This site, like my career, is a work in progress – so check back for updates as I offer a few thoughts on some of my favorite roles, projects, and experiences.
Best wishes to all, and thanks for stopping by.
25 Years in 10 Minutes
This retrospective clip was shown at a ceremony in 2005 when Peter received a PT Barnum Excellence in Entertainment Award sponsored by the Tufts Alliance.
Fall News from PKG
Hello, Folks!
Much to report! If you notice an over abundance of exclamation points, that could be from my recent foray into the Twitterverse! – one I’ve been enjoying very much. Also finding my way through the Facebook of it all as well so I’ve been a little lax with the website but I’ll keep it updated.
Covert Affairs seems to be a hit! Rescue Me was a blast and I’ll be leaving soon to shoot the film of Peter Cameron’s wonderful book, “Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You” in NY to be directed by Roberto Faenza. It’s a great script and a great cast, including: Ellen Burstyn, Marcia Gay Harden and Lucy Liu.
“Conviction” directed by Tony Goldwyn with Hillary Swank and Sam Rockwell will be out October 14 and “Burlesque” directed by Steven Antin with Cher and Christina Aguillera will open on November 24.
All is well here, and I hope the same for you, wherever you are.
Thanks for stopping by!
Night at Sardi’s with Kathryn
March 18th of this year I’ll be performing “But The World Goes ‘Round” with my daughter, Kathryn, at this year’s Night at Sardi’s to benefit the Los Angeles chapter of The Alzheimer’s Association. Check out “Two Lost Souls” from last year’s show. I’ve been doing this benefit since before she was born.
Don’t Give Up on Me at the Mark Taper
While I was commuting back and forth to shoot RESCUE ME in New York, Veronique Peck invited me to debut a new version of my one-man show, “Don’t Give Up On Me,” at The Mark Taper Auditorium in downtown LA to benefit the Gregory Peck Reading Series. It’s a terrific series. I once met Gregory Peck and he was as impressive in person as he always was on screen. For the benefit we had a packed, star-studded audience, an all-star band with Pete Thomas, Don Falzone, Mark Stephens and Bob Thiele, Jr. and a good time seemed to be had by all.
The following week we brought the show to The Drury Lane Theatre In Chicago for four more performances. Chicago is a great town. Here are some of the reviews:
“Gallagher’s surprise opening to “Don’t Give up on Me” paves the way for a seamless one-man, autobiographical show at the Drury Lane Water Tower that is packed with energy, his glib singing and his heart-felt stories… There are no huge props or stage sets, just Gallagher and his ability to move an audience with simple narrative and his beast-of-a-Broadway voice. The show includes songs by Lyle Lovett, Burt Bacharach/Hal David, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Randy Newman and Frank Loesser.”
- Terry Loncaric, Post-Tribune
“It’s Gallagher’s career stories which really seal the deal and cement this show as a must-see.”
- Philip Potempa, NWI Times
“The biggest surprise is Gallagher’s ability to mimic, casting off his familiar voice and distinctive delivery to slip into dead-on Cagney or Dean Martin. That goes for the music, too. Backed by a solid four-piece band, Gallagher’s selections are mostly the croonable showtunes and standards you’d expect, but wait till you hear his Lyle Lovett.”
- Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago
An Oak Tree at The Odyssey
While shooting BURLESQUE, I was able to slip out for one night to open this really fascinating two person play by Tim Crouch on January 6, 2010 at The Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles.
An Oak Tree
The brilliant Tim Crouch wrote and performs “An Oak Tree” with a new guest actor every night. A guest actor who knows absolutely nothing about the play before going onstage other than how he or she will learn what to say as the play continues. I was the guest actor for the opening night and was happy to be there from the first moment I sat down and realized that I hadn’t been on stage in a blackbox theatre in a very, very long time. It felt like we were all part of a living painting. I was busy making little spots of color where directed and we all discovered the bigger picture as it happened. It was a powerful experience. Dan Fishbach, Michelle Spears and Mark Platt produced it.
Here are is a quote from the Los Angeles Times review:
“From an actor’s perspective, that may sound a bit harrowing. But on opening night, guest artist Peter Gallagher plunged boldly into Crouch’s construct, delivering a performance of such authority it seemed almost impossible to believe that he had no previous knowledge of his material… On opening night, Gallagher’s grief-stricken father produced an atmosphere of anguish that cast light on some of Crouch’s impenetrable themes. Of course, the tone will necessarily change with each new performer, but the final point, one suspects, will remain elusive. What is clear is that Crouch is an assured puppet master who inspires trust in his intrepid guest performers. In that regard, Crouch’s multilayered play is as much a master class in acting as it is an intriguing meta-theatrical exercise.”
- F. Kathleen Foley, Los Angeles Times
Burlesque
Denise Faye (far left) and me from our 1992 B'way production of Guys & Dolls
I just finished shooting BURLESQUE, where I played Cher’s ex-husband and business partner. Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell, Julianne Hough, and the best dancers in the business make up this great cast.
Cher and I worked together in Robert Altman’s movie THE PLAYER almost 20 years ago. She had a great cameo as my date and the only woman in a red dress at the big Hollywood opening. She looks amazing and we had a great time. The musical numbers look really exciting too.
Denise Faye (NINE, CHICAGO) and former Hot Box Girl from GUYS AND DOLLS, choreographs. Steven Antin directs for Screen Gems and I can ‘t wait to see it.
