Fantasy Casting! Five Musical Theater Roles We'd Love to See Benjamin Walker Play on Broadway

Benjamin Walker appeared in two Broadway plays before breaking out as sexy bad-boy Andrew Jackson in the edgy rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Walker has since returned to his dramatic roots with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but that doesn’t mean Walker’s next project won’t be another musical. “I wouldn’t mind doing a little more singing and dancing,” Walker told Broadway.com, and that is all we needed to hear before imagining a list of plum musical theater roles for him to tackle. Below are our top five picks for Ben Walker’s musical return, complete with a few co-star suggestions!

Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees
The role of a baseball star who sells his soul to Satan would be a home run for Walker. The role requires a classic leading man who is believable as an athlete and an object of desire. The part also allows for Walker to take on some of Bob Fosse’s iconic dance moves.
Fantasy Co-Star: Nina Arianda as Lola.

Billy Bigelow in Carousel
Walker could build on the short tempers of Andrew Jackson and Brick as Billy Bigelow, a carousel barker desperately trying to get ahead in life, in Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical tragedy. The Juilliard trained actor would easily bring the house down with Billy’s showstopping “Soliloquy.”
Fantasy Co-Star: Laura Osnes as Julie Jordan.

Jerry Lukowski in The Fully Monty
Audiences would really be in luck if Walker took on the starring role of unemployed dad-turned-stripper in a revival of The Full Monty. The part offers Walker an opportunity to shine as comedian, and it offers theatergoers a chance to see more of what’s under Brick's silk pjs.
Fantasy Co-Stars: Betty Buckley as Jeanette and James Corden as Dave Bukatinsky.

Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman
Broadway is long overdue for a revival of Kander and Ebb’s Tony-winning musical tragedy Kiss of the Spider Woman, and we believe Walker could anchor the show in the Tony-winning role of passionate, imprisoned revolutionary Valentin. No need to wait for “the day after that” to get this sure-fire revival underway.
Fantasy Co-Stars: Christian Borle as Molina and Idina Menzel as Spider Woman/Aurora.

Javert in Les Miserables
Ever since Les Miserables hit the big screen, Broadway has been rumbling for a second Main Stem revival. Rumors have been circulating that the national tour may land on the Great White Way, and if that’s the case, we’d love to see Walker in the meaty role of Inspector Javert.
Fantasy Co-Stars: Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean and Sierra Boggess as Fantine.