Currently touring as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the musical (can you guess?) Jekyll & Hyde, Chuck visits the J&H message board and his own, and is one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. I was priveleged to get an interview with the man by way of the internet, and here it is for you. Enjoy!
HIS BIO:
CHUCK WAGNER (Jekyll & Hyde), rejoins this 'Grand Experiment' a decade after creating the title roles in the World Premiere of Jekyll & Hyde at Houston's Alley Theatre. Prior to this tour, he was Disney's Beast of Broadway, after having been Canada's Premiere Beast (at Toronto's beautiful Princess of Wales Theatre), and in total performed in the Hair and Horns more than 1200 times. Chuck has long been in touch with his animal nature. He originated the role of Rapunzel's Prince in INTO THE WOODS, and recently at the Broadway Theatre, in celebration of that show's 10th anniversary, played the role of Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf, as he had in the first national tour. Also at the Broadway: Athos in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. (with Brent Spiner as Aramis) Exploring the Beast within he originated the title roles in three Wildhorn musicals: JEKYLL & HYDE, SVENGALI (at Houston's Alley Theatre and the Asolo in Sarasota) and THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (EMI: Broadway Angel), and is featured in the CIVIL WAR (double CD set). He played Inspector Javert in LES MISERABLES at the Imperial, after extensively touring the U.S. with the Marius Company. Regionally he was dubbed Sir Lancelot by Robert Goulet's Arthur in CAMELOT (TUTS) and has played Curly in OKLAHOMA, Billy in CAROUSEL, Antipholus in THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE and Fred in KISS ME KATE. Other: Han Solo in STAR WARS: THE MUSICAL by Charles Strouse and Sidney in A TALE OF TWO CITIES. On Television he starred as Glen Larson's superhero AUTOMAN with Desi Arnaz, Jr., has appeared on "Matlock", "Dynasty", "General Hospital", "The Guiding Light" and "All My Children", and can be seen as the national spokesman for Zyban and heard in voice-overs for Hartford Insurance. Films include AMERICA 3000, THE SISTERHOOD, SPACE EVADERS and MONSTER ISLAND. A BFA alumnus of USC in LA (Recipient: Jack Nicholson Scholarship). "For Susan, my heart and for Stewart and Paige, my inspiration."
THE INTERVIEW:
Gracie: For our readers, what's the name you were given at birth?
Chuck: Charles Hammock WagnerGracie: Do you have any siblings, or are you an only child? (Names?)
Chuck: I am the second of six children, Kurt (oldest), then me, Krista, Kayne, Gretchen and Gray. Both of my parents were only children...they over-reacted!Gracie: Did you want to be an actor when you were young, or was it a decision you later came across?
Chuck: I knew in the 10th grade that Acting was my calling...and singing. Musicals beckoned me...At 16 I was probably the youngest Henry Higgins ever! My Drama Teacher, Mrs. Guthrie, helped turn me on to the theatre!Gracie: Some parents would prefer their children became doctors or lawyers or something. Did yours have dreams for you (though I doubt they could foresee you playing the good Dr. Jekyll)?
Chuck: My parents were very supportive, and allowed me the freedom to find my own dream. They encouraged good grades, for which I thank them!Gracie: With all the parts you've played, what has been your favorite and why?
Chuck: I simply love working. I loved being Automan, having my own parking space at 20th Century Fox! And I have reveled in all the musicals I have been in. I will always love the Beast, Javert (though I'd like a crack at Val Jean), and Jekyll, but I feel confident that I have yet to play my favorite role!Gracie: Which part(s) that you've done have fit closest to your personality?
Chuck: This one certainly, since it touches such a broad spectrum, but I feel very close to Sondheim's Princes...though a bit more sincere!Gracie: What is your all time favorite musical?
Chuck: I like all good musicals, but my favorite is 1776, because as a 10-year-old I saw the original cast and was hooked. It led me to the magical realm of theatre, where I am blissfully at home.Gracie: Do you prefer the newer musicals like RENT to the older ones like ShowBoat, or vice versa?
Chuck: I do love the classics, I am not crazy about Rent, and I eagerly await the musicals of the new millennium!!Gracie: There MUST be a role or two you've always dreamed of playing at some point. Have you played it/them yet? If not, what role is that? If so, what was it like to finally perform your dream?
Chuck: As I said earlier I'd like to play Jean Val Jean in Les Misérables, but I am open to the future. My dream role is yet to exist!!!!Gracie: I have seen you talk much about your family, and you seem to cherish them very much. Did you expect to become a family man AND a famous actor?
Chuck: Always. I am blessed to be in love with a girl I met when I was 18, and she was 17 at The Lost Colony in North Carolina. It was an enchanted summer, and there we could see our future together was bright. The love and support I get from her and our beautiful children inspire the work I do on stage, and give me nearly superhuman strength!Gracie: Who chose your children's names, you or your wife?
Chuck: We chose them together, as we do all things. (Cheston Stewart and Victoria Paige)Gracie: When you're playing Jekyll and Hyde, which character do you prefer? (Also, which do you feel you have more fun with [though I assume Hyde must be fun]?)
Chuck: I am of the opinion that they are one, so I am having a blast all night long, but Hyde is certainly a joy to play. His gleeful evil is an exercise in fun! (At least until it all goes wrong in the end, and then the tragedy is profound.... and pushes me to the edge of insanity!)Gracie: Which do you prefer, touring or staying at one location?
Chuck: I enjoy both, but given the choice...I love being home!Gracie: With touring, (and probably your own traveling) you've seen many different locations. Where is your favorite to perform? (Where is your favorite to visit?)
Chuck: Every city has its pros and cons. I adore Seattle and San Francisco...I have a long history in LA, so it will always be a home to me, and now having been Canadian for two years, a part of my heart is always in Toronto! Anyplace is better when I am there with my family! I love the adventure of seeing the world that Theatre offers me!Gracie: You've done work with TV, commercials, and theatre---which is your favorite media?
Chuck: Again...I love to work. I love it all. Commercials can be very rewarding for the short time involved, and I love film and TV, but I most enjoy the discipline inherent in doing a show 8 times a week!Gracie: From a "hero" like Rapunzel's Prince to a "villain" like Gaston, or from The Beast to Hyde, which do you feel more comfortable as---the hero or the villain?
Chuck: I love them all...Most of my villains are Dark heroes. I have been given the gift of playing many roles that are larger than life, and I try to put my heart into all of them.Gracie: Which do you prefer?
Chuck: I'd rather be the good guy...but sometimes the bad guys get the best songs!Gracie: Do you ever feel typecast?
Chuck: Being typecast is part of the business. I am lucky to be a good type!Gracie: Did you ever have someone you looked up to when you were younger...a teacher, another actor, a relative, a friend?
Chuck: I have admired so many along my path. Ed Williams at Alabama, John Blankenchip at USC, and many others helped propel me into the spotlight. I have been blessed with my association with Frank Wildhorn, and hope to open a show of his on Broadway soon. (I was already working on Broadway when he finally got J&H there, so I can't feel bad about not doing this show then!) And many more too numerous to mention...They know who they are!Gracie: What words of wisdom would you give to anyone pursuing acting/performing as a career or lifestyle?
Chuck: Follow your dream, and be patient. Accept your success as it comes, and don't get discouraged when things are different than you planned. If you have 'the calling', it will come to you in time. Do your homework, stay ready and when the doors open, go in with purpose and confidence.Gracie: (The infamous question) If you could have 3 lunch dates with anyone living, dead, and fictional, who would you choose and why? (The 1st day is the living, 2nd day with the dead, 3rd with the fictional.)
Chuck: Living...Stephen Spielberg...to glean some of his cinematic and spiritual genius...and hopefully Kate and his kids would hit it off with Susan and mine!
Dead...The Comte de Saint-Germain...to initiate the higher Magic and celebrate the multiple lives he and I have lived together and the influence the Great Architect has on reality...or to discover that he is just a nice man with a cool myth!!!
Fictional...Kal-El, son of Jor-El of the planet Krypton. Superman has such a noble attitude, and such strength of character as well as body, I'd like to join him in his fight for truth, justice and the American Way (even if he was created by Canadians!)
You can visit Chuck's webpage and the Jekyll and Hyde Message Board at the links below! Mention this ad and receive a free danish courtesy of the stale danish company. (Just checking to see if you've actually read down this far.) The picture at the top of Chuck alone was found on his webpage and the other two were sent through email. All answers were from the brain to the fingers and email of Chuck Wagner to me, and everything else was written by me. Questions, comments, and complaints are to be submitted in writing to the email listed below.
Interviews have links too!
There's no place like *my* home...page
Interview page #2...GO SEE WHO IT IS!
See where you might have seen this man before!
J&H The Messageboard!
