Understudies to Watch For: Nicholas Belton
Nicholas Belton made his Broadway debut in 2010 in Hair. He was a member of the national tour for Hair, Wicked, and was a member of the return engagement of Hair in 2011 on Broadway.
In 2013 he auditioned for The Great Comet, back when it took place in a big tent in the meatpacking district. (Side note: One of my favorite "cell phone in a theatre" stories is from this production. Check it out.) The path for Great Comet to Broadway was winding. From the tent the production went to a lot on 45th Street, and then to American Reparatory Theatre in Cambridge (currently home to Jagged Little Pill, the Alanis Morissette musical). Belton started out as an ensemble member and the understudy for Andrey/Bolkonsky in the production. When it moved to Cambridge, they asked him to take over the role full time.
According to his blog, director Rachel Chavkin told Belton on the night of their opening in Cambridge that they would be moving to Broadway in the fall of 2016 with Josh Groban playing Pierre...and they wanted him to stay on as Andrey/Bolkonsky.
The production opened in November 2016 in the totally renovated and stunning Imperial Theatre. The New York Times described the show as "a witty, inventive enchantment from rousing start to mournful finish....both the most innovative and best new musical to open on Broadway since "Hamilton" and an inspiring sign that the commercial theater can continue to make room for the new." The review also lauded Belton's ability to distinguish the two characters he plays so well you'd "never guess" it was the same person. You can read more about Belton's experience with Comet on his blog, starting with that first rehearsal and going to the Tony Performance in 2016 where the show was nominated for Best New Musical. Perhaps my favorite recollection he shares is the cast charging fully clothed into a rooftop pool. He paints a beautiful picture of the incredibly talented cast coming together to make this unlikely musical happen.
Belton's blog is also filled with his favorite recipes! He and his wife - who has also traveled with national tour's as a hair and makeup artist - have lots of great restaurant and product recommendations for being healthy across America.
In January of 2018 Belton started rehearsals for Carousel as an ensemble member and the understudy for Billy Bigelow. For most shows Belton plays a Heavenly Friend as well as a Policeman in the show. Coincidently, it is also playing in the Imperial Theatre where Great Comet made its Broadway home.
On July 3rd Belton made his debut performance as Billy Bigelow on Broadway. But, it was not his first time playing the character. In 2008 at the Long Wharf Theatre Belton played Billy with current Carousel cast member Jessie Mueller playing Carrie Pipperidge. In the Broadway production, Mueller plays Julie and Lindsay Mendez plays Carrie, a role for which she just won a Tony. His performance of a "yearning Billy, confused by...[his] feelings" was met with positive reviews, as was his performance in Carousel. One attendee reported on Twitter that he "really made the role [his] own...Soliloquy was stunning."
GO UNDERSTUDIES!!