Tom Phelan '15 in world premiere of 'Big Night' at Center Theatre Group

Tom Phelan ’15 is among the celebrated cast of the world-premiere play “Big Night.” Written by Paul Rudnick, hailed by the New York Times as “one of our pre-eminent humorists,” “Big Night” takes place the night of the Oscars as a nominee ponders how his life will radically change. With the help of his nephew, his young agent, his mother, and his partner, the actor navigates fame, family, and politics on what might be the biggest night of his life. Phelan plays Eddie, the nominee’s transgender nephew, who wants to turn the acceptance speech into a political statement.

Phelan, currently a sophomore at Columbia University, played the role of Cole on “The Fosters,” as a transitioning, transgender young man. He also played parts in “Hir” (Playwrights Horizons), “Narwhals: Unicorns of the Sea” (Public Theater), “Pin* and the Blue Fairy” (Dixon Place), and “Eat and You Belong to Us” (The Center). “Getting to do this play is one of the craziest things that's ever happened to me,” he says, “and if I think about it too hard, I get a little nauseous. It's such a timely, moving, hilarious play, and the fact that I get to do it with such amazing people is just totally insane to me, and I feel so, so lucky. And I know that sounds fake and actor-y but I mean it.”

While at Poly, Phelan was in “Sweeney Todd,” “On the Town,” “A New Brain,” “In the Heights,” “StarCrossed,” “Widows,” “School for Scandal,” and “Kiss me, Kate.” “
Tom is one of the most well-read and accomplished actors we've had the pleasure of directing at Poly,” Performing arts faculty member Tina Cocumelli says. “His commitment to the script and character analysis and preparation is unmatched. More importantly, Tom is committed to the ensemble concept of creating theater, ‘loving the art in himself, rather than himself in the art.’ We are so very proud of him, but not at all surprised at his success!”
 
When asked about his time in Poly’s Performing Arts Department, Phelan said “Poly theatre prepared me so well! Basically the only difference between this and a Poly play is the lack of Ben Nye pancake.”

Directed by Tony-winner Walter Bobbie (“Chicago”) and produced by Center Theatre Group, “Big Night” runs through Oct. 8 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles.

Photo courtesy of Center Theatre Group
Back