2005 Wrap-Up: Resolutions
Everyone has something they want to do in the future. Broadway professionals are not immune to such desires—they make New Year's resolutions just like the rest of us. With that in mind, Broadway.com asked some of our favorite industry people to tell us what they are pledging to do in 2006. Some came back with serious responses, some opted for levity. See for yourself!
Will Chase
In 2005: Starred in the pre-Broadway tryout and the Broadway production of the musical Lennon. Chase also began a limited engagement as Roger in Rent.
Resolution: "Last year I said I wanted my kids to learn the words to 'Imagine'. They did. This year I'll make sure they know the words to 'Give Peace A Chance'. If we teach 'em young to want it, it just might happen."
Stephanie D'Abruzzo
In 2005: Played to packed houses as one of the leads of Avenue Q and landed a role in the upcoming off-Broadway musical I Love You Because.
Resolution: "I resolve to try to surround myself with more sleep, more vegetables, more friends, more laughter and more productivity...and fewer toxic people, fewer late nights, less wasted time and less candy but not too much less!."
Leah Hocking
In 2005: Played the sassy museum curator Miss Sandra in All Shook Up and began performances in the Broadway company of Hairspray as the evil Velma Von Tussle.
Resolution: "This year i resolve to play more—with my daughter, at work and in life. Everybody play!"
Sutton Foster
In 2005: Received her second Tony Award nomination for Little Women and starred in the West Coast premiere of the Broadway-bound musical The Drowsy Chaperone.
Resolution: "This year I resolve to keep in better contact with people by returning phone calls and e-mails more promptly. I think that I have resolved to do this in the past... but I'm hoping 2006 will find me better connected!"
Daphne Rubin-Vega
In 2005: Starred in the reading of Bernarda Alba, a musical version of The House of Bernarda Alba, which she will also appear in at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater starting in February.
Resolution: "1 To wean Luca. 2 Finish my CD!!! and 3 Be on Time."
Jerry Mitchell
In 2005: Won his first Tony Award for choreographing La Cage aux Folles and worked on various upcoming projects, including Legally Blonde, which will mark his directorial debut.
Resolution: "To raise MORE money for Broadway Bares, gamble less while in Vegas and make the world a better, BLONDER place. Like last year but FUNNER! Starting with BROADWAY!"
Orfeh
In 2005: Performed a one-night-only concert at Feinstein's at the Regency and straddled a pole as stripper-on-the-run Pippi in The Great American Trailer Park Musical off-Broadway.
Resolution: "To stop compromising myself to be what others want me to be and do what others think I should do. I feel I've spent too much time acquiescing to the opinions of others recently and it's been unsatisfying to say the least. Now it's time to go back to being the ballbuster I was in the music biz. Being nice has gotten me straight to the middle!"
Mano Felciano
In 2005: Received acclaim for his performance as Tobias in Sweeney Todd.
Resolution: "Write a Sestina. Learn CPR. Recalibrate internal compass. Regain cautious optimism. Pay off student loans. Call mother more often. Go to dentist. Meet Barack Obama. Spoil friends. Less fear, more love. Stay humble. Enjoy the ride. Resuscitate an orchid. Keep hair."
Donna Lynne Champlin
In 2005: Appeared in The Flight of the Lawnchair at Goodspeed Musicals and took on the role of Pirelli in Sweeney Todd.
Resolution: "The resolution I'm making this year is a really difficult one and i'm afraid that if I share it, my fear of failing at it publically will make it all the harder to achieve. So I'll just ask for loving psychic support from those who have it to spare and send mine in return to those in the same position as myself this year. And no, I'm not addicted to crack unless you count singing showtunes as 'crack' and then clearly, I am a lost cause."
Matthew Morrison
In 2005: Took on the role of a romantic Italian boy in The Light in the Piazza earning his first Tony nomination and starred in A Naked Girl in the Appian Way . Also starred in the recently aired television movie version of Once Upon a Mattress.
Resolution: "I just bought my first apartment, so my resolution is to be able to pay my mortgage every month fingers crossed!."
Harvey Fierstein
In 2005: Won critical raves as Tevye, the patriarch of Fiddler on the Roof.
Resolution: "I plan to pick a sexual identity and stick to it for at least two roles in a row. After the past few years I don't know which public rest room to use any more!"
Christopher Durang
In 2005: Premiered two projects—Miss Witherspoon at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton and at Playwrights Horizons off-Broadway, and the musical Adrift in Macao, at the Philadelphia Theatre Company.
Resolution: "Work to get Senator Rick Santorum defeated in Pennsylvania, where I live. Work to get all computer voter systems to have paper trails; does anyone believe our votes are accurately counted? Write some more plays. Don't send angry e-mails; put them in the 'send later' category and then make them kinder before sending." 
Adam Pascal
In 2005: Took his act to the big screen, recreating the role of Roger in the film version of Rent.
Resolution: "My resolution is to stay away from all Broadway chat rooms and message boards!!! They're deadly, and the kids are vicious."
Joanna Gleason
In 2005: Starred as Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, receiving a Tony nomination for her work.
Resolution: "Well, since Chris and I are selling our house in California, I resolve to make a new home, Eastern Standard Time, with new memories for Aaron, Stephanie, Alexis, Michael, Joe the Dog and the rest of our beautiful family and friends. And I resolve to quit hounding Chris about getting another dog. For now."
In 2005: The Tony-nominated actor filmed three movies in 2005: American Gothic, Little Children and Runnning with Scissors and also began promoting the upcoming Broadway revival of Barefoot in the Park, which he headlines alongside Amanda Peet. Additionally Wilson married actress Dagmara Dominczyk.
Resolution: "My new year's resolution isn't so much a resolution as it is a need. I need to learn Polish. I have this sneaky suspicion my wife and her family are talking about me... while i'm in the room." 
Shoshana Bean
In 2005: Played the much-coveted part of Elphaba in the smash hit musical Wicked.
Resolution: "I resolve to get every last ounce of green makeup out of my pores!!!!!"
Julie Danao-Salkin
In 2005: Played Yoko Ono in the pre-Broadway and Broadway production of Lennon.
Resolution: "I am going to enjoy eating chocolate ice cream without guilt, by giving the gym more consistent visits! Read a lot more, keep current with the world and care about it, and love my new hubby and family and friends."
Debbie Gravitte
In 2005: Starred in the well-received NYMF musical The Big Time and recorded a solo CD.
Resolution: "I resolve to completely make a fool of myself pushing my new CD called Defying Gravity, which I just received and hope and pray will be used as a great vehicle for people to sing along with. Especially all the belters out there and you know who you are." 
John Lloyd Young
In 2005: Won critical acclaim as pop icon Frankie Valli in the sleeper hit musical Jersey Boys.
Resolution: "I'm going to donate to the small New York theater companies that gave me work if not always a paycheck! before Jersey Boys."
Gary Beach
In 2005: Received a Tony nomination for La Cage aux Folles and revisited his Tony-winning role of Roger DeBris in The Producers by appearing in the feature film version and returning to the Broaday production at the St. James Theatre.
Resolution: "2005 has been all about work for me. This year I WILL throw more parties, take more vacations and spend a lot more time on the beach with our wonderful friends. Sounds good, doesn't it?"
Ellen Greene
In 2005: Greene starred in her show Torch! in London, Los Angeles and Provincetown. She ended the year appearing in the holiday treat A Broadway Diva Christmas off-Broadway.
Resolution: My resolutions are the same as always. To stay true and keep pure thoughts. To keep Art as my queen and to allow vulnerability to be exposed. To allow myself to be imperfect. To expose my humanity. Corny, I know. But it's hard to remain with simple values and expectations!"
Marc Kudisch
In 2005: Received a Tony nomination for his performance as the child-like Baron Bomburst and took on a lead role in the See What I Wanna See off-Broadway.
Resolution: "I guess my resolution this year is to really try to get the ideas I have been holding in my head for so many years out into the practical world. Be my own creative force, create my own opportunity."
Hunter Foster
In 2005: Appeared in Mister Roberts at the Kennedy Center, stepped into Modern Orthodox off-Broadway and returned to The Producers in NYC.
Resolution: "I want to travel as much as I can, if the business will allow me. I think as actors we get so caught up in NY/Broadway/America and it makes us have tunnel vision about who we are and the world around us. I want to take a month off and go to Europe and experience new cultures, peoples and ways of life, etc. so I can be more educated about the world. My wife and I keep talking about it and I think we're gonna do it. It's time to quit talking about all the things you want to do and actually go and do them. It's either that or start a retro 80's funk band."
Stephen DeRosa
In 2005: Started performances as Hairspray's Wilbur Turnblad on Broadway after appearing in the tour of the hit tuner.
Resolution: "I just had an emergency appendectomy and was reminded of how fragile we are and all we take for granted. And as I looked around I was overwhelmed by all the suffering and took comfort in the real charity of caring for the sick. I realized God was telling me something important: I have got to get a personal trainer. Happy Healthy 2006."
Kelli O'Hara
In 2005: Finished up a run in Dracula, received a Tony nomination for her work in The Light in the Piazza and began rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway revival of The Pajama Game.
Resolution: "I vow to 'fix-up' my new apartment that I bought over a year ago and still haven't really decorated or organized. I am determined to become one with my inner belt so I can be a kick-ass Babe in The Pajama Game. And I resolve to call Victoria Clark at least once a week for the rest of my life starting this year because I am quickly realizing I can't live without her : And most importantly, I resolve to be a happier, more patient and less worried person."
Andy Karl
In 2005: Starred off-Broadway in both Altar Boyz and Slut.
Resolution: "Well, I don't have stage fright, I don't have fear of standing nude in front of people, I've jumped out of airplanes, no fear of commitment because I've been married for 5 years... Hmm.. .what's next? I want to be the best at what I do and I want to make wads of cash and then spend it on my wife and animal charities. Word."
Jordan Gelber
In 2005: Starred in the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q.
Resolution: "I resolve to eat better, exercise, and not be so gosh darn lazy with my free time. How cliche is that? Honestly, the holiday schedule has worn out my brain. I have nothing clever or inspiring to say this year. Unless resolving to come up with better resolutions counts. Damn you Broadway holiday schedule, damn you to hell. I still love ya though, Broadway, with or without your naughty little schedule."
Dan Fogler
In 2005: Won a 2005 Best Featured Actor in a Musical Tony Award for his work as magic foot operator William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a show he continues to star in.
Resolution: "Trying to get in a little better shape mostly for health reasons. I gots the high blood pressure! Also because the magic feet were becoming magic hooves what with all the cookies and cup cakes lying around the green room."
Jessica Stone
In 2005: Put on a British accent to play Cecily Pigeon in the hit revival of The Odd Couple.
Resolution: "I resolve not to take The Amazing Race so personally. So many sleepless nights... agonizing over that hideous Weaver family."
Julia Murney
In 2005: Appeared in Lennon in San Francisco and then made her long-awaited Broadway debut with the tuner.
Resolution: "I resolve to attempt to learn French, learn CPR, learn how to make the perfect pie crust, and to continue to surround myself with my very brilliant friends and family, who keep me afloat. I would say I will attempt to eat less cookies, but that would just be a plain old lie."
Michael Arden
In 2005: Appeared in the Reprise! mounting of Pippin in Los Angeles and Swimming in the Shallows off-Broadway. Arden also began rehearsals for The Times They Are A-Changin', the Twyla Tharp/Bob Dylan project set to begin performances at the Old Globe Theatre on January 25.
Resolution: "To realize that saying 'no' is alright sometimes, and do what I want to do and not what I think others want me to do. And to learn how to do a backflip. Working on that already."
Christopher J. Hanke
In 2005: Made his Broadway debut starring as troubled singer/songwriter J.T. in In My Life.
Resolution: "My 2006 New Year's resolution is to star in a new Broadway musical as an East Village singer-songwriter who suffers from narcolepsy. He falls asleep during the entire first act. And in the second act, don't want to give anything away, but, well... he gets a brain tumor. And dies."
