Today we are presenting a spotlight on one of the most popular Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars of the decade who is quickly rising up the ranks on stages and on screens around the world with his impressive work in an vast array of projects on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - exemplified tomorrow night in the premiere of his new USA series, GRACELAND - the affable and acclaimed Aaron Tveit.
He's So Alive More than any other theatre-bred actor who has emerged in the last couple of years, Aaron Tveit has made a major mark on many in just a handful of roles, and, now, with the premiere of GRACELAND on USA tomorrow night he is poised to cement his place in the entertainment universe as a star of the first order to an international audience far beyond the stages of Broadway and even the soundstages of Hollywood. After essaying various replacement roles in RENT and HAIRSPRAY on tour and then starring in long-running Broadway hits such as HAIRSPRAY (as Link Larkin) and WICKED (as Fiyero) as well as originating roles in the new musicals SAVED! and THE THREE MUSKETEERS, both presented at regional theaters, Tveit won acclaim for his commanding and unforgettable performance in the eventually Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, for which he won the Helen Hayes Award in 2009. Next, NEXT TO NORMAL finally made it to the Great White Way that same year and Tveit impressed audiences and critics alike with his turn in the daring and inventive musical success d'estime. Tveit would go on to headline his next show, in a daunting central role that he made positively dazzling byway of Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman and Terrence McNally's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN the following year. Just prior to that, he would also briefly return to his starring role of Roger in RENT for a special Hollywood Bowl concert production, directed by Neil Patrick Harris, showing his enviable and exceptional versatility. After all, both NEXT TO NORMAL and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN took a number of years to develop and Tveit stayed with them for many - and, in many cases, all - of the steps along the way on their respective journeys, workshop to Broadway, and made both characters his own in a uniquely entertaining and powerful manner, at an age betraying his years. Yet, his fierce dedication to his craft is only one of the many, many reasons why Aaron Tveit, is so, well, great.Also, get a taste of Tveit's stirring and sweet take on "Seven Wonders" from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, as well.
Tveit returns to his role of Roger in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010 with a truly rocking "One Song Glory". Benj Pasek & Justin Paul's idiosyncratic "Along The Way" is given special flair by Aaron in this live performance. Next, check out Aaron and the cast Tom Hooper's feature film adaptation of LES MISERABLES performing an exhilarating musical medley at the Academy Awards ceremony earlier this year. Witness Aaron's sterling surprising and ingratiating supporting performance in the addictive internet-premiered film project GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR, available to view in full below. Aaron performs Taylor Swift's recent hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" at 54 Below earlier this Spring to the crowd's very apparent rapturous delight and awe - with ensuing enthusiastic response. As a special bonus, enjoy this audience-capture clip of Norbert Leo Butz and Aaron Tveit teaming up for a live rendition of the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN showstopping curtain closer, "Strange But True". Now, that's some serious (or, in this case, not so serious) rapport - and, also, some ad-libbing gone bonkers! So, what Aaron Tveit performance thus far in his career is the one you simply can't forget? What was the initial role you remember seeing him in that made you first take notice of his myriad talents? With GRACELAND premiering this week, the world is about to be introduced to one of Broadway's best - and one of the most talented entertainers on the rise in the entire universe today.
Photo Credits: USA
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