Ben Rappaport Preps for London Run of Good Night Oscar
Star reveals offbeat dressing-room ritual before packing to bring Broadway show overseas!!
Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.
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Image: Instagram
Ben Rappaport is giving fans a behind-the-curtain peek at his nightly routine on Broadway before crossing the Atlantic for Good Night, Oscar’s West End debut. On Instagram, the actor posted an image of himself at the Belasco Theatre, captioning it, “The nightly ritual of drawing in Jack Paar’s chin dimple in my dressing room at the Belasco. 4 more weeks til I cross the ol’ pond to do it all over again at the Barbican! 🇬🇧 📺🎹🎙️🎭 #goodnightoscar”
Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ61_fcNaQA/
Belasco Backstage Ritual
Rappaport, who portrays late-night host Jack Paar in Doug Wright’s play, has turned a small makeup touch into a personal tradition. Each evening before curtain, he carefully traces Paar’s distinctive cleft with precision, a nod to the comic legend’s trademark look. The image shows Rappaport standing under warm dressing-room lights, mirror in view, pencil in hand—proof that even tiny details matter in channeling a real-life figure.
From Broadway To Barbican
The Belasco run wraps up in four weeks, and Rappaport will soon reunite with co-star Sean Hayes for the London engagement at the Barbican Centre. In a January post, he announced his West End debut: “Thrilled to announce I will be making my WEST END DEBUT 🇬🇧 reuniting with my dear friend @seanhayes in @goodnightoscar! Playing Jack Paar has been the greatest joy of my theatrical life and I’m so excited to share our show across the pond! Come see us and this marvelous cast (including Broadway family member @max.roll82!) in London at the @barbicancentre July 31st – September 21st!”
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A London Throwback
This won’t be Rappaport’s first time in the U.K. Back in 2007, he posted a playful snapshot standing beside portraits of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, quipping, “Last time I was in London back in ’07 (!) with my old pals FDR and Churchill. See ya in a couple weeks, chaps! 🇬🇧🇺🇸” His affectionate nod to history underlines both his humor and excitement about reconnecting with British audiences.
Spotlight On Good Night, Oscar
Good Night, Oscar is set on October 8, 1958, during Oscar Levant’s brief tenure as host of The Tonight Show. The play follows Levant’s on-air breakdown, with Paar appearing as the replacement guest. Sean Hayes embodies Levant’s manic wit, while Rappaport captures Paar’s mix of earnest charm and quick-fire humor. Since premiering on Broadway earlier this year, the production has earned praise for its sharp dialogue and period authenticity.
The Belasco engagement has drawn theatergoers eager to see Hayes and Rappaport bring mid-century television to life. With meticulous costumes, live piano interludes, and dynamic staging, the show blurs the line between live theater and broadcast history.
What’s Next At The Barbican
Tickets for the Barbican run open soon, with performances scheduled from July 31 to September 21. London theaters are buzzing about the arrival of this hit Broadway transfer. Rappaport and Hayes plan to retain the original staging, promising U.K. audiences the same behind-the-scenes energy he’s cultivated in New York.
Fans responding to Rappaport’s backstage image flooded the comments with heart emojis and questions about his makeup process. One follower wrote, “Obsessed with this detail—can’t wait to see you nail Paar in London!” Another tagged a friend, adding, “We have to book tickets ASAP.”
After his Barbican stint, Rappaport will return stateside for a fall TV project, according to his publicist. But for now, his focus remains on delivering the perfect Paar quip every night.
With his farewell performances at the Belasco approaching and an international transfer on the horizon, Rappaport’s Instagram glimpse has become a favorite among theater fans. Whether he’s sketching in a chin cleft or stepping onto the Barbican stage, he’s proving that great acting is all in the details.
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