Boyd Gaines and TimesSquare.com correspondent Leslie (Hoban) Blake
That oft-used phrase, "the hardest-working man in show business," really does describe three-time TONY Award winner, Boyd Gaines. No sooner did he close on a Sunday in Broadway's TONY-winning production of "Journey’s End" (for which he won yet another TONY nomination plus a Drama Desk Award), then he went directly into rehearsal the following Monday for a special three week Encores' presentation of "Gypsy" at City Center this month.
Gaines won his first TONY for his debut Broadway appearance in Wendy Wasserstein’s "The Heidi Chronicles" in 1989. The next was for the 1994 musical, "She Loves Me" and the third happened in 2000, for "Contact," another musical. Then came his 2007 nomination--his first in the leading man catgegory--for the revival of the afore-mentioned "Journey’s End."
The fresh-faced teen he played in "Fame" and "Porky's" has given way to an urbane gentleman who sports a gray mustache, grown for his role as Lt. Osborne--the most senior officer in that heavy-duty war play. And he’s keeping the ‘stache to play Herbie in "Gypsy," opposite another famous Julliard grad, and TONY winner, Patti Lupone. “We actually did a one-night benefit performance of Anything Goes together,” he explained when asked if he’s ever worked with her before.
So what happens on July 29th when "Gypsy" ends? The soft-spoken Gaines elaborated, “I actually get a week or two off before I start rehearsals in August for the September Roundabout Theatre Company revival of "Pygmalion." Jefferson Mays [one of his co-stars in "Journey’s End"] will play Henry Higgins and I’m Colonel Pickering,” he said, his bright baby blues a twinkle. Want to bet he keeps the mustache for that role as well?
Though we are still taking bets, Gaines did find a few minutes to chat backstage about everything from his early days at Julliard, his appearances in two movie cult classics ("Fame," "Porky’s") to his ability to move fearlessly between drama, comedy and musicals. Something we are always glad to experience, as this "hardest-working man in show business," keeps working.
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