Brooks Ashmanskas

Summary

Brooks Ashmanskas (born June 15, 1969) is an American actor. He has appeared both on Broadway and Off-Broadway as well as in regional theatres. Ashmanskas has done limited film and television work, most recently appearing in the Netflix series Uncoupled. He was nominated for a 2006 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for playing various characters in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, and for a 2019 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Barry Glickman in The Prom.

Brooks Ashmanskas
Born (1969-06-14) June 14, 1969 (age 54) [citation needed]
Alma materBennington College
OccupationActor
Years active1995−present

Early life edit

Ashmanskas is originally from Salem, Oregon,[1] but grew up in Beaverton, just outside of Portland. He graduated from Bennington College.[2] He is openly gay.[3][4]

Career edit

Off-Broadway and Broadway edit

Ashmanskas was in the original productions of Dream (1997),[5] Songs for a New World (Off-Broadway, 1995) and the Broadway revival of Gypsy: A Musical Fable (2003).[6][7] He was a replacement "Carmen Ghia", starting in 2004, in The Producers,[8] occasionally acting opposite original Carmen Ghia actor Roger Bart as Leo Bloom.

In 2006, he played several characters in the Broadway production of Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me,[9] for which he received a Tony Award nomination, Best Performance By a Featured Actor in a Musical.[10]

He appeared in the Broadway revival of The Ritz as Chris in 2007.[11] He played the character of Mr. Dobitch in the 2010 Broadway revival of Promises, Promises.[12] Also in 2010 he appeared in the Broadway revival of Present Laughter.[7] He starred as the title character Off-Broadway in the New Group production of Clive at the Acorn Theatre in January 2013 through March 2013.[13]

Ashmanskas appeared in the stage musical adaption of Bullets Over Broadway, which opened on Broadway in April 2014. In March 2015 he appeared in Something Rotten! on Broadway.[14][15] In 2016, he appeared in Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.[16]

He starred as Barry Glickman in the original Broadway production of The Prom, which opened in October 2018 at the Longacre Theatre, for which he was nominated for a 2019 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.[17]

Regional theatre edit

He appeared in the Arena Stage production of Animal Crackers in 1999.[18]

He has performed at the Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, in Present Laughter in 2007[19] and in She Loves Me in May and June 2008 (which transferred to the Williamstown Theatre Festival in June and July).[20] He appeared in God of Carnage in 2012 as Alan.[21] His appearances at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts, include She Loves Me in 2008,[22]Knickerbocker in 2009[23] and in July and August 2013 in a new musical, Johnny Baseball.[24]

In 2008, he participated in a staged concert presentation of "Broadway: Three Generations" at the Kennedy Center, appearing in Girl Crazy and Bye Bye Birdie.[25] He performed in Burn This as "Larry" at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, in 2011.[26]

He appeared in the musical 1776 as John Adams at the Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., in 2012.[27]

Credits edit

Theatre edit

Year Show Role Notes
1995 Songs for a New World Man 2 off-Broadway
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Bud Frump Broadway, 1995 – 1996
1997 Dream Performer Broadway, Apr. 3 – July 6, 1997
1998 Little Me Pinchley Junior/Steward/Assistant Director/Doctor Broadway, Nov. 12, 1998 – Feb. 7, 1999
1999 Animal Crackers Unknown Arena Stage
2000 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Performer NY City Center, February 2000
2001 Amphitryon Sosia Huntington Theatre Company, Mar. 9 - Apr. 8, 2001
2003 Gypsy Mr. Goldstone/Pastey Broadway, May 1, 2003 – May 20, 2004
2004 A Midsummer Night's Dream Francis Flute Williamstown Theatre Festival, July 14–25, 2004
The Producers Carmen Ghia Broadway, 2004 - 2006
2006 Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Comedy All Star Broadway, Aug. 17, 2006 – Jan. 7, 2007
2007 Present Laughter Roland Maule Huntington Theatre Company
The Ritz Chris Broadway, Oct. 11 – Dec. 9, 2007
2008 Broadway: Three Generations Performer Kennedy Center
She Loves Me Georg Nowack Huntington Theatre Company, May/June 2008
Williamstown Theatre Festival, July/August 2008
A Flea In Her Ear Dr. Finache Williamstown Theatre Festival, August 2008
2009 Rich and Famous Bing American Conservatory Theater - SF, Jan/Feb 2009
Knickerbocker Unknown Williamstown Theatre Festival
She Stoops to Conquer Tony Lumpkin McCarter Theater, Oct.13 - Nov. 1, 2009
2010 Present Laughter Roland Maule Broadway, Jan. 21 – Mar. 21, 2010
Promises, Promises Mr. Dobitch Broadway, Apr. 25, 2010 – Jan. 2, 2011
2011 Burn This Larry Mark Taper Forum
2012 1776 John Adams Ford's Theatre
God of Carnage Alan Huntington Theatre Company
2013 Clive Clive Off-Broadway, Jan. – March, 2013
Johnny Baseball Unknown Williamstown Theatre Festival, July/August 2013
2014 Bullets Over Broadway Warner Purcell Broadway, Apr. 10 – Aug. 24, 2014
2015 Absurd Person Singular Sidney Two River Theater, Jan. 5 – Feb. 1, 2015
2015 Something Rotten! Brother Jeremiah Broadway, Apr. 22, 2015 – Jan. 13, 2016[28]
2016 Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 Al/Izzy/Mr. Broadway/Carlo Broadway, Apr. 21, 2016 – July 24, 2016
The Prom Barry Glickman Alliance Theatre, August/September 2016
2017 Sunday in the Park with George Mr./Charles Broadway, Feb. 11 – Apr. 23, 2017
2018 The Prom Barry Glickman Broadway, September 2018 – August 2019

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Julie & Julia Mr. Misher
2022 Better Nate Than Ever Casting Director
2022 Forty Winks Automated Message
2023 Atrabilious Todd Jenkins

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2007 All My Children Leon 2 episodes
2012–14 The Good Wife Judge Greg Brochard 2 episodes
2019 Tales of the City Guest Episode: "The Price of Oil"
2020 The Good Lord Bird Lewis Washington 2 episodes
2022 The Last Movie Stars Gore Vidal (voice) 5 episodes
2022 Uncoupled Stanley James Main cast
2022 The Good Fight Judge Greg Brochard Episode: "The End of Football"

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2007 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2019 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical The Prom Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Brooks Ashmanskas Biography". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  2. ^ Biography Archived May 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine americantheatrewing.org, accessed August 24, 2013
  3. ^ "Brooks Ashmanskas on Why The Prom Feels 'Like Recess,' His 'Disgusting' Last Name & More on Show People". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  4. ^ "James Corden Is Fine in 'The Prom,' But He's No Brooks Ashmanskas". Decider. 2020-12-12. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  5. ^ Sommer, Elyse. "A CurtainUp Review. 'Dream' " curtainup.com, accessed August 25, 2013
  6. ^ " 'Gypsy', 2003" sondheimguide.com, accessed August 25, 2013
  7. ^ a b "Ashmanskas listing" InternetBroadwayDatabase, accessed August 25, 2011
  8. ^ Simonson, Robert "Jonathan Freeman and Brooks Ashmanskas Are New DeBris and Ghia in 'Producers', Aug. 31" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, August 18, 2004
  9. ^ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me' " The New York Times, August 18, 2006
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew. "2006-2007 Tony Nominations Announced; Spring Awakening Garners 11 Noms" Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 15, 2007
  11. ^ Hernandez, Ernio. "Fame Tony Nominee Brooks Ashmanskas Joins 'The Ritz' Revival Cast" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 31, 2007
  12. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "'Promises, Promises' Will Also Star Latessa, Hingston, Benson; Complete Cast Announced" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, February 4, 2010
  13. ^ Champion, Lindsay. Zoe Kazan, Vincent D’Onofrio & Brooks Ashmanskas Set for Off-Broadway's 'Clive', Starring Ethan Hawke" broadway.com, November 4, 2012
  14. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Zach Braff, Brooks Ashmanskas, Betsy Wolfe, Vincent Pastore Set for 'Bullets Over Broadway', Opening in April 2014" Archived September 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, June 27, 2013
  15. ^ Hetrick, Adam. [1] thing-rotten-puts-a-shakespearean-twist-on-broadway-musical-comedy-starting-tonight-344742 " 'Something Rotten!' Puts a Shakespearean Twist On Broadway Musical Comedy, Starting Tonight"], playbill.com, March 23, 2015
  16. ^ "Onstage" Archived 2016-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, ShuffleAlongBroadway.com, accessed March 14, 2016
  17. ^ [2] tonyawards.com, April 30, 2019
  18. ^ "DC's Arena Stage Opens Marx Bros' Musical 'Animal Crackers', April 7-May 30" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, April 7, 1999
  19. ^ Donovan, R.J. "Brooks Ashmanskas Took His Time Getting To Boston..And The Huntington" onstageboston.com, June 4, 2007
  20. ^ Bacalzo, Dan. Ashmanskas, Baldwin, Latessa, et al. Cast in Huntington's She Loves Me'" April 22, 2008
  21. ^ Herick, Adam. "Brooks Ashmanskas, Stephen Bogardus, Johanna Day, Christy Pusz Face 'God of Carnage' at the Huntington Jan. 6" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, January 6, 2012
  22. ^ Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew."Tonight at Eight: 'She Loves Me' Begins Williamstown Run June 27" playbill.com, June 27, 2008
  23. ^ "Interview, Actor Brooks Ashmanskas" williamstowntheatrefestival.blogspot.com, July 9, 2009
  24. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Williamstown Season Adds Brooks Ashmanskas, De'Adre Aziza and Reed Birney" Archived August 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, June 3, 2013
  25. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Casting Announced for Kennedy Center's 'Girl Crazy', 'Bye Bye Birdie' and 'Side Show' " Archived August 25, 2013, at archive.today playbill.com, July 16, 2008
  26. ^ Taft, Kevin."Let It Burn. Castmember Brooks Ashmanskas talks 'Burn This' at the Mark Taper Forum" Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine frontiersla.com, March 22, 2011
  27. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Ford's Theatre's '1776', With Robert Cuccioli, Brooks Ashmanskas, William Diggle, Begins March 9" Archived June 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, March 9, 2012
  28. ^ Something Rotten!, newyorktheatreguide.com; accessed August 2, 2021.

External links edit