Rob McClure

Rob McClure
Born Robert McClure
(1982-06-15) June 15, 1982
New Milford, New Jersey
Alma mater New Milford High School, Montclair State University
Occupation Actor

Rob McClure (born June 15, 1982 [1]) is an American actor. He has appeared in theatre in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and also on Broadway. He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, for his first starring role on Broadway in the musical Chaplin, as Charlie Chaplin.

Career

McClure graduated from New Milford High School in New Milford, New Jersey in 2000[2] and attended Montclair State University, but did not graduate. While a senior in high school, he won the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Charley in New Milford HS's production of Where's Charley?, which included a scholarship to attend their Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory.[2] His first professional acting role was at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Carousel shortly after high school.[2] He acted in the Papermill Playhouse I'm Not Rappaport which was also produced on Broadway in 2002, which was his debut on the Broadway stage.[3][4]

McClure has performed at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, in Amadeus by Peter Shaffer in 2011, and also in The Producers and Oliver!.[5] He performed in the staged concert at New York City Center Encores! of Where's Charley? in 2011.[6] The New York Times reviewer of Where's Charley? wrote:

And in the key role of Charley, Mr. McClure scampers to and fro with tireless energy, flouncing in and out of his skirts with comic verve, employing a funny, pinched falsetto when Charley is impersonating his aunt....Mr. McClure, a nimble dancer and terrific singer.[7]

McClure performed in the national tour and on Broadway in Avenue Q.[8]

He appeared in his first starring role on Broadway in the musical Chaplin in 2012, playing Charlie Chaplin.[6] For this performance, he was nominated for the Tony Award, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.[9] McClure played this role in the musical's premiere in 2010 at the La Jolla Playhouse, California under its former title of Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin.[10][11] The Newsday reviewer wrote of his performance:

Welcome to the show that's going to make you a Broadway star.... McClure...doesn't just replicate the waddle and pratfalls of Chaplin's little tramp. He doesn't just do a back somersault without spilling a glass of wine or tap dance on roller skates or walk a tightrope. He does all that without apparent effort, but he also has a pungent voice that pings and he embodies more than seven decades of Chaplin's life with a focused, altogether believable mix of gravity and light.[12]

McClure also received the Theatre World Award, Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debut performance during the 2012-13 theatrical season.[13] He has received a nomination for the Fred and Adele Astaire Award, Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show, for his performance in Chaplin. (This award honors "excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film.)[14]

He appeared in The Muny, St. Louis, Missouri production of Shrek the Musical in June 2013, as Lord Farquaad.[15][16] McClure also performed in The Muny production of Mary Poppins in July 2013, as Bert.[17] He played the role of Gomez in The Muny production of The Addams Family from July 14, 2014 to July 20.[18]

He appeared in the Jason Robert Brown and Andrew Bergman musical Honeymoon in Vegas as "Jack Singer" at the Paper Mill Playhouse in September through October 2013.[19][20] McClure starred in the Broadway production of Honeymoon in Vegas, which opened at the Nederlander Theatre in November 2014 in previews, officially in January 2015, and closed on April 5, 2015.[21]

McClure appeared in the new Ken Ludwig play A Comedy of Tenors, which premiered at the Cleveland Playhouse on September 12, 2015. He plays the role of "Max." The show moved to the McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey and opened on October 13, 2015.[22]

McClure most recently performed on Broadway in the role of Tim Allgood in the Roundabout Theatre Company engagement of Noises Off! The limited run began previews on December 17, 2015, opened January 14, and ran through March 13, 2016.

Personal

He is married to Maggie Lakis, an actress. They met while performing in Grease.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Piccirillo, Ann. "New Milford's Rob McClure is Bringing 'Chaplin' to Broadway" newmilford-nj.patch.com, October 13, 2011
  2. Simonson, Robert and Jones, Kenneth. "'I'm Not Rappaport' to Close on Broadway, Sept. 8; 'Our Town' Next?" Playbill, September 4, 2002
  3. Gioia, Michael. "The Leading Men: Rob McClure, the Little Tramp of Broadway's Chaplin, pg. 2" Playbill, July 31, 2012
  4. Jones, Kenneth."Walnut Street Amadeus, With Dan Olmstead and Rob McClure, Opens Jan. 26" Playbill, January 26, 2011
  5. 1 2 Weinert-Kendt, Rob. "Walking the Walk, Cane in Hand" The New York Times, August 23, 2012
  6. Isherwood, Charles. "A Few Wacky Victorians in Love" The New York Times, March 18, 2011
  7. Hernandez, Ernio. " Avenue Q to Reach 1,500 Performance Mark on Broadway March 4" Playbill, January 18, 2007
  8. Gans, Andrew. "Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; Kinky Boots Earns 13 Nominations" Playbill, April 30, 2013
  9. Jones, Kenneth."Limelight Musical, Starring Robert McClure and Ashley Brown, Opens at La Jolla Sept. 19" Playbill, September 19, 2010
  10. "McClure Profile" broadway.com, accessed May 7, 2013
  11. Winer, Linda. Rob McClure shines in lopsided 'Chaplin'" Newsday, September 9, 2012
  12. Gans, Andrew. "Tom Hanks, Bertie Carvel, Valisia LeKae, Rob McClure and More Are Theatre World Award Winners" Playbill, May 7, 2013
  13. Hetrick, Adam. "Billy Porter, Patina Miller, Rob McClure, Lesli Margherita and More Are Astaire Award Nominees" Playbill, May 7, 2013
  14. Gans, Andrew. "Alexander Gemignani, Julia Murney, Rob McClure, Natalie Venetia Belcon Cast in Muny's Shrek The Musical " playbill.com, April 26, 2013
  15. Blank, Matthew. "PHOTO CALL: Rob McClure, Julia Murney and Stephen Wallem Star in the Muny's Shrek " Playbill, June 26, 2013
  16. Gans, Andrew. "Jenny Powers and Rob McClure Star in Muny Mary Poppins, Beginning July 25" Playbill, July 25, 2013
  17. Hetrick, Adam."Rob McClure, Jenny Powers, Jen Cody and Hollis Resnik Get Creepy and Cooky in Muny The Addams Family Tonight" Playbill.com, July 14, 2014
  18. Gans, Andrew. "Tony Danza, Rob McClure and Brynn O'Malley Enjoy a Honeymoon in Vegas, Beginning Sept. 26" playbill.com, September 26, 2013
  19. Staff. "The Verdict: Critics Review Jason Robert Brown's Honeymoon in Vegas at Paper Mill" Playbill.com, October 11, 2013
  20. Gioia, Michael and Gans, Andrew. "The Honeymoon Is Over! Broadway's 'Honeymoon in Vegas', Starring Tony Danza, To Close" Playbill.com, March 31, 2015
  21. Gans, Andrew. "Broadway Actors Populate World Premiere of Ken Ludwig's 'Lend Me a Tenor' Follow-Up, Opening Tonight" Playbill, September 12, 2015
  22. Spaner, Whitney. "A Fine Showmance: Rob McClure and Maggie Lakis On Their "Jersey Trash" Courtship and Love On Tour" Playbill, February 21, 2015

External links

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