Marc Kudisch thrives on variety. When Terrence McNally called the versatile artist to participate in the world premiere of “Golden Age” at Philadelphia Theatre Company, Kudisch leaped at the opportunity to work with the celebrated playwright of “The Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Ragtime,” “The Full Monty” and “Master Class.”
If you go
‘Golden Age’
Where: Kennedy Center Family Theater, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 7:30 p.m. only March 13 and April 4
Info: $49; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Masterfully reworked since its Philadelphia debut, “Golden Age” joins McNally’s “The Lisbon Traviata” and “Master Class” as part of McNally’s “Nights at the Opera” running at the Kennedy Center into mid-April. “Golden Age” is set in 1835 backstage at Theatre-Italien in Paris the evening of the premiere of Bellini’s “I Puritani.” The composer is convinced this opera will prove without a doubt his superiority to Donizetti. To ensure his success, he has assembled the four greatest singers in the world, a tenor, a baritone, a bass and a soprano known as the Puritani Quartet. Kudisch plays Tamburini, the baritone.
“All the characters are facets of people that Terrence knows,” he said. “They are like gods of the theater. Tamburini is a great baritone. Although the opera is taking place off-stage, I created situations in which I could make some sound. I start warming up the first time I come on stage and throw in a little vocalizing as the play goes on. People who are musical can recognize someone who is musical and moves to the tempo of the maestro.
“I love opera, and the idea of an opera happening outside the setting invites the audience into that world. The fact that my character was the leading baritone of his time interests me because he never got the meaty roles that went to the tenor. Being a baritone, I can relate.”
A favorite with Washington audiences, Kudisch most recently appeared here in “The Witches of Eastwick,” for which he won the 2008 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a resident musical. His 13 Broadway musicals cemented his reputation as a leading man, earning Tony and Drama Desk nominations for “9 to 5”; Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominations for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”; Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for “Thoroughly Modern Millie”; and a Drama Desk nomination for his recreation of the role of the Proprietor in Sondheim’s “Assassins.” Earlier, his portrayal of Conrad Birdie in the national tour of “Bye Bye Birdie” launched him as a major talent.
“I’ve made a career playing larger-than-life characters,” he said. “This role came along at the right time and leads into my next engagement, playing Ricky Ian Gordon’s father in the world premiere of his ‘Sycamore Trees’ at Signature. It’s autobiographical, and since we both come from Jewish backgrounds, that allows me to understand the intensity. These two roles are like night and day.”
Kudisch points out that the opera theme of “Golden Age” is a metaphor for deeper things, such as self-examination and discovering what is truly important. Man is always exploring his life and deciding what he wants to do on this planet. Ultimately, perhaps he may never satisfy himself.
