I first wrote about Brandhagen when he became a resident member of Baltimore's Everyman Theatre. I closed that post with this:
What? What's that I smell? ....Oh yeah, ticket sales! And, rave reviews.
Today, Clinton Brandhagen is on Broadway with Tyne Daly reprising his Kennedy Center performance in Terrance McNally's Tony award, and Drama Desk award-winning Master Class.
Brandhagen and Daly, Master Class 2011
The script of Master Class begins with Maria saying:
No applause. You're here to work. You're not in a theatre. This is a classroom. No folderol. This is a master class. Singing is serious business.
The Maria character in the play is based on Maria Callas, one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. Of Greek descent, Callas was born in New York City in 1923 and she had one of the world's most revered bel canto singing techniques. Many said Callas' vocal range was simply "impossible to believe."
The reviews are in, the Broadway production of Master Class is super, Brandhagen is comically unflappable. Get tickets. And, let's all hope Brandhagen comes home to Baltimore. We need his kind of talent based here.
A personal note from me to Clinton, "On the other hand, Sir, you've worked hard to reach Broadway. Use the platform and the connections. Let your talent take you where it will. You've earned it. You deserve it.
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