Mark-Paul Gosselaar, known for TV roles in “Saved by the Bell’’ and “NYPD Blue,’’ debuts off-Broadway in “The Understudy.’’
(Jeff Christensen/Associated Press)
TV actor finds his way on stage
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, known for TV roles in “Saved by the Bell’’ and “NYPD Blue,’’ debuts off-Broadway in “The Understudy.’’
(Jeff Christensen/Associated Press)
NEW YORK - Mark-Paul Gosselaar is a self-professed theater novice and not afraid to admit it.
Right now, he’s making his New York stage debut off-Broadway in “The Understudy’’ alongside theater veterans Julie White, a best-actress Tony Award winner for “The Little Dog Laughed,’’ and Justin Kirk, who appeared on Broadway and in the film version of “Love! Valour! Compassion!’’
The role requires Gosselaar to step outside his comfort zone and perform twice a day, feeding off the energy of the live audience, with 80 pages of dialogue to remember.
“I had no idea about anything,’’ says Gosselaar, 35, whose prime TV credits include “Saved by the Bell,’’ “NYPD Blue,’’ and “Raising the Bar.’’ “I didn’t know the process or the terminology.’’
Fittingly, Gosselaar plays Jake, a big movie star who’s also an understudy in a Broadway play. Kirk plays the understudy to Gosselaar, and White is the stage manager. The play opens this week.
The entire story takes place at a rehearsal and shows how a theater understudy is always waiting in the wings hoping for their moment in the spotlight.
Gosselaar admits to practicing his new lines while walking to the theater, in a cab, and on the subway.
“A lot of questions my character brings up are some of the questions I had,’’ admits Gosselaar. “ ‘What’s a half-hour call? What’s the process of an understudy? So, the understudy is really never gonna go on [stage]?’ I had the same questions that Jake has in the play.’’
Scott Ellis, the show’s director, says Gosselaar is catching on quickly.
“It wouldn’t work if he didn’t have a gift with it. And he just has it,’’ says Ellis.
Gosselaar’s self-discovery hasn’t stopped at drama. There’s a cute dance number at the end of the Roundabout Theatre Company production which he says is one of his favorite parts. He now says he would even consider a Broadway musical if the opportunity came up.
“I’m not opposed to it. I don’t even know if I have a singing voice. I’ve never tried.’’
Ellis says he was surprised by Gosselaar’s audition because it went so well despite his lack of experience.
“I looked down on his resume and said, ‘There’s no theater here’ and he said, ‘No, I’ve never done theater.’ That was shocking to me because his audition was so spot-on. . . . He instinctively understands what the process is about. He asks the right questions.’’
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