Wade, age 16, plays the dealer in this anti-drug national television spot in 1988.
Below, Wade Raley's resume head shot, age 12 (1984). His credits on the reverse date from when he was sixteen.
Wade Raley is a redhead.
Wade's resume, age 16 (1988).
Wade Raley's first major role was in "Really Rosie," by Maurice Sendak and Carole King, directed by Pat Birch. The show opened in the fall of 1981 at the Chelsea (on West 43rd Street), later transferred to the American Place mainstage.
These photos are from Bill Power's book Backstage at a Broadway Musical.
Musical Director Joel Silberman begins to teach the children the score. Wade is the kid second from left. Wade was eight years old.
Wade sings his duet, so to make a rehearsal recording, on cassette.
Wade listens to the playback.
Wade Raley (left) in performance of "Really Rosie," in which he created the character "Johnny."
John Simon who wrote a weekly Theatre column for New York Magazine was regarded by most as "the nastiest critic in the town." Yet Wade Raley captured John Simon's heart:
Wade has related in the modesty which best becomes great Actors, "I never got a bad review!"
As an aside, the [lighting] Board Op for "Really Rosie" was a buddy of mine, David Crist, but I never knew he was on the show until I read the Bill Powers book. Two views of Dave running the two-scene TTI lightboard.
He was a buddy to Joe Papp and worked for the Shakespeare Festival in various important capacities for twenty years. He played a principal role in the 1978 "The Knife" playing the elder son of Mandy Patimkin, seen below with his hand on Wade's shoulder.
Wade (far right) has to deal with a man portraying his father who dresses like a girl.
In a pivotal closing scene, Wade (right) tells Mandy he is leaving.
While "The Knife" received almost universal pans, the performance of Wade Raley was termed "outstanding" by UPI.
Wade chose to cease acting on stage at about age sixteen, but he has remained in the biz, because it's his life.
October, 2015. Updated 3/31/2019.
Below, Wade Raley's resume head shot, age 12 (1984). His credits on the reverse date from when he was sixteen.
Wade Raley is a redhead.
Wade's resume, age 16 (1988).
Wade Raley's first major role was in "Really Rosie," by Maurice Sendak and Carole King, directed by Pat Birch. The show opened in the fall of 1981 at the Chelsea (on West 43rd Street), later transferred to the American Place mainstage.
These photos are from Bill Power's book Backstage at a Broadway Musical.
Musical Director Joel Silberman begins to teach the children the score. Wade is the kid second from left. Wade was eight years old.
Wade sings his duet, so to make a rehearsal recording, on cassette.
Wade listens to the playback.
Wade Raley (left) in performance of "Really Rosie," in which he created the character "Johnny."
John Simon who wrote a weekly Theatre column for New York Magazine was regarded by most as "the nastiest critic in the town." Yet Wade Raley captured John Simon's heart:
As an aside, the [lighting] Board Op for "Really Rosie" was a buddy of mine, David Crist, but I never knew he was on the show until I read the Bill Powers book. Two views of Dave running the two-scene TTI lightboard.
He was a buddy to Joe Papp and worked for the Shakespeare Festival in various important capacities for twenty years. He played a principal role in the 1978 "The Knife" playing the elder son of Mandy Patimkin, seen below with his hand on Wade's shoulder.
Wade (far right) has to deal with a man portraying his father who dresses like a girl.
In a pivotal closing scene, Wade (right) tells Mandy he is leaving.
While "The Knife" received almost universal pans, the performance of Wade Raley was termed "outstanding" by UPI.
Wade chose to cease acting on stage at about age sixteen, but he has remained in the biz, because it's his life.
October, 2015. Updated 3/31/2019.