Kevin Kline - From Shakespeare to Gilbert and Sullivan
by Claire J Rottenberg
Although most movie goers probably know Kevin Kline as
a dramatic film actor, he is primarily a stage
actor, with his early starts in Shakespeare,
classical drama and musicals. Kline's career on
Broadway began in 1973 and he did not appear in a
film until 1982. Since then, Kline has had
successful careers both on Broadway and in
films.
Kline's professional training started with the piano
when he majored in music at Indiana University.
However, after trying his hand at acting, he soon
switched his focus to drama. After graduating from
Indiana University, Kline attended the well-known
Juilliard School of Drama in New York. Not long
afterwards, Kline, along with fellow Juilliard
graduates Patti LuPone and David Ogden Stiers,
started the City Center Acting Company, a repertory
company that performed classical plays, Shakespeare
and, occasionally, musicals. They toured the US and
performed on Broadway in the early to
mid-1970s.
In 1978, Kline was cast in the musical "On the
Twentieth Century" in a role that earned him his
first Tony award for Best
Featured Actor in a Musical.
His next Tony came three years later for his Best
Actor in a Musical performance in Gilbert and
Sullivan's " The Pirates
of Penzance,"
a role he recreated in the filmed version in 1983.
Although most of Kline's stage work has been
primarily in classical plays, both of his Tony
awards came as a result of his parts in musicals.
His third nomination, however, came in 2004 for
his performance in Shakespeare's "Henry IV."
Kline's first film role
was in "Sophie's Choice"
in 1982. This was followed in 1983 by "The Pirates
of Penzance" and the successful "The Big Chill."
Five years later, Kline appeared in the only film
for which he won an Academy Award - he won the
award for Best Supporting Actor for his
performance in "A Fish Called Wanda."
Kline has had a successful film career that has
lasted over 27 years and through more than 30 feature
films. He did not, however, leave theater behind, as
many other stars have done. Since his first film role
in 1982, Kline has appeared in six Broadway plays,
mostly revivals of classic plays with limited runs.
His last performance on Broadway was in "Cyrano de
Bergerac" in January, 2008. A filmed version was also
released in 2008.