The NAMT staff had heard of the legendary Broadway baby Twan Baker, of course, but until last week’s in-depth New York Times profile of him, we didn’t realize he had such deep NAMT roots! From the Times:
He made his debut in a 2009 production of “Into the Woods,” as the newborn offspring of the Baker and the Baker’s Wife at [NAMT member] the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera….
“Prop babies are usually hollow,” said Hunter Foster, who played the Baker in that Pittsburgh production. “When they handed us Twan it was the first time I had a prop baby that felt like a baby.”
Credit Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s prop coordinator, Marty Savolskis, who bought a large doll off the rack at a toy store and filled it with beans to create heft.
“It sounds simple, but the actors got so excited,” Mr. Savolskis said. “Adding that weight really seemed to change their experience onstage.”
Twan went on to star in the 2011 Festival of New Musicals show Pregnancy Pact at member theatre Weston Playhouse, and in two Broadway shows by alumni writer Jason Robert Brown, which were both produced by multiple NAMT members.
All of us at NAMT wish Twan (and his guardians) much continued success!