The Impact of Hollywood on NYC Theatre, with Insights from T. Schreiber Studio’s Jon Orsini

Thanks for reading our last blog about the actors from the Schreiber Shorts! And, if you want to catch up with Jeanine DeName, whom we featured in our September blog, check out what she has to say about her experience in Beginning Technique here.
Now, we want to pivot to talk about what’s going in the world of Broadway actors, more specifically, Hollywood stars on Broadway:
Broadway looks a little different today than it did just a few seasons ago. The marquees this season are packed with a dazzling array of Hollywood’s household names: Jake Glyenhall opposite Denzel Washington in Othello; Robert Downey, Jr. in McNeal; Mia Farrow alongside Tony award-winning veteran Patti Lapone in The Roommate; George Clooney in Goodnight, and Good Luck; Katie Holmes with Tony winner Jim Parsons in Our Town, and Daniel Dae Kim in Yellowface.
Schreiber Studio’s Managing Director, Gillian Riley Nogeire has a few thoughts to share…
A Note from Gillian Riley Nogeire
In a Broadway season studded with stars flocking to the city, I think these stars need a fresh take. As we know, our theatre season (unlike London’s) is a business. And, over the last year, I’ve seen an uptick in the number of limited-run star-led plays staged throughout the district.
When I first moved to the city, my questions to newcomer stars from Hollywood were: how does your skill set match our veterans? Who are you taking a role from? Now, I see this in a new light. In a way, I see these stars as assisting us. Together with their fan base and influence, they’re both building on the deep love that New Yorkers have for theatre and welcoming new audiences who have yet to experience what theatre can be.
So, instead of writing off this trend and these plays as simply star vehicles, I welcome stars bringing renewed attention to the deep well of cultivated Broadway talent—and with it, opportunities for the incredible talent of stage actors (like our own Jon Orsini, featured below!) that we have in this city.
Jon Orsini’s Broadway Leap
One of T. Schreiber Studio’s own actors, Jon Orsini, took his first leap into Broadway alongside one of those “big name” stars, Nathan Lane, who we know to be equally talented on both stage and screen.
In a conversation about the influx of Hollywood stars on Broadway, we asked Jon what it was like to be an up-and-coming actor cast alongside Nathan in 2013’s The Nance. Orsini spoke about the great heart that everyone put into the production, and how sharing the stage with such a strong, highly acclaimed actor elevated everyone’s experience.
“Because they got Nathan, they were willing to take a chance on ME, who did not have a name at all,” Jon said. “I was able to play that part because Nathan has a name and was highly qualified—the best of both worlds.” For Jon, having the chance to work next to an iconic talent pushed him to become the best version of himself as an actor, without comparing himself to others.
The Earnestness of Hollywood Actors
Along with the casting opportunities they bring, Jon also highlighted the earnestness of some Hollywood stars on Broadway who take the leap to the stage. “Some always wanted to be onstage but never had a chance! If an actor is humble and earnest, my heart is with them,” he said, regardless of their professional background or level of fame.
And he extends this to all actors making courageous choices, telling us that Steve Carell comes to mind. “When you have a name like that, it’s even scarier to get those parts because there’s so much on the line, the amount you have to lose… people’s perception of what you’re doing, [and there’s] more pressure! Especially to take on really iconic theatre parts.”
For Jon, it’s this earnestness and heart in the face of pressure that marks a successful actor, be they a Hollywood star or just starting out. “If someone brings their whole heart and work ethic, the world is tough as it is, I support them in their effort—the more positivity the better!”

Final Thoughts for Aspiring Actors
So, if you’re looking to get cast opposite Keanu Reeves in Waiting for Godot this season, remember: only you can bring your whole heart and work ethic to your character, whatever the household name on the marquee might be.
Till Next Time,
The Schreiber Scribe