A Day in the Life of Anthony LaPaglia
With camera in hand at an early rehearsal, Tony Award winner Anthony LaPaglia gave Playbill an insider’s look at his return to the Broadway grind.
Early morning madness:
My day starts in a completely disorganized mad scramble. It’s horrible. Generally I try to get a phone call in to talk to my wife and look at my lines for the day (but that doesn’t mean they’re gonna stick).Even for a seasoned pro, rehearsals still begin with:
Dread, mainly. Dread, fear and loathing. Basically, I try to take the notes from the day before and incorporate them in what I’m doing that day.Time to get to work with director Stanley Tucci and co-stars Tony Shalhoub, Justin Bartha and Jan Maxwell:
I love Stanley. I’ve known him for a long time. He says stuff that you have to say when you’re a director — it’s hard but to the point, and he manages to deliver it in a way that doesn’t upset people. I mean, now I’ve been slammed by the best!Lunch, what’s that?
We just work through and grab. [Usually] we get peanuts and Goldfish. This is what’s provided for us, as actors, just like we’re in the zoo. Actually, I don’t think you’re even allowed to feed the animals in the zoo this stuff, ’cause it’s bad for them. This is the food of show business!Don’t you love farce?
This play is really hard, it’s actually deceptive. Stanley made a point today of saying, “If you hesitate for a second on your line, which could be a lead-in for a gag, it kills the next five beats.” It takes that long to recover, so you have to be so on top of it.After notes, costume fittings and interviews, it’s time to head home:
I’m wasted. I don’t have the energy I used to have. I get something to eat and then I try to take a break from the day. Around 9:30 PM I Skype with my daughter in L.A. She’s seven. I talk to my wife and then — I’m a terrible insomniac, and here in New York I’m even worse.
Source: Playbill.com
Americana is an ABC's fashion drama by Phillip Noyce ordered to pilot next season. Anthony LaPaglia plays a legendary designer Robert Soulter who has transformed his fashion label "Americana" into a remarkable family dynasty. It's not just a billion dollar company, it's the most iconic brand in the world. At Americana, everyone works hard and plays even harder. The Soulter family lives in a modern day Oz and Robert Soulter is the Wizard. Beyond the glitz and glamour, the fashion business has a notorious dark side. This year, you're a genius. Next year, you're out. But one thing's for sure... you have to watch your back. And Robert had better watch his, because a power struggle is just beginning. It's the established powerbrokers versus the young and ambitious. After 30 years of being the king of his industry, someone wants Robert replaced.
