Chuck Wagner

Chuck Wagner
Born (1958-06-20) June 20, 1958 (age 66)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • director
  • musical theater historian
  • teacher
Years active1981–present
Known for
SpouseSusan Wagner
Children2

Chuck Wagner (born June 20, 1958) is an American actor, director, musical theater historian and teacher. He has had an extensive career in theater, but is perhaps best known for co-starring in the short-lived science fiction TV series Automan (1983–84).

His notable Broadway credits include both Princes and The Wolf in Into the Woods, Inspector Javert in Les Misérables, and The Beast and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. He also originated the title roles in the world premiere of Jekyll & Hyde and reprised the roles on the 2nd US national tour.

Early life

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Wagner was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and raised in Hartsville, Tennessee. He attended public school in Gallatin. While at Gallatin High School, he performed the leads in "My Fair Lady", "Carousel", and "Inherit the Wind". As a BFA student, he attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa under Edmond Williams and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles under John Houseman. His collegiate summers were spent in Manteo, North Carolina, where he played John Borden in The Lost Colony, America's longest running outdoor drama.[1]

Career

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Television

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He is known for his role in the short-lived science fiction 1983 TV series Automan as the title character.[2] He also starred on the soap opera General Hospital as Randall Thompson in 1981 and 1982.

In 1981, Wagner was a contestant on the television game show Password Plus.

In 1984, he appeared on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour.

In 2012, he was also a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.[citation needed]

Wagner has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Dynasty, and Matlock.

Musical theatre

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Wagner has performed in several Broadway productions. His first role on Broadway was in The Three Musketeers in 1984 as Athos.[3]

Wagner went on to originate the role of Rapunzel's Prince in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods (1987).[4] The recording of that show, on which Wagner appears, won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. In 1988, he joined the cast of the first US tour of Into the Woods playing the roles of The Wolf and Cinderella's Prince.[5] (Roles he understudied in the original Broadway production)[6]

Wagner has appeared on Broadway (replacement) and in the U.S. national tour (1992) of Les Misérables as Inspector Javert.[7][8] In 1994, he began a four-year stint as "The Beast", in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in both the Broadway (replacement) and Toronto productions.[9] Wagner originated the title roles in Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde in 1990 and Svengali in 1991 at The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. He reprised his dual roles in Jekyll & Hyde in the post Broadway national tour in 1999.[10] In 2001 he toured the U.S. in Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate as the MacArthuresque General Harrison Howell and understudy to Rex Smith's Fred Graham.[11] He appeared on Broadway in 2004, in Wildhorn's Dracula, The Musical, standing by for Dracula, Van Helsing and Quincey Morris.[12]

Wagner also sang the role of Sir Percival Blakeney, aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, in the original concept recording of The Scarlet Pimpernel (1992).

In 1997, Wagner along with the original Broadway cast of Into the Woods reunited for a tenth anniversary concert at the Broadway Theatre in New York City. Wagner reprised his roles of the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince in the place of Robert Westenberg. (Broadway understudy Jonathan Dokuchitz played Rapunzel’s Prince in Wagner’s place.)[13]

In 1999, he released a self-titled solo CD, on which he sang songs from the various musicals in which he has appeared. He also recorded demo songs for a cancelled Star Wars musical, in which he played Han Solo.[14]

He played The Captain of the S.S. American in Kathleen Marshall's production of the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes in a year long tour that began in October 2012.[15] In November 2013 he starred as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables as Equity Guest Artist at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.[16]

In February 2014, he reprised his role as Javert in Les Misérables for the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh.[17] He was accompanied by his former broadway co-star, Craig Schulman, who reprised his role as Valjean. The show was directed by Dave Clemmons, who played Valjean opposite Wagner during the U.S. National Tour. In May 2014 he played Javert in Les Misérables for Studio Tenn with the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.[18] In June 2014 he appeared as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables at the Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City in a production featuring a 100 voice chorus.[19]

Other work

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He has appeared in commercials for Zyban, and toured as the Ringmaster in both the 136th edition of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus of Dreams (2006 through 2007), and the 138th edition Over The Top (2008 to 2009).[20]

In 2010, while at home in Pensacola Beach, Florida, he joined the response to the BP oil spill helping to coordinate a large scale mechanical beach operation while safeguarding the local sea turtles.

An avid musical theatre historian, Wagner served as Visiting Artist in Residence at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. He performs concerts and teaches in high schools and colleges.[21] Between theatrical jobs he is a member of the touring concert series, Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway.

Notable theatre roles

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Show Role(s) Year(s) Production
1776 Colonel Thomas McKean 1976 Prestonburg, Kentucky
The Lost Colony John Borden 1977-1978 Manteo, North Carolina
Christopher Christopher 1979 University of Southern California
The Three Musketeers Athos 1984 Broadway
Camelot Lancelot du Lac 1986 Sacramento
Oklahoma! Curly McLain San Diego
Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde Demo Album
Into the Woods Rapunzel's Prince 1986-1987 San Diego (World Premiere)
Rapunzel's Prince

u/s The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince

1987-1988 Broadway
The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince 1988-1989 US Tour
Rapunzel's Prince 1989 Broadway (Limited 3-night run)
Camelot Lancelot du Lac 1990 Houston
Sacramento
Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde Houston (World Premiere)
Svengali Svengali 1991 Houston (World Premiere)
Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham / Petruchio Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Svengali Svengali Sarasota, Florida
The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel 1992 Concept Album
Les Misérables Inspector Javert 1992-1993 3rd US Tour
1993 Broadway
Beauty and the Beast u/s Gaston

s/b The Beast

1994-1995
The Beast 1995-1996 Toronto
The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel 1996 Demo Recording
Beauty and the Beast The Beast 1997-1998 Broadway
Into the Woods The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince 1997 10th Anniversary Concert

Broadway

Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde 1999-2000 2nd US Tour
A Little Night Music Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm 2001 Beverly, Massachusetts
1776 Edward Rutledge Fort Worth, Texas
Kiss Me, Kate MacArthuresque General Harrison Howell

u/s Fred Graham / Petruchio

2001-2002 US Tour
Jekyll & Hyde Director 2002 University of West Florida
Mame Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside 2003 Beverly, Massachusetts
Man of La Mancha Director University of West Florida
A Little Night Music Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm 2004 Chicago
Dracula: The Musical s/b Count Dracula
s/b Van Helsing
s/b Quincey Morris
2004-2005 Broadway
Annie Get Your Gun Frank Butler 2005 Okaloosa Walton Community College
Anyone Can Whistle J. Bowden Hapgood Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hello Dolly Horace Vandergelder 2010 Nashville, Tennessee
Anything Goes The Captain of the SS American

u/s Elisha J. Whitney

2012-2013 US Tour
Les Misérables Jean Valjean 2013 Nashville, Tennessee
Inspector Javert 2014 Raleigh, North Carolina
Nashville, Tennessee
Jean Valjean Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Seaplane: The Musical Alexander Graham Bell 2015 Pensacola, Florida
Julius Caesar Julius Caesar 2019 Nashville, Tennessee

Discography

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Title Role(s)(If Applicable) Year Type
Jekyll and Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll

Mr. Edward Hyde

1986 Demo Recordings
1987 Non-Commercial Concept Album
Into the Woods Rapunzel's Prince Original Broadway Cast Album
The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel 1992 Concept Album
The Civil War One of the "Broadway All-Stars" 1996 Concept Album
The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel 1996 Pre-Broadway Demo Recordings
Chuck Wagner N/A 1999 Solo Album
Star Wars: The Musical Han Solo 1999 Demo Recordings(Unproduced)
Dracula Van Helsing 2000 Demo Album
Dillinger: Public Enemy Number One Melvin Purvis 2000 Demo Recordings(Unproduced)

Filmography

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Show: Role: Year(s): Film/TV/Other:
Password Plus Himself 1981 TV
Dukes of Hazard Joey Bryan 1981 TV
General Hospital Randall Thompson 1981-1982 TV
Soap World Himself 1982 TV
Automan Automan 1983 TV
Tattletales Himself 1983 TV
Matchgame Himself 1984 TV
America 3000 Korvis 1986 Film
The Sisterhood Mikal 1988 Film
American Performances: Into the Woods Rapunzel's Prince 1991 TV
Terminal Virus Mikal 1995 Film(Uncredited Archive Footage)
Calling Automan: The Auto Feature Himself 2012 DVD Extra
Hewlogram Original Hewlogram 2017 Short Film

References

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  1. ^ Hughes Cob, Mark. "Ringmaster Chuck Wagner, former UA theater student, on a mission" Tuscaloosa News, January 23, 2006 [dead link]
  2. ^ Handler, David (January 19, 1984). "Your eyes just won't believe 'Automan'". The Madison Courier. p. B8. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  3. ^ The Three Musketeers Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
  4. ^ Into the Woods Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
  5. ^ Into the Woods IBDB, retrieved October 31, 2022
  6. ^ Into the Woods Playbill, retrieved October 31, 2022
  7. ^ " Les Misérables Broadway" Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
  8. ^ Zink, Jack. " 'Les Miserables' At Broward Center" Sun-Sentinel, June 4, 1992
  9. ^ " Beauty and the Beast Broadway" Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
  10. ^ Simonson, Robert and Lefkowitz, David. " 'Jekyll & Hyde Tour Alters Schedule; to Begin in CT Apr. 13" Playbill, December 22, 1998
  11. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "York and Smith Head 'Kiss Me, Kate' Tour, Bowing June 19 in New Haven" Playbill, June 19, 2001
  12. ^ Dracula Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
  13. ^ "Concert, Tenth Anniversary" Archived 2007-08-19 at the Wayback Machine SondheimGuide.com
  14. ^ "Contact and Resume". chuckwagner.com.
  15. ^ "BWW TV Exclusive: 'Anything Goes' Tour Sets Sail in Cleveland- Chatting with Rachel York and the Cast; Plus a Special Sneak Peek!" broadwayworld.com, September 27, 2012
  16. ^ Shoun-Smith, Janel. "Beloved musical 'Les Misérables' performed Nov. 6-9" lipscomb.edu, October 30, 2013
  17. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Craig Schulman, Chuck Wagner, Lauren Kennedy Will Star in Les Misérables for North Carolina Theatre" Playbill, November 26, 2013
  18. ^ "Mike Eldred and Chuck Wagner Headline Studio Tenn 'Les Mis' " artsnash.com, March 19, 2014
  19. ^ "Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma to Present 'Les Miserables', 6/24-28" broadwayworld.com, May 24, 2014
  20. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence. "Enough Sights, Sound and Action for, Well, a Circus" The New York Times, April 3, 2008
  21. ^ Moon, Troy. "Chuck Wagner brings Broadway hits to Pensacola" USA Today, July 19, 2017
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