#blake stadnik

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Blake Stadnik | This Is Us 

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“Dawn of Anguish,” “Second Attack/Death of Gavroche” and “The Final Battle,” North Shore Music Theatre, 2014. Steve Czarnecki as Enjolras, Blake Stadnik as Marius, Will Ray as Jean Valjean, unknown Gavroche, Joseph Spieldenner as Grantaire.

This heartbreaking audio shows how effective it can be when a regional production takes a fresh approach to a scene, rather than going though the motions of other productions. As I’ve written before, this production seems to have let its cast members ad-lib much more than usual and here they do it to moving effect.

When the very young-sounding yet strong voiced Gavroche meets his fate, there isn’t a long silence, nor does only Grantaire shout “NO!” Instead we have a collective “NO!” from all the revolutionaries, bringing Hugo’s statement “The whole barricade gave a cry” to life. But Joseph Spieldenner doesn’t let his Grantaire’s special bond with Gavroche be overlooked: a few moments later, he lets out an agonized “WHYYYY???!!!” and then sobs uncontrollably.

I saw Steve’s Enjolras in another regional production a year after this one and I can definitely hear here what I remember from there: that his Enjolras is more humanized and anguished than others. We can hear the despair in his voice on “The people have not stirred...” and during the battle... well, more on that below. He’s not Hugo’s marble lover of liberty, but within the musical, I think it works. In no way does his anguish at watching the insurrection fail and his friends die around him signify a lack of courage or heroism, which his “Let others rise...” and other defiant lines show that he still has in spades.

As for “The Final Battle,” the production’s “ad-libs welcome” policy makes it especially raw, with so much shouting and so much audible desperation and defiance as the barricade falls. The rawest moment of all comes just before the final orchestral “Red and Black” reprise. Apparently, instead of having Enjolras die before Grantaire as in replica productions, this staging had Grantaire die in Enjolras’s arms. We hear Enjolras shout “Grantaire!” and then lapse into inarticulate, nearly hysterical pleas to his dying devotee (“No, no no!” and “I’m sorry!” are the only words I think I can make out) before shouting “LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!!!” in a wild, grief-stricken, rage-filled tone as his final burst of defiance before his own death. I only wish this were a video recording, because those final moments must have been especially powerful to see.

[thisisthebig3]

Rebecca Malone | Jack Damon

[stevenrogered]

I know that everyone is worried about us...but my son is going to live a life without limits.

[life-love-geekculture]

Can I just say, This Is Us has an A+ casting department. I mean, consistently casting peak younger (and older) versions of characters is a feat in and of itself but then you’ve got little Jack Damon and the casting of Blake Stadnik who is like this perfect blend of Justin Hartley and Chris Sullivan (I swear every time he shows up I’m like oh my god he looks so much like his dad and uncle). I don’t know what elder god, djinn, or demonic entity they made a deal with over there, but damn!

[mostunderratedawards]

Most Underrated Male Guest Star in a Drama Series

Blake Stadnik in This is Us

Haley Joel Osment in The Boys

Michael Angarano in This Is Us

Sean Delaney in Killing Eve

Chandler Riggs in A Million Little Things

PJ Byrne in Big Little Lies

[powderandliquid]

This is Us: Strangers - Part 1

[akanesource]

blakestadnik  Jack’s life is filled with incredible women; Kate, Hailey, Lucy, and now sweet baby Hope♥️ It’s always a delight to hang and work with @audiethorn , and it was great to spend the day with @adelaidekane ! Proud to have her as my sis😊 #ThisIsUs