Colm Wilkinson
Colm Wilkinson, also C.T. Wilkinson ( born June 5, 1944 in Dublin) is an Irish musical performers and singers.
He is best known as an original cast the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. He is one of the common occupations of Valjean, including those in the first performances in the West End and on Broadway. He came again in this role in " Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert " on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the musical at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Career
The beginnings
After playing in various Irish bands, including The Action, Wilkinson in 1972 at the audition for a role in the Dublin production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar part, and then played the role of Judas Iscarot in the Dublin production. Selbige he presented later in London and on the tour of England in 1976 dar. Wilkinson sang the role of Ché for album of Evita. When the production was performed in London, however, he not made an effort to act in this role but began a solo career as a singer and songwriter. In 1985, he again worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber, where he took over the occupation of the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on the Sydmonton Festival.
Colm Wilkinson also played the role of Dr. Jekyll on the original Jekyll & Hyde album.
1977, Wilkinson own album, which was able to maintain for eight weeks in first place in the charts in his native Ireland. After this successful solo LP Wilkinson is prepared actively preparing for singing competitions, which eventually led that he for Ireland participated with Born to Sing 1978 at the Euro Vision Song Contest and reached the fifth place with his performance.
Les Misérables
The London production of Les Misérables was launched in October 1985 and was transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused ( AEA) Wilkinson to grant the permission to play the role of Valjean in New York, as in its provisions a clause that this allows only American performers. Thereupon, the producer Cameron Mackintosh refused his hand, the show without Wilkinson to open as Valjean, consequently, the AEA finally relented and allowed the occupation. Wilkinson won a number of awards, including the Helen Hayes Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and a Theatre World Award for his performances, and he also was nominated for the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
In the film adaptation of the musical of the year 2012, in which Hugh Jackman the role of Jean Valjean took over, Wilkinson plays the Bishop of Digne, who changed Valjean's life.
The Phantom Of The Opera
In 1989, Wilkinson with his family to Toronto, Canada to as the Pantages Theatre (now Canon Theatre ) was his starring role in the original cast of the Canadian production of Phantom of the Opera offered. Since then, he lives in Toronto.
News
Colm Wilkinson is the father of singer and songwriter Aaron Wilkinson and another son and two daughters.
His latest work is a solo album in 2002, titled Some of My Best Friends Are Songs. In the context of this album he sings with his son Aaron the Cat Stevens song " Father and Son " in a duet. The album is a mix of show recordings, his personal favorite and various songs from his stage productions. His support for the Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) and supported by the audience television in North America, followed by his participation in the production on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Les Misérables gave him a one-hour performance, including a few songs from his album and Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar, where he had played years before Judas. He opened to the public, moreover, that he had been waiting 23 years forward to finally be able to slip into the role of Jesus. His performance is powerful and equally emotional. His television transmission Stage Heroes, Colm Wilkinson brought him wide positive response from fans and critics and also meant that the readers of Rolling Stone Magazine its name to the list of "five greatest singers of all time" added.
In October and November 2007, Wilkinson went along with Susan Gilmore and Gretha Boston in Canada on "Broadway and Beyond " tour.
He currently plays the role of Lord Darcy in the third season of Canadian- Irish television series The Tudors, which started on April 12, 2009.
Wilkinson took on 8 March 2009, the celebration of the birthday of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC in part. The highlight of the evening was the appearance of U.S. President Barack Obama, who sang on stage with all the performers Happy Birthday in honor of Ted Kennedy. Colm Wilkinson was also asked to appear before the funeral of U.S. Senator in prayer for Ted Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library on 28 August 2009 in the evening.
On 24 May 2009 Wilkinson performed at the Memorial Day Concert at the government building in Washington DC before a large audience at the concert was broadcast live on PBS in the United States.