Sean Hayes on 'Good Night, Oscar'

In the new Broadway play "Good Night, Oscar," Sean Hayes, the Emmy Award-winning star of "Will & Grace," appears as the witty and eccentric musical star Oscar Levant, whose mental health struggles and addiction to drugs would come front-and-center during a 1958 appearance on Jack Paar's "Tonight Show." Correspondent David Pogue talks with Hayes about conjuring Levant on stage; and with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright about the darkness at the center of the play's central figure.
#SeanHayes #OscarLevant #GoodNightOscar #Broadway

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[erindurkin]

My mom saw him on Broadway today! It was her birthday surprise and treat!

[cabadger]

I never forgot Oscar. So happy he's being remembered by these very talented artists. He deserves it.

[judd]

Sean Hayes transforms himself from "Just Jack" into "Just Oscar" and we love it. Powerful performance worthy of a Tony. award.

[melissaleistrabittner]

Sean Hayes can do it all - sing, dance, compose, play many instruments, act, write, produce. I absolutely adore him! 😍

[hnc]

I saw the play last week. Pay no attention to the NYT review and go see this glorious performance by Sean Hayes.

[sjinzaar]

I am proud of Sean Hayes and how far he has come as actor, businessman and gentleman.

[CathyS_Bx]

I was a fan of Oscar Levant back in the day. I loved his dry humor in the movies and was fascinated by him in his odd TV appearances (though I sometimes wonder why his oddness didn't frighten me a little; I was just a kid). The first grown-up book I read was a book Levant wrote called The Memoirs of an Amnesiac; it improved my vocabulary! It's great that he is being rediscovered now, via this play and this stellar performance by Hayes.

[lilac]

I saw this show yesterday. It was tremendous; Sean was tremendous!

[maryannfelice]

I remember Mr Levant on Jack Parr's show as well as in films. Even as a child, I could sense he was a very unhappy man. I just didn't know particulars. I'm very pleased he is being so well-represented in Mr Hayes' performance. Thank you, Sean.

[josephwatts]

Sean: Never knew you were a wonderful, musician! Thanks for all the laughs over the years!

[ggboot]

Sean is INCREDIBLY talented. He really can do anything.

[stellarocquie]

WOW? Who KNEW he was such an amazing, accomplished pianist!!!! Phenomenal!

[patriciastrasburger]

Saw this yesterday it is fantastic. The cast does an amazing job but Sean is beyond words amazing. Don’t miss this performance ❤️

[elisabethlavery]

Saw this in its pre-opening week: Astounding in so many ways. Writing is fabulous, and Sean Hayes is super-human in how he portrays someone who is as mentally ill as he is brilliant.

[FrankDudgeon]

I remember as a young teen seeing the Jack Paar-Oscar Levant appearance that the clip about his "exercise" came from. That line floored me. Became a big fan, watched out for films with Levant and read some his writing, I would love to see this play - the idea of it being part of PBS's Great Performances in excellent. A trip to New York isn't possible for me. Kudos to Doug Wright and Sean Hayes for retelling the story of an important and complex talent.

[bbrock]

Thank you for bringing Oscar Levant back into the limelight!🙏❤️

[kathleentyson]

Wow, two things I didn’t know, I love both Oscar Levant and Sean Hayes, but I had no idea that Levant suffered from mental illness, and that Sean Hayes played the piano like that ….AMAZING .

[TheMikester]

Wonderful! I became a big fan of Oscar Levant 40+ years ago in college, reading about George Gershwin. I read his books at the library and lucked onto several of his albums. A stellar performer! I hope he is resting well. And Sean Hayes is magnificent! I say of him what I would say of Oscar: What a talent! We're lucky to have him!

[sudapl]

Thank you for sharing this story. Let us not forget the amazing Oscar Levant.

[geraldineclarke]

I've NEVER forgotten Oscar. I absolutely loved him when I was a child which confused my parents. I so wanted to play the piano which wasn't in the cards at the time. Now in my retirement I'm finally going to make that happen. THANK YOU, SEAN, for giving me another boost to my quest to try to play like Oscar.