Chip Zien

Last updated

Chip Zien
Born
Jerome Herbert Zien

(1947-03-20) March 20, 1947 (age 77)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Education University of Pennsylvania
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1973–present
Known for Into the Woods
Falsettos
Harmony
SpouseSusan Pilarre [1]
Children2 [1]

Jerome Herbert "Chip" Zien (born March 20, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for originating the lead role of the Baker in the original Broadway production of the musical Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. He appeared in all of the "Marvin Trilogy" musicals by William Finn: In Trousers , March of the Falsettos , Falsettoland and Falsettos . In 2023, he returned to Broadway to critical acclaim in the lead role of Rabbi Josef Roman Cycowski in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s Harmony.

Contents

In 1989, he starred as Otto Kringelein in Grand Hotel and in 2007, he played Mssr. Thénardier in Les Misérables , both on Broadway. He also created the role of Mr. Bungee in the original production of A New Brain . On the screen, he portrayed Mark Rothenberg in the film United 93 . He is also known for providing the voice of the titular character in the film Howard the Duck . In 2012, he returned to Into the Woods portraying the Mysterious Man, the father of the Baker, the role Zien originated.

Early life

Zien was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and later from the University of Pennsylvania. [2] There, he was the chairman of the Mask and Wig Club, [2] [3] a historic collegiate musical comedy troupe.

Career

Young Zien started in local theatrical productions. One of his early roles was as a child in a production of South Pacific at the Melody Top summer outdoor theatre in Milwaukee. [4]

Stage

Zien's first major role was in 1977 at the Manhattan Theater Club in the musical The Redemption Center (by Ron Cowen, Seth Glassman, and Sandy Naishtat), opposite Alice Playten as the young couple. Later, Chip received acclaim in the role of Marvin in William Finn's first musical, In Trousers , which ran Off-Broadway in 1979. [5] In its sequels, March of the Falsettos (1981) [6] and Falsettoland , [7] this role was played by Michael Rupert, while Zien played Mendel, a role he reprised when these two one-act musicals were joined together and played Broadway as Falsettos in 1992. [8] In 1998 Zien was featured in another Finn musical when he played a children's show host called Mr. Bungee, dressed as a frog, in A New Brain Off-Broadway at the Lincoln Center Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. [9] He received a 1999 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this role. [10]

He appeared in the Off-Broadway play Isn't It Romantic by Wendy Wasserstein in a Playwrights Horizons production at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, opening in June 1984. He was nominated for the 1984 Drama Desk Award, Featured Actor in a Play. [11] He originated the role of the Baker in Into the Woods in 1986 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and on Broadway in 1987. [12]

Zien starred on Broadway in Ride the Winds (as Inari) (1974), The Suicide (as Victor Victorovich) (1980), Grand Hotel (as Otto Kringelein) (1989) and The Boys from Syracuse (as Dromio of Ephesus) (2002). [10] He appeared in the City Center Encores! staged concert production of Applause as Buzz Richards in 2008. [13]

In 2005, Zien played the part of Goran in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Broadway. [14]

In 2007, Zien was a replacement in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables in the role of Monsieur Thénardier.

From April 1 to June 19, 2011, Zien appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of The People in the Picture , which played at Studio 54 on Broadway. [15]

Zien appeared in a revival of Into the Woods at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park from August 9 to September 1, 2012. He played the Mysterious Man, the father of the character he had originated in the original production 26 years prior. [16]

Zien appeared in the Broadway musical It Shoulda Been You at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre as Murray with music by Barbara Anselmi, book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove. The show, marking the directorial debut of David Hyde Pierce, starred Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess, and David Burtka, and opened in previews March 17, 2015, and officially on April 14. [17]

Zien originated the role of Older Rabbi Josef Roman Cycowski of the famous Comedian Harmonists both Off-Broadway and on Broadway in the musical Harmony at both the Museum of Jewish Heritage at the National Theater Folksbiene (where he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award) and the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Film and television

In 1973, Zien made his television debut on an episode of Love, American Style . More guest roles in television followed, and in the early 1980s, he began a stream of regular TV roles. In 1981, he appeared on Ryan's Hope as Daniel Thorne, the producer of the fictional Proud and the Passionate soap opera on the series in which the character Barbara Wilde (Judith Barcroft) was starring. Later that year, he began a two-year run in the freshman NBC sitcom Love, Sidney as Jason Stoller, the young, hot-shot ad agency director who was Sidney Shorr's (Tony Randall) boss. Immediately after Love, Sidney's cancellation, Zien was cast in a similar role on the ABC sitcom Reggie , an American adaptation of the British series The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin . He played C.J. Wilcox, the overbearing young boss of Richard Mulligan's Reggie Potter. The series aired as a summer replacement during August and September 1983, but was not renewed by ABC after the tryout run. In 1986, he provided the voice of the title character in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck . [18] Zien later starred on the short-lived CBS drama Shell Game in 1987. [19]

In the 1990s, Zien was part of the ensemble cast of the CBS sitcom Almost Perfect (1995–96), playing neurotic screenwriter Gary Karp. [20] Almost Perfect was cancelled shortly into its second season, but the series sustained its loyal following via reruns on USA Network not long after. Zien would return to regular roles in daytime drama, first on Guiding Light in early 1999, and by that summer, as newspaper reporter Donald Steele on All My Children , a role that would last until 2001. [20]

From 1999 to 2000, Zien had a recurring guest role on the CBS primetime drama Now and Again as Gerald Misenbach. [21] He has appeared repeatedly as Attorney Cromwell on Law & Order . [22]

During the 2002–03 season, Zien was the announcer on daytime's The Caroline Rhea Show , [20] which was based in New York (on the former Rosie O'Donnell Show set). In 2006, he appeared in the critically acclaimed film United 93 as Mark Rothenberg. [23] He played Dr. Marsh in the vampire comedy film Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead .

Personal life

Zien is married to former dancer and dancing instructor Susan Pilarre; the couple has two children. [1]

Acting credits

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1956 South Pacific Jerome
1971 You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Snoopy Ford's Theatre
1972 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch Equity Library Theatre
1974Ride The WindsInariOriginal Broadway cast
All Over Townu/s Charles
u/s Demetrius
u/s Detective Kirby
u/s Laurent
u/s Louie
1977The Redemption CenterHusband
1979 In Trousers MarvinOff-Broadway
1980 The Suicide Victor VictorovichOriginal Broadway cast
1981–1982 March of the Falsettos Dr. MendelOff-Broadway
1983–1984Isn't It RomanticMarty Sterling
1985 Merrily We Roll Along Charley Kringas La Jolla Playhouse
1986–1987 Into the Woods The BakerWorld Premiere
1987–1989Original Broadway cast
1989 Grand Hotel Otto KringeleinBroadway replacement
1990 Falsettoland Dr. MendelOff-Broadway
1992–1993 Falsettos Original Broadway cast
1994Los Angeles
US tour
1995 Anyone Can Whistle Treasurer Cooley Carnegie Hall
1997 Into the Woods The Baker10th Anniversary Concert: Broadway
1998 A New Brain Mr. BungeeOff-Broadway
2002 The Boys from Syracuse Dromio of EphesusOriginal Broadway cast
2004 They're Playing Our Song Vernon Gersch Colonial Theater
2005 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang GoranOriginal Broadway cast
2007 Les Misérables Monsieur Thénardier Broadway replacement
2008 Applause Buzz RichardsOff-Broadway
Encores!
The Country Girl Phil CookOriginal Broadway cast
2011 The People in the Picture Yossie Pinsker
2012 Into the Woods The Mysterious Man / Cinderella's Father Delacorte Theater in Central Park
2013 The Big Knife Nat DanzigerOriginal Broadway cast
2015 It Shoulda Been You Murray Steinberg
Grand Hotel Otto Kringelein25th Anniversary Concert
2017 Candide Max's Servant / Radu / Rich Jew / Judge Gomez / Father Bernard / First Gambler New York City Opera
2018 The Royal Family of Broadway Oscar Wolfe Barrington Stage Company
2021 Caroline, or Change Mr. StopnickOriginal Broadway cast
2022 Harmony Older Rabbi Josef Roman CycowskiOff-Broadway
2023–2024Original Broadway cast
2024 Titanic Isidor Straus Off-Broadway
Encores!

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1979 The Rose Reporter
1981 So Fine Wise Guy In Disco
1984 The House of God Eddie
1984 Grace Quigley Dr. Herman
1986 Howard the Duck Howard T. Duck (voice)
1987 Hello Again Reporter #4
1994 Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Franklin P. Adams
1995 The Real Shlemiel Treitel, The Donkey (voices)
1998 Snake Eyes Mickey Alter, Tyler's Lawyer
1998 The Siege Chief of Staff
1999 Breakfast of Champions Andy Wojeckowzski
1999Brooklyn Thrill KillersHarry LiebermanShort
2006 United 93 Mark Rothenberg
2009 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead Dr. Marsh
2012CommentaryClifford Blowman
2013That's News to MeDr. HenschelShort
2017Approaching a BreakthroughShort
2017 Little Evil Stepdad Therapist
2022 Simchas and Sorrows Mortimer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973 Love, American Style LeoSegment: "Love and the Generation Gasp"
1977Off CampusJoshTV movie
1978 CHiPs DaveyEpisode: "The Grudge"
1978Fix-it CityIrvingTV movie
1980 3-2-1 Contact Einstein2 episodes
1981 Ryan's Hope Daniel Thorne6 episodes
1981–1983 Love, Sidney Jason Stoller29 episodes
1982 NBC Special Treat JakeEpisode: "Oh, Boy! Babies!"
1983 Reggie C.J. Wilcox6 episodes
1985, 1995 As the World Turns Roastmaster / Arthur Howell3 episodes
1986 Cheers Jeff WarrenEpisode: "The Peterson Principle"
1987 Shell Game Bert Luna6 episodes
1989 Newhart Mr. JenkinsEpisode: "Cupcake in a Cage"
1990 Thirtysomething Dr. VernyEpisode: "Post-Op"
1990–2002 Law & Order Attorney Steven Cromwell / Mr. Green4 episodes
1991 American Playhouse The BakerEpisode: "Into the Woods"
1992 Quiet Killer Dr. Lionel KatzTV movie
1995 The Wright Verdicts Assistant District Attorney Fred KellerEpisode: "Ex-Corpus Delicti"
1995 Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling Assistant District Attorney Douglas TrayneTV movie
1995–1997 Almost Perfect Gary Karp34 episodes
1996 Cagney & Lacey: True Convictions Assistant District Attorney TrayneTV movie
1997 Wings Bippy, The ClownEpisode: "Oedipus Wrecks"
1997 Profiler Episode: "Ambition in the Blood"
1998–2001 All My Children Donald Steele8 episodes
1999 Guiding Light Aidan HeathUnknown episodes
1999 Now and Again Gerald Misenbach4 episodes
1999 Cosby MaxEpisode: "One for the Books"
2000 Judging Amy Dr. Ken BakerEpisode: "Gray vs. Gray"
2000 Madigan Men Mr. WolfeEpisode: "Meet the Wolfes"
2000–2001 Deadline Sammy Klein9 episodes
2001 Son of the Beach Larry BigEpisode: "Area 69"
2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation LawyerEpisode: "Coming of Rage"
2006InseparableLenTV movie
2008The VerdictTV movie
2008 Lipstick Jungle AndrewEpisode: "Chapter Fifteen: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Prada"
2009 Rescue Me Arthur FrostEpisode: "Control"
2009 The Good Wife Judge Lee SutmanEpisode: "Fixed"
2010 Ugly Betty FrankEpisode: "Blackout!"
2016 Chicago P.D. Judge LurmanEpisode: "Justice"
2016 The Night Of Dr. Katz2 episodes
2016 Mozart in the Jungle Larry, The Night WatchmanEpisode: "Circles Within Circles"
2018 Bull Professor Jameson3 episodes
2018 House of Cards Dr. Charles Rosen3 episodes
2019 City on a Hill Adam CorsoEpisode: "From Injustice Came the Way to Describe Justice"
2020 Hunters Levi LibsteinEpisode: "While Visions of Safta Danced in His Head"
2021 Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist AlanEpisode: "Zoey's Extraordinary Trip"
2023 Ghosts Lenny LefkowitzEpisode: "Trevor's Body"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
1984 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play Isn't It RomanticNominated
1999 Outstanding Featured Actor In A Musical A New Brain Nominated
2022 Outstanding Leading Actor In A Musical Harmony Nominated

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Collins, Glenn (July 23, 1990). "Men of 'Falsettoland' As Their Old Selves But With New Fears". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Aikin, Jefferson J.; Fehring, Thomas H. (2017). Historic Whitefish Bay: A Celebration of Architecture and Character. Arcadia Publishing. p. 96. ISBN   9781439663042 . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ Buckley, Michael (August 27, 2002). "Wherefore Art Thou Dromio?". TheaterMania. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Chip Zien: A Happy Irony," Damien Jacques, The Milwaukee Journal, Sunday December 27, 1981, Part 5, pages 1 and 2, accessed May 11, 2013
  5. ↑ In Trousers lortel.org, retrieved December 9, 2017
  6. ↑ March of the Falsettos lortel.org, accessed December 9, 2017
  7. ↑ Falsettoland playwrightshorizons.org, accessed May 23, 2015
  8. ↑ Falsettos Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 22, 2015
  9. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review; A Romp Through the Valley of Death" The New York Times, June 19, 1998
  10. 1 2 "Chip Zien" playbill.com, accessed April 8, 2022
  11. ↑ Isn't It Romantic Archived 2014-10-28 at the Wayback Machine lortel.org, accessed May 23, 2015
  12. ↑ Into the Woods sondheimguide.com, accessed May 22, 2015
  13. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Welcome to the Theatre": City Center Encores! Begins New Season with Applause " playbill.com, February 7, 2008
  14. ↑ " Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Listing, 2005" Archived 2015-05-23 at the Wayback Machine playbillvault.com, accessed May 22, 2015
  15. ↑ " The People in the Picture Listing" Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine playbillvault.com, accessed May 20, 2015
  16. ↑ Into the Woods Archived 2015-04-07 at the Wayback Machine lortel.org, accessed May 22, 2015
  17. ↑ Playbill Staff. "The Verdict: Read Reviews for New Musical It Shoulda Been You On Broadway" playbill.com, April 14, 2015
  18. ↑ " Howard the Duck Cast and Crew" tcm.com, accessed May 22, 2015
  19. ↑ " Shell Game Cast" tv.com, accessed May 23, 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 "Chip Zien Biography" filmreference.com, accessed May 22, 2015
  21. ↑ " Now and Again Cast" tv.com, accessed May 22, 2015
  22. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio (July 4, 2007). "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Chip Zien". Playbill. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  23. ↑ " United 93 Cast and Crew" tcm.com, accessed May 22, 2015
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