Nick Spangler, who is currently starring as Matt in the revival of The Fantasticks at The Snapple Theater Center, has been awarded the Theater Hall of Fame's 2008 Elaine and Jerry Orbach Musical Theater Fellowship. The award was presented by Elaine Cancilla-Orbach on Thursday, June 19 at a luncheon held at the Friars Club.
Created by the Theater Hall of Fame in 2004 to provide an avenue to recognize and provide financial assistance to emerging theater artists and to encourage possible future Hall of Famers, the fellowships are awarded annually to artists who have worked professionally but are relatively new to the business. Spangler was selected by Cancilla-Orbach herself.
"After seeing many, many Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway shows I happened to catch Nick in a matinee of
The Fantasticks," said Cancilla-Orbach. "I thought, 'He sings beautifully; he is a fine actor…The choice became obvious.'"
The award carries extra significance as Cancilla-Orbach's late husband
Jerry Orbach was an "emerging artist" when he starred as El Gallo in the original Sullivan Street production of
The Fantasticks in 1960. Said Cancilla-Orbach, "I hope that this role and this award help Nick to parallel Jerry's career.
The Fantasticks bounced Jerry to fame. Hopefully the same will happen for Nick."
The Fantasticks is now playing at The
Jerry Orbach Theater in Times Square's Snapple Theater Center. For more information call (212) 921-7862 or visit www.fantasticksonbroadway.com.
