A look at his theatrical roles.
By Gregory Jacobs-Roseman (Composer-Lyricist)
I’ve recently begun watching Homeland, which before I referred to as “that show with Claire
Danes that won all the Emmys.” As I often do with a show I’m getting into, I
went to Wikipedia to research it a little. And as is often the way with
Wikipedia, I jumped from link to link, until I landed on Homeland co-star Mandy Patinkin’s page and saw that today is the
star of stage and screen’s 60th birthday! I’ve always loved Mr. Patikin’s work. While most people are
first introduced to him in The Princess
Bride, I first knew him as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park with George. Let’s take a look at his musical
performances.
First things first:
Evita at the 1980 Tony Awards.
Now I’m no Lloyd Webber fan, but there’s something close to my heart about Evita. Possibly because it was the last show I did before moving away to college. As a dancer. Yeah, that’s right. I was cast in the dance ensemble of Evita, and if you know me well enough, you know that I don’t belong within 12 city blocks of a dance ensemble.
"The Day Off" from Sunday.
You may be wondering why this is the clip from Sunday that I chose. I chose it because it highlights what Mandy Patinkin does so amazingly onstage. That manic back and forth between the dogs is a stroke of genius. Sondheim writes in “Look, I Made A Hat” that he originally wanted George to use a vocoder to differentiate the voices for the dogs, but Patinkin said it wasn’t necessary then acted out 6 different dog voices for him, and that’s how the number came to be.
"Buddy's Blues"
This is from Follies in Concert. Patinkin is just a natural vaudevillian. I performed this song for a recital in college, and man does it take a lot out of you. Any actor who attempts it has got to have stamina.
This video is here to remind every tenor in the greater New York area that no matter how much you think you killed “Lilly’s Eyes” last Saturday night at the Duplex, Mandy Patinkin was better than you.
The Wild Party
A little love to Michael John. Again with the vaudeville. Patinkin is right at home.
Happy birthday to Mandy Patinkin. May you star in many, many more musicals to come.
GREGORY JACOBS-ROSEMAN is a composer/lyricist and theatrical sound designer currently developing Save The Date: A New Musical Comedy. www.gregjr.com
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