"Our Water for Elephants Legacy Robe celebration was an absolute thrill. Sounds hokey, but I could feel waves of love from the entire company. Taking in all of their happy, beaming faces as I circled around the stage three times... unforgettable. And seeing so many of the former Robe recipients who I have worked with over the past 30 years onstage at the Imperial Theatre cheering us on! That was such an unexpected joy. The Legacy Robe ceremony was a favorite opening night moment for so many of our ensemble making their Broadway debut. I look forward to attending some of their opening nights in the future when they don the Robe and keep the tradition alive and well!"
Photo by David Levy.
Name: Paul Castree
Opening Night: March 21, 2024
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
First Broadway Credit: Grease, 1994
Professional Training: University of Illinois, Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Year Joined Equity: 1991
How I Got My Equity Card: as Harvey Johnson in the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie starring Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking.
Other Broadway Chorus Contract Credits: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Footloose, All Shook Up, High Fidelity (Robe Recipient), Young Frankenstein, 9 to 5 (Robe recipient) and Disaster! (Robe recipient).
Fun Fact: "I was in shows in high school with Broadway actors Richie Abanes (Dreamgirls), Sharon Sachs (Wicked), Jodi Benson (Crazy for You), Marin Mazzie (Ragtime), director/actor Joe Mantello (Angels in America) and producer Bob Greenblatt (The Inheritance). (Those are just SOME of their credits.) I still have our Guys and Dolls high school program with all of our names in it!"
Castree with the Water for Elephants stage management team. Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Castree celebrates his fourth Robe. Photo by David Levy.
Watch the video of the ceremony
