Philly native T.J. Wagner brings the monster to life in ‘Frankenstein’

Philadelphia area native T.J. Wagner is returning home to star as the creature and Lord Byron in Center City Stage’s production of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” which will run Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Independence Studio Theatre, inside the Walnut Street Theatre.

“Frankenstein” has a massive history on and off the stage, and Wagner discussed the significance and excitement that goes along with working on a production that has such a legacy.

“You can feel its historical weight for sure,” Wagner said, particularly given his role as the creature/the monster.

Wagner also described himself as a “history nerd” who enjoys doing historical research, which he said came in handy for this role.

“Whenever I’m involved in a show that’s like a period piece or something that exists in a timeframe separate from our own, it’s so much fun to examine what was happening, what drove these characters to behave how they’re acting, how do they talk to each other, how do they exist,” Wagner explained, adding, “With Frankenstein, it’s quite juicy.”

Wagner specifically highlighted the creative nature of the upcoming “Frankenstein” production, and he was excited about the unique spin on the classic this show will offer.

“I would like people to see themselves in the monster a little more, especially because in the movie and all the other versions of Frankenstein, we very rarely hear the monster talk; he’s just sort of grunting. Here, he’s talking. To give voice to the monster, and to give voice to the creatures out there, I hope that folks have a sense of recognition when they’re seeing the show,” Wagner said of his hopes for the audience.

Wagner also spoke at length about the connections to queerness both the larger story of “Frankenstein” and this specific production have.

In terms of his own role, Wagner said, “I’m also playing Lord Byron, whose sexual escapades are documented, and certainly his queerness is interesting to me. Rereading the script and coming from a gay lens, a queer lens, is so interesting. There’s a specific line where the creature talks about how he’s looking at himself in a mirror, and he looks and he sees that ‘I am like them, but I am also unlike them,’ but he can’t place what is the unlike, what is the difference, and there was something so queer about that to me.”

Wagner related to this on a personal level as well and explained, “Especially from my own personal experience of people knowing I was queer before I knew I was queer and looking around at other people and being like, ‘Well, I think I’m like them, but I guess I’m not like them’ and recognizing that within yourself and also realize that it’s coming externally.”

In addition to the queer nature of the play, “Frankenstein” is explicitly tied to the current Halloween season, and Wagner in particular is well-prepared for this connection, given his recent roles.

Wagner joked, “I seem to be starting off my spooky season quite well,” referencing not only his current role in “Frankenstein” but also his roles in the recently wrapped production of “Meg4n: The Unauthorized Parody Musical Tour.”

Wagner specifically highlighted that “Meg4n” is a “Frankenstein trope,” which was an ironic coincidence. It was during production of “Meg4n” that Wagner learned of this opportunity with Center City Stage’s “Frankenstein.”

This production of “Meg4n” also had an entirely queer cast of actors and performers and starred queer icon Rosé from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Wagner explained, “The queers have latched onto it, and it is this queer story, but also it’s starring a monster and the creation of a monster.”

Wagner played every man or male-identifying character in the production, which he estimated to be about 13 or 14 different roles.

The connection between these roles and the fact that they are both of the horror genre is more incidental than intentional, and Wagner said that, while he wants to thrill people, these certainly aren’t the only types of roles he’s interested in.

Wagner explained that, ironically, he was never a “horror kid” growing up.

“I was a scaredy kid,” Wagner joked.

In terms of identifying roles he’s interested in, Wagner explained, “I definitely try to have some sort of relation to the characters that I like to play. I like to find some sort of commonality, even if it is a person that is completely separate from me, like a completely different identity, finding something that is common between us, exploring that, and basing things from my own experience and seeing how it can inform certain things within the story.”

Wagner elaborated, “I’m lucky enough to play queer characters quite often, and I do like that. It’s not always the case, so when I’m not playing a queer character, I like that it allows me a different entrance way into getting to know different people and getting to know the characters.”

Regarding playing queer characters, Wagner said, “When it’s a queer character, I get to use myself a lot more.”

Wagner was born in Malvern, Pa., and although he currently lives in Harlem with his husband, Broadway photographer Evan Zimmerman, he is back in the Philadelphia area while working on “Frankenstein.”

On his return to the Philadelphia area, Wagner said, “I’m in my hometown, so I’m back with family [and] friends. The people that have brought me up and launched me into the world, I’m returning back to.”

“I’ve grown and become more myself as I’ve left and then come back,” Wagner added.

Wagner also spoke about how he met his husband, whom he married in Philadelphia last year at Bok Bar in South Philadelphia.

Although Zimmerman is now a Broadway photographer who works alongside Matthew Murphy, he is also an actor, and that is how Wagner and Zimmerman first met. 

“I was involved in a show that had won the New York Fringe Festival, so part of the winnings was that we got a run at SoHo Playhouse. During the transition going from Fringe to SoHo Playhouse, a cast member dropped out, so then we had to reassign things, recast things, and then one of my good friends just sort of thought about Evan and was like, ‘I know this guy; he’s great,’ and he came on, and he was the very cute chorus boy at first that caught my fancy,” Wagner explained.

From there, Wagner and Zimmerman were cast in a show together, and Wagner explained that this “trial run” of spending so much time together for the show proved it could work between them.

Wagner is also an artist and painter, and after “Frankenstein,” he will be teaching paint classes as a resident painter on Celebrity Cruises for approximately one month. The trip will include stops in Barcelona, Algeria, Lisbon, and the Bahamas, among other locations.

Center City Stage presents “Frankenstein” Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at The Independence Studio Theatre (3rd Floor), 825 Walnut St. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit centercitystage.com. T.J. Wagner’s art can also be found on his website, tjwagner.com.