Broadway legacy Eddie Cooper is taking the stage again in Two River Theater’s fall production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
The burly bass will join an all-male cast at the New Jersey space for the hilarious Tony Award-winning musical farce.
Cooper was most recently seen as Audrey II in the Encores! City Center Production of Little Shop of Horrors after stepping in to replace his father, Tony Award Winner Chuck Cooper (The Life). The elder had decided to commit to his role in the then-upcoming Broadway musical Amazing Grace.
“He was in shows all the time when I was a kid, and my first question when I went to go see him in a show was, ‘Can I go on the stage?,'” Eddie told TheaterMania of his young experiences with his father. “I just always wanted to go on the stage and I loved the feeling of being on the stage. It stuck, I guess.”
Cooper is one of three stunningly talented siblings in the deservedly dubbed “Cooper Clan.” A graduate of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and Ithaca College, the powerhouse has also been seen in TV roles including “Forever,” “Banshee,” and “Crime.”
A Funny Thing Happened… is a hysterical musical comedy with music and lyrics by the incomparable Stephen Sondheim. Set in Ancient Rome, the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus who attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The role of Pseudolus was brilliantly recaptured by Whoopi Goldberg and David Alan Grier in the 1990’s Broadway Revival.
The must-see spectacle, directed by Jessica Stone, begins previews on Nov.14. Opening night is set for Nov. 20. Visit tworivertheater.org to purchase tickets or call (732) 345-1400.
