatre
The Role: President Lyndon Baines Johnson in ALL THE WAY
About: Cranston won the 2014 Golden Globe® and three consecutive Emmy® Awards for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" for his portrayal of Walter White on AMC's Breaking Bad. Cranston holds the honor of being the first actor in a cable series, and the second lead actor in the history of the Emmy® Awards to receive three consecutive wins. His performance has also earned him a fourth Emmy® nomination this year, a Television Critics Association award, three Golden Globe nominations and a Screen Actors Guild award. On the big screen, Cranston won a second Screen Actors Guild award this year for his co-starring role in the 2012 Oscar-winning Best Picture, Argo, essaying the role of CIA operative Jack O'Donnell opposite star-director Ben Affleck. He will next star in Jay Roach's Trumbo playing the title role of Dalton Trumbo, who was one of Hollywood's most successful screenwriters whose career came to an end when he was blacklisted in the 1940's for being a communist.
Additional BWW Debut of the Month exclusive interviews from 2014 can be found below:
BRONX BOMBERS Chris Henry Coffey
LES MISERABLES' Kyle Scatliffe
CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN's Conor MacNeill
HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME's Joshua Boone
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