All Entries in the "Christian Hoff" Category
…On The Back Nine of Life - Part I, by Howard Tucker
In February of ‘07 I had the great fortune of attending the launch party for Christian Hoff’s audio book “Tell Me How You Love The Picture” (that’s another article in itself!). An added bonus to meeting Hollywood Producer Ed Feldman AND the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys, was meeting Howard Tucker. Howard is a wealth of information on show biz history, an avid Broadway fan, a great writer, and a good friend to many. I am glad to have Howard as a contributing author on this blog, and in the following article, you will come to know why people love him, and why people love Christian Hoff. Thank you, Howard, for your continued support and friendship!
REALIZING A BROADWAY DREAM ON THE BACK NINE OF LIFE….THANKS TO AN E-MAIL FROM CHRISTIAN HOFF
By Howard Tucker ( howardtucker3 at aol.com)
Background
Through the 1960’s, my favorite group was indeed the Four Seasons. I was a “Jersey Boy”, born in 1951, growing up in Clifton. My father grew up in Newark, almost around the corner from Frankie Valli. I am a CPA and bank examiner by trade, but had always been a huge fan of Broadway, having seen hundreds of plays. My only indirect Broadway involvement, if you will, was being able to trade some life experiences with comedian Jackie Mason, whom I met through a mutual friend. That didn’t always work out, as Jackie and I both enjoyed being the center of attention!
Pal Joey Stars “Tell It Like It Is” In This Video by Broadway.com
Tuesday, October 7th was Press day for Pal Joey at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s rehearsal hall. Broadway.com was there to document the event with this great video. Watch the fun with the Pal Joey stars - Christian Hoff, Stockard Channing and Martha Plimpton. The video was produced by Paul Wontorek, with interviews by Kimberly Kaye; shot & edited by Jason Dickerson.
Click here to view the video in a new window.
Introducing - The Pal Joey Cast
All photos by Aubrey Reuben
Placing your cursor over a picture pauses the picture and reveals the names of the subjects.
A Word About My Pal, Christian
Exclusive to the Pal Joey Blog
Rick Elice
When theater folk get together over a glass of sherry and reminisce about the actors who most influenced them, those whose sensitivity, artistry and command of craft transformed and energized not only their own lives but the very life of the American theater, it’s likely that one name comes to mind: Harvey Fierstein.
But would it be fitting for a “Pal Joey” blog to boast of any actor before enshrining the guy who plays the title character?? Certainly not.
Which is why we gather electronically to this place to honor our very own Christian Hoff. I say “our very own” even though Christian is a SoCal kid with blonde curls and surfer looks — traits that he disguised for the past four years during his spectacular Tony-winning turn as Tommy DeVito in that little number called “Jersey Boys.” In theory, there couldn’t be a guy less right for Joey, a Broadway heel of the highest order. But Christian defies theories.
He’s been honing his chops since he was a kid in Hollywood, and it shows. There isn’t much this classic triple-threat star can’t do, and the excitement at watching him do it as “Joey” is palpable up and down Broadway. Because Christian has that rare combination of magnetism, danger, audacity, instinct, and, I’ll say it, sex appeal, that goes to the heart of what an audience wants to see. And, as for the off-stage man, anybody who’s ever met Christian knows that he is the definition of class, a good, solid, upright, forthright husband, father, friend and colleague.
A hero who plays a heel. What a great Broadway story!
RICK ELICE
Rick Elice is the Tony-nominated co-author of Jersey Boys.
Pal Joey is back!!!
Although previews for Roundabout Theatre Company’s fall presentation of Rodgers and Hart’s Pal Joey aren’t set to begin until Friday, November 14th (at Studio 54 on Broadway), I can’t wait to start talking about it. With an all-star cast including Tony Award winner Christian Hoff as Joey Evans, Tony Award winner Stockard Channing as Vera Simpson, and Tony Award nominee Martha Plimpton as Gladys Bumps, this limited run engagement is certain to be a smash hit!
Christian & Frank
The new Joey commemorates the movie Joey, the immortal Frank Sinatra. Christian joined members of the Sinatra family on May 13 for an event celebrating the just-released Frank Sinatra Commemorative Stamp. Christian said, “As a first generation American, I share with Frank Sinatra the realization of the American dream, taking the dream our fathers had of a better life and taking it to the top.”
