Walken On Dream Projects: THEATRE OF BLOOD, The Musical

In an interview with Michael Riedel in the New York Post out today, Christopher Walkin chatted about why he always plays the bad guys, just how much he wants that Tony Award and his dream project of playing the lead in a musical adaptation of the 1973 camp-horror/comedy 'Theatre Of Blood.'

On being type-cast as "the villain," Walken reveals: "I did one and they just started coming my way." (Walken is currently starring on Broadway in A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE playing a murderous psychopath).

Walken does, however, have his sights set on a musical sometime in the future, it seems.  Once upon a time, Walken had roots in musical theater as a dancer in the national tour of WEST SIDE STORY.  His coveted role: the lead in a musical version of the movie 'Theatre Of Blood,' in which a Shakespeare actor murders the members of the London Drama Critics Circle after not recieving an important theatre award. The murderer, played in the film by Vincent Price, refuses to act in anything not written by Shakespeare. "It would make a great musical," says Walken.

As for a Tony nomination for his role in A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, "I'll do anything to win," was his reply.  One can only guess his meaning. 

To read Riedel's full report in the New York Post, click here.

Academy Award-winner Martin McDonagh's A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, starring Christopher Walken and stage and screen stars Sam Rockwell, Anthony Mackie and Zoe Kazan plays on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). The production, directed by John Crowley, opened on March 4 and will play a strict 16-week engagement, through June 6 only.

A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE is McDonagh's first play to originate on Broadway.

The title is just the starting point; take a man searching for his missing hand (Walken), two con artists out to make a few hundred bucks (Mackie and Kazan), and an overly curious hotel clerk (Rockwell), and the rest is up for grabs. A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE is Martin McDonagh's hilariously black comedy, a world premiere which marks McDonagh's first American-set play.

The design team is comprised of Scott Pask (Scenic and Costume), who won a Tony Award for his set design for The Pillowman, and Brian MacDevitt (Lighting), who won a Tony Award for his lighting design for The Pillowman.

A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE is produced by Robert Fox, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Debra Black, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ostar, Roger Berlind, Scott Rudin and The Shubert Organization.

Tickets available through Telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250, or online at www.Telecharge.com or in person at the Schoenfeld Theatre box office, 236 West 45th Street. A limited number of rush tickets are available on the day of performance when the box office opens for $26.50 (2 tickets per person). Subject to availability. Box office hours are Monday-Saturday 10am - 8:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm - 6:00pm.

For more information visit www.ABehandingInSpokane.com

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.