Favorite ThingsTheir Favorite Things: Tony Danza Shares His Theatregoing ExperiencesNorbert Leo Butz, Faith Prince and Mark Rylance are among the singing actor’s favorites.
By
Andrew Gans
August 10, 2016
Stage and screen star Tony Danza, most recently on Broadway in the Jason Robert Brown musical Honeymoon in Vegas, is currently playing the intimate Manhattan nightspot Feinstein’s/54 Below with an evening entitled Standards & Stories; remaining show times are August 10 at 9:30 PM, September 8 at 7 PM and September 9 at 7 PM. Here, the star of Taxi and Who's the Boss? shares the performances that most affected him as part of the audience.
Mark Rylance in Jerusalem
Mark Rylance in JerusalemSimon Annand
His work as the anti-hero, Rooster, foreshadowed the incredible work he is now doing in the movies. Right now he may be the best around.
Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Norbert Leo Butz, John Lithgow, and Sherie Rene Scott in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.Carol Rosegg
This guy is always good.
Kevin Spacey in TheIceman Cometh
Kevin Spacey in The Iceman Cometh
I saw this performance up close every night. Kevin can do a 30-minute monologue in 15, and you would still hear every syllable. Verbal dexterity!
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Death of a Salesman
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Death of a SalesmanBrigitte Lacombe for New York Magazine
His stillness was stunning, and the play touched me even more than the other productions I have seen.
Vanessa Redgrave in The Year of Magical Thinking
Vanessa Redgrave stars in Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking.
Photo by Brigitte Lacombe
I sat alone trying not to let anyone know I was crying and then gave up.
Tim Pigott-Smith in King Charles lll
Tim Pigott-Smith in King Charles IIIJoan Marcus
I got to work with Tim in Iceman; in both performances his understated work makes one jealous.
Nathan Lane in The Producers
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in The Producers.
Paul Kolnik
His Max made me want to play it, which I got the privilege of doing on Broadway.
Mare Winningham in Picnic
Mare Winningham and Maggie Grace in PicnicJoan Marcus
She made life happen on stage. Real life!
Faith Prince in Guys and Dolls
Faith Prince in Guys and Dolls
I love this show, and her Adelaide was the best.
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Lastly, I never saw Ethel Merman on Broadway, but I saw her do Call Me Madam in Florida. I'll never forget it. “You don't need analyzing!”