Follow Michael Benz through the opening night of Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The Manhattan Theatre Club production stars three-time Tony nominee Laura Linney and Tony winner Cynthia Nixon.
From arriving at the theatre for the April 19 opening to taking a last-minute photo with Cynthia Nixon just before curtain up to celebrating at the Copacabana afterwards, flip through the full night below:
Opening Night cards!
Leaving apartment!
My glamorous ride to the theatre.
My glamorous ride to the theatre.
ARRIVED!
Opening Night messages from fellow Broadway shows.
Signing in…no backing out now.
Charles Turner (Cal) and I. This is his 10th Broadway show. I have some catching up to do…
Our beautiful theatre before they open the doors…
Our amazing stage manager, Denise. On the third day of rehearsal she asked me to be her “Show Boyfriend”…we’ve been going steady since.
Curtain in! House is open…
Just finished warm up…time to get into costume.
Not before I eat some fake desert…
Last minute mustache trimming…it’s a daily thing, people. The mustache is the key to my performance.
The five minute call…Carpanini looking fierce.
We hate each other.
Momma and son.
Cynthia thought we should do one “in character”. Nailed it.
Places call! About to start…
Just look at that fake cake…
ACT 1, DONE. David Alford (Marshall) and I…
Richard Thomas (Horace) doesn’t come on till Act 2. I’ve just woken him up to say he’s on in 5…
Opening Night cards and gifts
Act 2 locked and loaded…
Darren Goldstein (Oscar) kicking back…
Denise (Stage Manager) and Roy (Company Stage Manager) getting ready for curtain call…
Vaughn about to pull the final curtain!
Phew…we did it…
Post Curtain call! Yoohoo!
Can you tell we’re relieved?
Caroline Clay (Addie) and I getting ready for the after-show party! (with Tyne Daly in the background)
Opening Night Party at the Copacabana!
My managers, Meg Mortimer and Chris Kiely, toasting my Broadway debut…
My no. 1 fan…Mum.
Closing down the party…
Cynthia and I shut the party down. Literally…we were the last to leave.
Francesca and I ending the night with class: In front of a pile of trash.
Tickets are available via Telecharge.com. Discount tickets are available for select performances here.
Follow him on Instagram @michaelcbenz.
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