4/6/2018 BWW Review: SWEENEY TODD at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
"Christian Whelan as Judge Turpin offers us a character you love to hate."
An outstanding cast opened Kansas City Repertory Theatre's new production of Steven Sondheim's 1979 "Sweeny Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at the Spencer Theater on the UMKC campus. KC Rep Artistic Director Eric Rosen does more than justice to Sondheim's incredible operatic score and the dynamic libretto by Hugh Wheeler.
Based on an eighteen part, 1847 print serial called "A String Of Pearls," the musical tells the outrageous tale of a man whose life is stolen from him by a corrupt judge in Victorian London...
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4/6/2018 Theater review: KC Rep serves up a stupendous Sweeney Todd
"Christian Whelan, wielding ruthless power as the towering, crooked Judge Turpin and Johanna’s foreboding, untrustworthy guardian..."
Crazy gets fleshed-out, in a rather spectacular fashion, in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a provocative, absorbing, funny — dare I say delicious? — rendition of theatrical madness cooked up at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, through April 15.
Debuting on Broadway in 1979 — and winning the Tony Award for Best Musical (music and lyrics by Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler) — it tells a story that was familiar to the public more than 100 years before, that of the murderous barber Sweeney Todd, whose entrepreneurial success belies a lack of repeat business. Born of a “penny dreadful,” or cheap weekly fictional series, this character was devoured by the British masses. He was a popular meme...
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4/6/2018 Christian Whelan Will appear in World Premiere of Paradise Square in Berkeley Rep 2018-19 Season
Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced a compelling slate of productions for its 2018-19 subscription season. Berkeley Rep's Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone revealed six of the seven shows that will comprise his final season at the Theatre.
The announced shows include a mix of new work as well as the return of an all-time audience favorite: Lucas Hnath's Tony Award-nominated A Doll's House, Part 2 (a co-production with Huntington Theatre Company) directed by Les Waters; the world premiere of Paradise Square: A Musical for America directed by Moisés Kaufman with a book by Marcus Gardley and Craig Lucas; Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury and...
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6/3/2017 CHECK OUT UPCOMING SHOWS FOR CHRISTIAN WHELAN
Rock of Ages
Looking for a good time in Fort Worth? Rock of Ages is a guaranteed electrifying night of raucous and outrageous fun! It’s 1987 on L.A.’s infamous Sunset Strip, where Drew, a boy from South Detroit, and Sherrie, a small-town girl, chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. Complete with 28 eyebrow-scorching rock anthems like “We Built this City,” “The Final Countdown,” and “Nothin’ But a Good Time,” Rock of Ages will take you back to the times of big hair and big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos. This show is suitable for mature audiences due to language and sexual and drug references. Parental discretion is advised.
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Meet the men from Rock of Ages!
You can catch them June 3-11!
Adam Michaels - Stacee Jaxx
James Scheider - Drew
Christian Whelan - Dennis Dupree
Anthony Toudjarov - Mayor/Ja'Keith
Bob Hess - Hertz
John Hays - Lonny
Charlie H. Ray - Franz
Thomas Griffin Williams - Joey Primo
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Mamma Mia!
“ABBA-SOLUTELY FABULOUS!” - Daily Mail
Over 54 million people all around the world have fallen in love with MAMMA MIA!, the ultimate feel-good show! On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. ABBA's timeless songs infuse this enchanting tale of family, friendship and love, with non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers that make MAMMA MIA! a smash hit. “The Winner Takes It All,” “S.O.S.,” “Take a Chance on Me” and more will have you dancing in the aisles like a “Dancing Queen!"
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6/27/2013 THEATRE REVIEW: FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL NATIONAL TOUR
"...Within this awesome cast are other very impressive performances. Christian Whelan looks like a giant of pure muscle as CC, the sleazy owner of Chameleon. A towering man, he oozes villain to the core. Costumed in those oh-so-familiar shiny 80s suits, topped off with gold chains and diamond rings, he is the pimp Eminem of the strip club scene! Whelan is aware he could be boxed in as the stereotypical pimp/villain but very wisely avoids this trap. He creates the role with a good dose of dark intensity and Machiavellian overtones that give the character great presence on stage. Hell, he made even me nervous. He is like a caged beast that could and would strike at any moment."
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2/26/2013 BWW Blog: Christian Whelan of FLASHDANCE - A View From My Office
ITo Broadwayorld.com-ers: hello from sunny Tampa, FL, home to the Devil Rays, the Falcons, Busch Gardens and the 2700 + seat Straz Center for the Performing Arts. During our sound-check yesterday, I was struck again by how big the Straz looks from the stage. It's far from the biggest house we'll play on this tour-Atlanta's Fox has almost twice as many seats-but it does have a mezzanine, lower, and upper balconies, which puts the cheap seats three stories above the stage. Think about watching a show from the top of a three-story building 100 feet away from the stage. Forget opera glasses; you'd need a high-powered telescope...
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2/20/2013 BWW Blog: Christian Whelan of Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE - To Drive or Not to Drive?
I bought a toyota Prius in 2005. It was a sleek looking black hybrid with some nice perks on the inside. The onboard computer is pretty cool. When I offer a ride to people, at least the ones that have never been in a Prius, they're fascinated by the LED display that shows the transfer of power from the electric motor to the gas engine. It also shows how many Kilowatts are generated as the car drives. The most remarkable aspect of the Prius, however, is the AMAZING gas mileage. I still kick myself for not getting the onboard GPS function. Especially since I've made the educated decision to drive, yet another tour...
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2/12/2013 BWW Blog: Christian Whelan of Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE - Reunions
From FaceBook to FLASHDANCE, reunions of the tour kind can often be more of a surprise than seeing that 'friend request' pop up from someone you haven't seen or heard from in 35 years. A professional acting career can often take twists and turns that eventually rocket actor's away from their home town and the people that helped to shape who we are and what we become while pursuing our dreams. I've certainly reconnected with my fair share of old colleagues & friends through social media. But, it's nothing like seeing an old friend when they just appear at the stage door following a performance in a random tour city...
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2/7/2013 BWW Blog: Christian Whelan of Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE - Equity Pancakes
Question: What the hell are "EQUITY Pancakes"? Answer: "EP's" are any buttermilk, wholegrain or fruit & spice enhanced pancake products eaten by any proud member of AEA. Preferably consumed at night, after a show, and garnished with a salty sweet pork product on the side. (Bacon Forever!)
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2/4/2013 BWW Blog: Meet Christian Whelan of Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE
The polls are in and Flashdance The Musical is taking America by storm, literally and figuratively! Hi everybody. My name is Christian Whelan and I'm playing the role of the antagonist strip club owner, CC in this new Broadway Bound Smash Hit. The cast of FLASHDANCE has played 38 performances in 6 cities and the Standing "O's" have been electric, giving new meaning to "Oh..What a feeling!"
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2/4/2013 BWW Blog: Meet Christian Whelan of Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE
Usually, Grand Rapids gets the national tour after the show has wowed on Broadway for a respectable period of time. “Flashdance,” a hot tamale of a show that opened on Tuesday, the coldest day of the year thus far, actually gives us a sneak peek of things to come on the Great White Way. The show is a super-sexy blockbuster, a sinewy, steamy heat wave of a production ...
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1/9/2013 BWW TV: What a Feeling! Sneak Peek of Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE- THE MUSICAL
Performances for the upcoming national tour of FLASHDANCE - THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, begin January 1st and run through January 6 at Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall. At a recent press event, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl officially announced January 1st as FLASHDANCE day. Following the Pittsburgh engagement, FLASHDANCE will embark on a national tour to more than 25 cities in the next seven months with additional bookings to be announced soon.
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12/16/2012 Christian is getting ready to set out on the U.S. Tour of Flashdance the Musical
Flashdance – The Musical, the stage adaptation of the 1983 pop-filled hit film, is aiming for a Broadway launch in fall 2012, but its producers have already announced a second company for a national tour that will kick off in early 2013.
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7/20/2012 Interview: Kory Chats With Christian Whelan From Mamma Mia!
As I sat down with veteran Television/Stage actor Christian Whelan I mentioned how much I, and the city of Cleveland seem to love Mamma Mia! “Screaming and hollerin’, we get them to their feet,” he laughed.
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3/15/2012 Sacramento Press
"Mamma Mia" Looking Back at the Seventies Through the Music of ABBA
...The three invited possible fathers, Sam, Bill, and Harry are played by Christian Whelan, John-Michael Zuerlein, and Jeff Applegate, respectively, opening night. All sang well...read more...
3/15/2012 The Sacramento Bee
Mamma Mia! Still Packs A Musical Punch...Christian Whelan is appropriately sturdy as Sam Carmichael, one of the father candidates in question....read more...
2/2/2012 Daily Nebraskan.com
Mamma Mia! returns to Lied Center for Weekend Shows
There they go again... -- Christian Whelan will be in the role of one of Sophie's potential fathers, the architect Sam Carmichael. He had auditioned for the role previously and decided to try again when he heard there was an opening in the North American tour. When he received the news he was cast, he left his role as King Triton in a Utah production of "The Little Mermaid" and headed for the open road..read more...
Montreal - Broadway.com 1/1/2012
Mamma Mia! Tour's Leading Man Christian Whelan Chronicles Ditching the Fins of Mermaid for ABBA Hits
Montreal: -- As an actor, the search for the next project is always an ongoing education and often a logistical challenge. Especially leaving a job you love for a job you'd love to do; which, in my case, was when I transitioned from Disney to ABBA.
I had been playing King Triton in the first regional production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid in Utah ...read more...
Chris is appearing as Sam Carmichael in the North American Tour of the hit musical Mamma Mia! Click here for tour dates!
Chris in the news:
Mamma Mia! Heads to Charleston
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Riding around on a bus from city to city, performing for only a night or two at one theater before moving on to the next, a touring actor never knows what to expect when he opens his dressing room.
Shows like "Mamma Mia!," which comes to the Clay Center Friday, often follow rowdier entertainment: rock concerts, for example, and trashing dressing rooms is almost a rite of passage for rock stars. Actor Christian Whelan has seen that kind of thing, but in Ottawa, he found something new: water. read more...