First Date's Bryce Ryness Loves The West Wing, Baseball, BuzzFeed and More

My Obsessions

by Broadway.com Staff • Aug 21, 2013

Theater stars know what’s hot in entertainment, fashion and pop culture, so Broadway.com decided it was high time to tap in to the after-hours obsessions of our favorite stage actors. This week, we’re polling talented (and ferociously funny) Hair alum Bryce Ryness, who’s currently giving a scene-stealing performance as a womanizing dating expert (among other characters) in the Broadway rom-com First Date. Ryness’s list of pop culture obsessions includes Passing Strange, Buzzfeed, Brooke Shields and at least one very awesome app.

TV SHOW: The West Wing
“Yes, I know it's not on the air anymore, and Sorkin has a new show and blah blah blah... but I just prefer to think that this is how our elected (and non-elected) officials behave and speak to each other. Let me dream, people!”

MOVIE: The Shawshank Redemption
“If it is on, I will watch it. End of story.”

SONG OR SINGER
“I can't get enough of Anthony Evans. It was such a surprise to see him on The Voice, and I'm bummed he didn't go farther. But I dig his music, a lot."

STAGE SHOW (OTHER THAN MY OWN)
"I still think Passing Strange at the Public was one of the best theater experiences I've ever had. Also Sleep No More. Zachary [Levi] took me to experience that recently and my brain is still swimming from it."

BOOK: Addiction & Grace by Dr. Gerald May
"It blew my mind and helped me sort through a really difficult time."

CELEBRITY
"Brooke Shields is pretty great."

APP
"The Broadway.com app, of course! (Is that the right answer?) But seriously, the MLB.com app is awesome. It has a 'condensed game' option where you can watch an entire game in about 12 minutes. Since I'm working in the evenings it's the easiest way to keep up. Also: Hipstamatic, Instagram."