THE FANTASTICKS' Spangler Sets 'Amazing Race' Record

Nick Spangler, currently appearing as Matt in the Off Broadway revival of The Fantasticks, set a new record on The Amazing Race last night when he and his sister, Starr, ate a dish of Kazakhstanian sheep's buttocks and won their fourth challenge in a row - a first in the 13-season history of the Emmy Award-winning reality competition. 

Spangler, who goes on a personal journey through life, loss, adventure and love eight times a week as the young lover in The Fantasticks, is currently the front-runner on the CBS series which chronicles teams on a race around the world.  

Along with Starr, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, the actor has: Raced through Salvador, Brazil against ten other teams and was the fastest to scale a 240-foot cargo net; Dominated in Siem Reap, Cambodia by hauling fish and unlocking a clue at Angkor Wat that led to the team's second victory; Painted a rickshaw and ironed clothes faster than anyone else for a third win in New Delhi, India; Braved the Holi Festival and a busy outdoor marketplace in Old Delhi, India; and Gone head-to-head with rivals in Almaty, Kazakhstan and ate a dish of sheep's backside to secure victory number five.

If the Spanglers come in first place at the series' end, they will win a prize of one million dollars. 

Spangler is battling against the other "Amazing Racers" with his sister and teammate, Starr Spangler, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.  Starting at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the 13th season of the Emmy-winning reality competition has followed the teams as they have logged over 30,000 miles in 23 days to countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Russia, India and Kazakhstan. 

Born and raised in northern California with three siblings, Spangler's theater career started at the age of five when he appeared as a Munchkin in a local production of The Wizard of Oz.  He continued to pursue musical theater and attended college at NYU where he performed the leads in Bat Boy: the Musical and The Last Five Years.  His other theater credits include Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Gateway Playhouse), Jean Michael in La Cage Aux Folles (Arvada Center) and Matt in The Fantasticks (Casa Manana).  Prior to assuming the role of Matt in The Fantasticks Off Broadway, Nick appeared in the production for nine months as The Mute.  His performance as Matt was recognized with The Theater Hall of Fame's 2008 Elaine and Jerry Orbach Musical Theater Fellowship.

The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in which teams of two people, which have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants strive to arrive first at "pit stops" at the end of each leg of the race to win prizes and avoid coming in last, which carries the possibility of elimination or a significant disadvantage in the following leg. Contestants travel to and within multiple countries in a variety of transportation modes, including planes, taxis, rental cars, trains, buses and boats. The clues in each leg point the teams to the next destination or direct them to perform a task, either together or by a single member. These challenges are related in some manner to the country or culture where they are located. Teams are progressively eliminated until the team which arrives first in the final leg is awarded a large cash grand prize.

The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world.  With book, lyrics and direction by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, it plays at The Snapple Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street at Broadway.  The cast includes Lewis Cleale, Margaret Anne Florence, Tom Flagg, Gene Jones, Jordan Nichols, Michael Nostrand, Evy Ortiz, Steve Routman, John Thomas Waite and Richard Roland.  For tickets call (212) 921-7862 or visit Ticketmaster.com.

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