MUSICal theater

‘Glee’ piano guy speaks, sings in Human Race show

submitted

ENLARGE PHOTO

By Terry Morris, Staff Writer 5:12 PM Saturday, July 30, 2011

DAYTON — A growing legion of followers on Twitter want to know when the piano guy on television’s “Glee” will speak.

Unlike many of them, Brad Ellis, who has played the wordless, scowling accompanist dressed in black since the first episode on the Fox series in 2009, hopes the writers decide to keep his enigmatic character’s lips zipped.

“I have a feeling people would quickly lose interest if I started talking,” said the modest, music- and musical-loving native of Lexington, Mass., who’s in Dayton to help launch a new musical with The Human Race Theatre Company.

In the process, he’s talking and singing daily. He’s the musical arranger and a cast member of “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round: The Songs of Bob Merrill,” one of three shows being presented Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5-7, in The Loft Theatre.

Once again, he’s behind a piano. Unlike his screen persona, this character exudes steady gladness.

A composer, musical director, orchestrator and jazz pianist, Ellis worked for several years on the long-running New York hit “Forbidden Broadway,” has recorded with his own band, arranged, orchestrated and conducted members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a 2006 album featuring Victor Garber, Scarlett Johansson and Lucy Lawless, and created Jason Alexander’s “Seven Broadway Shows in 7 Minutes.”

All of that was B.G. — before “Glee.” That has made him a “sub-lebrity,” meaning that if he goes to a mall while visiting Dayton, he can expect “three to four people to point to me and say, ‘There’s that guy from ‘Glee,’’ or approach me to ask,” he said.

Once this weekend is over, he’ll go back to being silent, stern Brad. At least, he hopes so.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to go

What: “Love Makes the World Go ’Round: The Songs of Bob Merrill”

Where: The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 and 7

How much: $15 before Aug. 5, $20 after that.

More info: (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenter stage.com

Share this article