Brandon Jacob Uranowitz (born July 9, 1986) is an American actor.[1] He is known for his roles as Adam Hochberg in the musical An American in Paris (2014–15) and Mendel Weisenbachfeld in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos, both of which earned him nominations for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play nomination for Burn This (2019) and won the award for Leopoldstadt (2022–23).[2][3] His other Broadway credits include Baby, It's You! (2011), Prince of Broadway (2017), and The Band's Visit (2018).
Brandon Uranowitz | |
|---|---|
 Uranowitz at the 2023 Tony Awards | |
| Born | Brandon Jacob Uranowitz July 9, 1986 Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Partner | Zachary Prince (2011–present) |
Early life
editUranowitz grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and attended the nearby Montclair Kimberley Academy.[4] He is from a Jewish family and had a Bar Mitzvah.[5]
He began performing at age six and studied at Performers Theatre Workshop.[6] In the mid-1990s, he was a working child actor; professional roles included an ensemble member in Evita at the Paper Mill Playhouse (1996) and a swing in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. In 1997, he assumed the role of Little Boy in the world premiere of Ragtime in Toronto. He was also member of The Broadway Kids, a musical revue and recording project;[4] he performed live off-Broadway and appears on the 1998 album The Broadway Kids Back on Broadway.[7][8] Of Uranowitz's contribution as part of the ensemble cast, The New York Times wrote he "was a testament to youthful enthusiasm and lung power".[9]
He attended New York University and graduated in 2008 with a degree in theater arts from their Tisch School of the Arts.[10]
Career
edit2006–2013: Early career and Broadway debut
editUranowitz resumed his acting career while training at NYU; early on, he held the roles of Richard in Richard III and the King of France in All's Well That Ends Well at Classical Studio, Cardinal Bellarmin in Galileo at The Skirball Center (2007), and Dante in Only Children at The Abe Burrows Theatre.
Following graduation, he played the role of Feste in Twelfth Night at the Kirk Theatre off-Broadway (2009)[11] and the role of Eugene in Brighton Beach Memoirs / Broadway Bound in 2010 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.[12][13] Of Uranowitz's appearance as Feste in Twelfth Night, MusicOMH wrote "Uranowitz rocks it... ...playing the fool character with restrained glee,"[14] PlayShakespeare.com wrote, "Brandon Uranowitz' effortless command of the language and, again, his willingness to explore his characters' depth makes him absolutely spellbinding."[15] For his performance, Uranowitz received a PlayShakespeare.com Falstaff Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance, Male.[16]
His first role in a major production was as an ensemble member and understudy of Mark in the national tour of Rent.[17] Uranowitz made his Broadway debut in the 2011 jukebox musical Baby It's You!. He played the role of Stanley,[18] the blind composer and son of Florence Greenberg as played by Beth Leavel.[19][20][21] In their review of the musical, Variety noted that the "show is continually perked up by... ...Brandon Uranowitz (as a long-suffering press guy and Goldberg's blind son)."[20]
In 2013, he was cast in Michael Kahn's Washington, D.C. production of Torch Song Trilogy. He starred as Arnold in the four-hour unabridged version of the play and was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Resident Play.[22]
During this time, Uranowitz has had minor appearances in the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, As the World Turns, and Inside Amy Schumer.
2014–present: Breakthrough and acclaim
editIn 2014, he joined the original cast of the stage adaption of An American in Paris as composer Adam Hochberg. The show premiered in Paris at Théâtre du Châtelet in December 2014 and transferred to Broadway, opening in April 2015. He departed the show on August 7, 2016. The show was Uranowitz's breakthrough performance and netted him his first Tony Award nomination. He also portrayed Mrs. White in the 30th Anniversary one time tribute performance of the classic film Clue in December 2015.[23]
Uranowitz joined the first revival of 1992 musical Falsettos, which opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on October 27, 2016, as a limited engagement. He portrayed Mendel, a psychiatrist, opposite Christian Borle as Marvin, Andrew Rannells as Whizzer, and Stephanie J. Block as Trina. For his performance, he received a 2017 Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[3] His turn as Mendel in Falsettos received rave reviews. He was called "warmly funny and convincingly neurotic" as Mendel by The New York Times,[24] "wholly endearing" by Entertainment Weekly,[25] and The Hollywood Reporter said "Uranowitz is a worthy successor to the wonderful Chip Zien in the original production. He flirts with the stereotypical view of a Jewish therapist only marginally less messed-up than his patients, while also finding the truth in a compassionate man who has to convince himself of his right to be happy".[26] Vulture said that Uranowitz offered "an unusually sexy Mendel".[27]
Uranowitz appeared in the revue Prince of Broadway, which opened on Broadway in August 2017 and closed in October 2017. The revue featured the work of the director and producer Harold Prince.[28][29] Beginning in October 2018, he performed for four months in The Band's Visit on Broadway, replacing John Cariani. He subsequently played Larry in a limited run of Burn This on Broadway, opposite Adam Driver and Keri Russell. For his role, Uranowitz received nominations for the Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
In fall 2019, it was announced that he would star in a limited-run off-Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins at the Classic Stage Company in spring 2020.[30] The production was postponed to late 2021 due to the global pandemic. In 2020, he took part in the amfAR COVID-19 relief benefit The Great Work Begins, a live streamed event featuring scenes from Angels in America. He performed in the role of Louis Ironson.[31] In 2022, he appeared in the Broadway run of the Tom Stoppard play Leopoldstadt, for which he won a Tony Award.
Some of his screen acting credits during this time include a three episode arc in 2018 on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Buzz Goldberg, a Catskills activities director, and the 2021 Billy Crystal feature film Here Today.
Personal life
editHe is openly gay.[32] As of 2011, Uranowitz is in a relationship with actor Zachary Prince. They met at the audition for Baby It's You! and Prince was subsequently cast as Uranowitz's understudy.[33]
Acting credits
editTheatre
editSelected credits
Readings
edit| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Clue | Mrs. White | The Players | 30th Anniversary tribute |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Stage Fright | Artie Getz | |
| 2018 | Goodbye, Brooklyn | Nicolas | |
| 2019 | The Kitchen | Shmuli Chudakoff | |
| 2021 | Here Today | Justin |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dovid | Episode: "Rock Star" | |
| TBD | As the World Turns | Day Player | Uncredited | |
| 2013 | Inside Amy Schumer | Generations Instructor | Episode: "Real Sext" | |
| TBD | The Soul Man | U 5 | Uncredited | |
| 2017 | Falsettos: Live from Lincoln Center | Mendel | Filmed stage production | |
| Blue Bloods | Michael Goldman | Episode: "Pick Your Poison" | ||
| 2018 | Dietland | Pablo | Episode: "F... This" | |
| 2018–2022 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Buzz Goldberg | 4 episodes | |
| 2019 | Fosse/Verdon | Dustin Hoffman | Episode: "All I Care About Is Love" |
Discography
editCast recordings
edit- 2011: Baby It's You! (Original Cast Recording); featured on 2 tracks
- 2015: An American in Paris (Original Broadway Cast Recording); featured on 6 tracks
- 2016: Falsettos (2016 Broadway Cast Recording); featured on 14 tracks
- 2018: Prince of Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording); featured on 3 tracks
- 2022: Assassins (Studio Cast Recording); featured on 5 tracks
- 2022: The Violet Hour (The 2022 Off-Broadway Cast Recording); featured on 8 tracks
Awards and nominations
edit| Award | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama Desk Award | 2017 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Falsettos | Nominated |
| 2019 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Burn This | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Leopoldstadt | Won | |
| Falstaff Award | 2009 | Best Supporting Performance, Male[52] | Twelfth Night | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2016 | Best Musical Theater Album | An American in Paris | Nominated |
| Helen Hayes Award | 2014 | Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play | Torch Song Trilogy | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | 2023 | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play | Leopoldstadt | Won |
| Tony Awards | 2015 | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | An American in Paris | Nominated |
| 2017 | Falsettos | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Burn This | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Leopoldstadt | Won |
References
edit- ^ "Brandon Uranowitz". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ "Tony Awards 2015: Complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Piepenburg, Erik (May 2, 2017). "Tony Awards 2017: The Full List of Nominations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ a b Merwyn, Ted (October 19, 2016). "Growing Into His Jewish Roles". The Jewish Week. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ "LiveatFive with Brandon Uranowitz". Broadway.com. June 8, 2017.
at 11:20 and 12:55
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Performers Theatre Workshop. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ McGrath, Sean (October 30, 1998). "Broadway Kids Return to Off-Broadway's Fairbanks Theatre, Oct. 31". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ "Back on Broadway - The Broadway Kids". AllMusic. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Graeber, Laurel (January 9, 1998). "Family Fare". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ "Tisch Alumni on Playbill's Big 10 on Broadway". NYU: Tisch School. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Wilson, Gregory (January 2009). "Review, Twelfth Night". Curtain Up. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Lowerison, Jean (October 7, 2010). "Old Globe double-dips with Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Broadway Bound"". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Hebert, James (September 26, 2010). "Globe's 'Broadway' a brooding return to Brooklyn". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Patterson, Richard (September 2, 2012). "review: Twelfth Night". musicOMH. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ Barbot, Matthew (January 15, 2009). "If Music Be the Food of Love, Rock On". PlayShakespeare.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ "Falstaff Awards for 2009". PlayShakespeare.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ a b Lapointe, André (January 10, 2010). "Rent: The Broadway Tour". Regard en Coulisse (in French). Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Brown, Scott (April 27, 2011). "Black Music Gets Whitewashed Again in Baby It's You!". New York. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Winer, Linda (September 2, 2012). "review: "Baby It's You!". Newsday. Melville, NY. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Suskin, Steven (April 27, 2011). "review: Baby It's You!". Variety. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (April 27, 2011). "review: "Baby It's You!". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Markowitz, Joel (April 21, 2014). "Here are the 2014 Helen Hayes Awards Recipients". DC Metro Theater Arts. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (December 7, 2015). "Michael Urie and Brandon Uranowitz Headline Celebrity Performance of Clue". Playbill.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (October 27, 2016). "Review: 'Falsettos,' a Perfect Musical, an Imperfect Family". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Bernardo, Melissa Rose. "'Falsettos': EW Stage Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Rooney, David. "'Falsettos': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Green, Jesse (October 28, 2016). "Theater Review: Fizzing in Every Direction, Falsettos Marches Back to Broadway". Vulture. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ a b Lefkowitz, Andy (April 6, 2017). "Brandon Uranowitz, Emily Skinner, Tony Yazbeck & More to Star in Prince of Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (September 19, 2017). "Prince of Broadway Extends Limited Engagement". Playbill. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Musbach, Julie (September 24, 2019). "Steven Pasquale, Will Swenson, Brandon Uranowitz, Judy Kuhn & Wesley Taylor Will Star in CSC's ASSASSINS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ "The Great Work Begins". The Great Work Begins. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Wong, Curtis (June 5, 2017). "This Tony Nominee Doesn't Want Praise For Playing A Straight Guy". HuffPost.
- ^ Spaner, Whitney (July 10, 2016). "What Happens When You Have a Crush on Your Standby?". Playbill.
- ^ Diamond, Robert. "New York Neo-Classical Ensemble Presents Twelfth Night Jan. 8–24, 2009". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (January 24, 2011). "Shirelles Musical Baby It's You!, With Beth Leavel, Will Play the Broadhurst; Complete Cast Announced". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 27, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (December 10, 2014). "Broadway-Bound An American in Paris Opens in Paris Tonight". Playbill. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (July 17, 2014). "An American in Paris Will Open at Broadway's Palace in 2015". Playbill. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (March 31, 2016). "'Falsettos' Revival Casts Its Leads: Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells and Stephanie J. Block". The New York Times.
- ^ Levitt, Hayley (December 8, 2017). "Brandon Uranowitz, Alexandra Silber, and More Join Man of La Mancha in Concert". Theater Mania.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (February 14, 2018). "Brandon Uranowitz, Stephanie Styles, James Snyder, and More Set for Encores! Grand Hotel". Playbill.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (September 18, 2018). "Brandon Uranowitz to Join Broadway's The Band's Visit". Playbill.
- ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (November 27, 2018). "Brandon Uranowitz & David Furr to Join Keri Russell & Adam Driver in Burn This at Broadway's Hudson Theatre". Broadway.com.
- ^ Road Show NYCC
- ^ Assassins Off-Broadway Revival Opens November 14 at Classic Stage Company
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (August 17, 2022). "Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, David Krumholtz, More on Broadway's Upcoming Leopoldstadt". Playbill. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ Brandon Uranowitz, Denée Benton, Grey Henson to Star in Kennedy Center Tick, Tick...BOOM!
- ^ Ramin Karimloo, Bonnie Milligan, Chuck Cooper, Judy Kuhn, More Will Star in Encores! Titanic
- ^ Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz Will Star in City Center Ragtime
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brandon Uranowitz". IMDb.
- ^ a b "Backstage: Brandon Uranowitz". Backstage. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ "Fosse/Verdon (TV Series 2019– ) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.
- ^ "Falstaff Awards 2009". Playshakespeare.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.