See Ethan Slater Transform into Legendary Mime Marcel Marceau for Off-Broadway's “Marcel on the Train ”(Exclusive)
- - See Ethan Slater Transform into Legendary Mime Marcel Marceau for Off-Broadway's “Marcel on the Train ”(Exclusive)
Dave QuinnNovember 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
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PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at Ethan Slater as French mime Marcel Marceau in Marcel on the Train
The Tony-nominated actor co-wrote the new Off-Broadway play with director Marshall Pailet
Performances begin Feb. 5, 2026, at Classic Stage Company, with opening night set for Feb. 22
Ethan Slater is stepping into the shoes of a giant, and PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at him in action!
The Tony Award-nominated actor and Wicked star is playing famous French mime Marcel Marceau in Marcel on the Train, a new Off-Broadway play he co-wrote with Marshall Pailet. And before performances begin at the Classic Stage Company on Feb. 5, 2026, Slater is taking audiences behind-the-scenes with as he brings a legend to life.
"We are putting on the makeup for a little photoshoot for Marcel on the Train," Slater begins in the clip, as he sits in the makeup chair.
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"The image is Marcel is in the Alps and he smears white snow on his face that turns into the face of the mime character," the actor explains.
Suddenly, a voice behind the camera asks, "Have you figured out how that is going to work in the show yet?"
"Yeah, we're well on our way," an anxious Slater responds, feigning confidence. "Yeah, yeah, for sure. Absolutely. We definitely... do... know..."
Emilio Madrid
Ethan Slater as Marcel Marceau in a promo shot for 'Marcel on the Train,' the new Off-Broadway play he co-wrote and stars in
The final photos nail it, though. Snapped by Emilio Madrid, the black and white pics showcase Slater in character, his mime makeup and mannerisms perfectly capturing Marceau’s classic mystique.
Marcel Marceau became a global sensation with his signature character Bip the Clown, his expressive silence and artistic mastery transforming mime into a respected art form. He performed professionally for over 60 years, and died in 2007 at the age of 84.
The play focuses on Marceau’s extraordinary real-life story growing up as a young man during World War II. As has been widely reported, Marceau risked his life in Nazi-occupied France as a member of the French Resistance, using disguises and his creative imagination to help keep Jewish children quiet during their dangerous escape to safety.
"In the shadows of World War II, Marcel on the Train reveals the man behind the invisible mask," a description for the inventive play reads, praising the piece for showing audiences how "sometimes, the loudest resistance begins in the most quiet places."
Emilio Madrid
Ethan Slater as Marcel Marceau in a promo shot for 'Marcel on the Train,' the new Off-Broadway play he co-wrote and stars in
Pailet will direct the production, which is playing a limited run in New York City from through March 15. An official opening night is set for Feb. 22.
Joining Slater will be a sea of theatrical stars, including Julie Benko (Harmony), Maddie Corman (Accidentally Brave), Max Gordon Moore (Tammy Faye: The Musical), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County) and Alex Wyse (Good Night, Oscar).
Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
"I'm excited for people to see not only the story that many people know but also his brand of art and expression," Slater says in the clip. "I think it's a beautiful story with like, an unbelievable ensemble of actors and characters."
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In an official release, Slater says he was inspired to write Marcel on the Train because, like Marcel Marceau, "[his] work on film and on stage has been greatly inspired by two things: physical comedians and being Jewish."
The actor pitched the idea of the show to Pailet when Pailet called to tell him about the birth of his first child. "It was a very short and tired conversation ending with Ethan saying, 'maybe this isn’t the best time,' " Pailet recalls, admitting that the next day he realized, "huh that was actually a good idea."
"I look forward to writing about this play’s genesis someday using the third person," he teases.
Taylor Hill/Getty; Tony Vaccaro/Hulton Archive/Getty
Ethan Slater and Marcel Marceau
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This is the third project Slater has worked on at Classic Stage Company. In 2021, he played Lee Harvey Oswald in CSC's revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. Last year, Edge of the World — a musical he co-wrote with Nick Blaemire — had a sold out one-night only concert at CSC.
A veteran of Broadway's SpongeBob SquarePants and Spamalot, Slater next be seen on the big screen as Boq in Wicked: For Good. The second part of the film adaptation of Wicked, which he stars in opposite girlfriend Ariana Grande, opens on Nov. 26, 2025.
Tickets for Marcel on the Train are on sale now.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
