Spider-Man's Robert Cuccioli on Constantine Maroulis in Jekyll & Hyde: 'He's Going to Be Terrific'

Nobody knows more about Jekyll & Hyde than Robert Cuccioli: Not only did he nab a 1997 Best Actor Tony nomination for playing the dual roles, he has since directed multiple productions of the Frank Wildhorn musical. Fifteen years after his Broadway bow in the show, Cuccioli is taking on yet another good/bad combo as Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark. Meanwhile, Jekyll & Hyde is headed back to Broadway, starring Constantine Maroulis.

“I’m happy for him,” Cuccioli told Broadway.com of Maroulis, his co-star in the 2007 off-Broadway revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. “He’s going to be terrific in [Jekyll & Hyde].” When the former castmates chatted at a celebration for Cuccioli’s August 7 debut performance in Spider-Man, Maroulis mentioned his forthcoming pre-Broadway tour in Jeff Calhoun's production of Jekyll & Hyde. “He said, ‘If I have any questions, can we talk?’” says Cuccioli, “and I said, ‘Absolutely.’ But he’s an accomplished singer and actor, and he knows what he is doing.”

Cuccioli admits that it’s a “mixed blessing” to contemplate another performer opening on Broadway in his signature role. “It’s great to be associated with such a famous role in a famous show, and to have a hit song [“This Is the Moment”] attached to me. I don’t dislike that, though it’s nice to have people talk to me about other things as well. I’m curious to see what they do with the show.”

For scoop from Cuccioli about Spider-Man, Frank Wildhorn and the actor's forthcoming solo CD, watch for a full Q&A on August 27. In the meantime, see him on Broadway at the Foxwoods Theatre.