Nadim Naaman
{{Short description|British actor, singer, and composer}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Westminster, London, England
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
}}
| occupation =
| years_active = 2007–present
| children = 2
}}
Nadim Naaman (born 12 August 1985) is a British actor, singer, playwright, and composer. He is known for his work in musical theatre.
Early life
Naaman was born in London to a Lebanese father and a British mother who had met in Dubai.{{Cite journal|url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/theatre/broken-wings-in-dubai-khalil-gibran-and-the-women-who-inspired-him-1.68977062|title='Broken Wings' in Dubai: Khalil Gibran and the women who inspired him|journal=Gulf News|first=Marwa|last=Hamad|date=13 January 2020|accessdate=12 April 2024}} Naaman attended Eton College.{{Cite web|url=https://www.etoncollege.com/news-and-diary/school-news/nadim-naaman-releases-debut-album/|title=Nadim Naaman releases debut album|website=Eton College|date=18 August 2013|accessdate=12 April 2024}} He took part in choir, and the school's head of drama Simon Dormandy{{Cite web|url=https://www.lastminutetheatretickets.com/in-profile-nadim-naaman/|title=In Profile with Nadim Naaman from The Phantom of the Opera|website=Last Minute Theatre Tickets|author=Julie|date=22 November 2014|accessdate=12 April 2024}} suggested Naaman pursue the performing arts professionally. His father was supportive but suggested he get a university degree first. Naaman graduated from the University of Warwick in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in 2007.
Career
Upon completing his diploma, Naaman made his professional stage debut as Jamie Wallerstein in the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival production of the musical The Last Five Years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.todomusicales.com/content/content_english/6084/nadim-naaman-london/|title=Nadim Naaman, London|website=Todo Musicales|date=3 December 2015|accessdate=12 April 2024}} The following year, he made his West End debut when he took over as Rolf Gruber in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/maccorkindale-will-be-captain-von-trapp-in-londons-sound-of-music-in-august-com-152012|title=MacCorkindale Will Be Captain Von Trapp in London's Sound of Music in August|website=Playbill|first=Mark|last=Shenton|date=29 July 2008|accessdate=12 April 2024}} Naaman starred as the titular character of James and the Giant Peach at Watermill Theatre in 2009,{{Cite journal|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4768408.james-giant-peach-watermill-theatre-newbury/|title=James and the Giant Peach: Watermill Theatre, Newbury|journal=Oxford Mail|first=Christopher|last=Gray|date=2 December 2009|accessdate=12 April 2024}} appeared in Knight Crew at Glyndebourne in 2010, and was in the ensemble of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre on the West End. He was also the understudy in the latter for Raoul.
After leaving The Phantom of the Opera, Naaman appeared in Thirteen Days at the Arcola Theatre and Marguerite at the Tabard Theatre,{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/news/marguerite_2336.html/|title=Marguerite|website=WhatsOnStage|date=19 April 2012|accessdate=12 April 2024}} and played Anatoly in the Union Theatre production of Chess. Naaman released his debut album of 11 songs he had written over the course of a decade titled We All Want The Same in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2013/08/13/nadim-naaman-to-release-debut-album/|title=Nadim Naaman to release debut album|website=Entertainment Focus|first=Pip|last=Ellwood-Hughes|date=13 August 2013|accessdate=12 April 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://oughttobeclowns.com/2014/05/cd-review-nadim-naaman-we-all-want-the-same.html/|title=Album Review: Nadim Naaman – We All Want The Same|website=There Ought to be Clowns|date=25 May 2014|accessdate=12 April 2024}} He subsequently played Charles Clarke in Titanic at Southwark Playhouse and the Princess of Wales Theatre{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/acclaimed-in-london-chamber-sized-titanic-sails-into-toronto-tonight-com-349383|title=Acclaimed in London, Chamber-Sized Titanic Sails Into Toronto Tonight|website=Playbill|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|date=19 May 2015|accessdate=12 April 2024}} and Anthony in the Tooting Arts Club production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/siobhan-mccarthy-leads-cast-of-tooting-arts-clubs-sweeney-todd|title=Siobhan McCarthy leads cast of Tooting Arts Club's Sweeney Todd|website=The Stage|first=Georgia|last=Snow|date=18 September 2014|accessdate=12 April 2024}}{{subscription required}} He was also an understudy for Alan and Alfie in One Man, Two Guvnors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.actorhub.co.uk/1771/west-end-actor-interviews-nadim-naaman|title=West End Actor Interviews – Nadim Naaman|website=Actor Hub|date=2014|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
From 2015 to 2017, Naaman returned to the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera, starring as Viscount Raoul de Chagny.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/features/nadim-naaman-staying-in-phantom-would-have-been-easy--it-was-time-for-a-risk|title=Nadim Naaman: 'Staying in Phantom would have been easy – it was time for a risk'|website=The Stage|first=Tom|last=Wicker|date=4 October 2017|accessdate=12 April 2024}}{{subscription required}} Through the independent record label Auburn Jam Music,{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Review-Nadim-Naamans-SIDES-Album-20160626|title=Review: Nadim Naaman's SIDES Album|website=BroadwayWorld|first=Jenny|last=Ell|accessdate=12 April 2024}} Naaman released his second album Sides in 2016, containing a combination of original songs and reinvented covers and featuring artists such as Celinde Schoenmaker, Rob Houchen, and Eva Noblezada.{{Cite web|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/interviews/interview-with-phantom-of-the-operas-nadim-naaman|title=Interview with Phantom of the Opera's Nadim Naaman|website=London Theatre|first=Dom|last=O'Hanlon|date=8 June 2016|accessdate=12 April 2024}} In 2017, he starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's By Jeeves at the Old Laundry Theatre in Cumbria.{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/nadim-naaman-and-bill-champion-to-star-in-andrew-lloyd-webbers-by-jeeves-in-the-uk|title=Nadim Naaman and Bill Champion to Star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's By Jeeves in the U.K.|website=Playbill|first=Betsy|last=Kaplan|date=19 July 2017|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
With Dana Al Fardan, Naaman co-wrote and co-composed the musical Broken Wings, based on Lebanese-American writer Kahlil Gibran's 1912 novella of the same name, with Naaman portraying Gibran in the original cast. The musical premiered at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Nadim-Naaman-Talks-BROKEN-WINGS-at-Theatre-Royal-Haymarket-20180605|title=Interview: Nadim Naaman Talks BROKEN WINGS at Theatre Royal Haymarket|website=BroadwayWorld|first=Nicole|last=Ackman|date=5 June 2018|accessdate=12 April 2024}} and was subsequently showcased at the 2019 Beiteddine Festival, Doha's Katara Opera House, and Dubai Opera in early 2020. Naaman once again collaborated with Al Fardan on Rumi: The Musical, which premiered at the London Coliseum in 2021. Naaman starred as the titular character opposite Ramin Karimloo on the concept album and original cast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/201219/rumi-the-musical-starring-ramin-karimloo-and-nadim-naaman-gets-world-premiere-in-london/|title=Rumi: The Musical, Starring Ramin Karimloo and Nadim Naaman, Gets World Premiere in London|website=Broadway|first=Caitlyn|last=Moynihan|date=9 September 2021|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
Naaman once again returned to The Phantom of the Opera for its 2023 and 2024 international tour in the Middle East, this time starring as the titular Phantom.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2465241/lifestyle|title=Nadim Naaman takes the stage as first Arab lead star in 'The Phantom of The Opera' at Dubai Opera|journal=Arab News|first=Rawaa|last=Talass|date=23 February 2024|accessdate=12 April 2024}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music-stage/2024/02/16/nadim-naaman-musical-theatre-dubai/|title=British-Lebanese actor Nadim Naaman on why the Arab world can inspire the next big musical|journal=The National|author=Saeed Saeed|date=16 February 2024|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
Personal life
As of 2015, Naaman lived in Southfields, London. That year, he ran the London Marathon for the Make a Difference (MAD) Trust.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/West-End-Nadim-Naaman-Runs-London-Marathon-for-MAD-Trust-20150414|title=West End's Nadim Naaman Runs London Marathon for MAD Trust|website=BroadwayWorld|date=14 April 2015|accessdate=12 April 2024}} Naaman married his wife Gillian in December 2016. They have two daughters.{{Cite web|url=http://toast32.co.uk/gillyandnadimsweddingfilm.html|title=Gilly and Nadim's Wedding Film|website=Toast32|date=4 December 2016|accessdate=12 April 2024}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/642061/music-the-one-thing-everyone-on-the-planet-has-in-common-nadim-naaman-british-actor|title="Music the one thing everyone on the planet has in common" — Nadim Naaman, British actor|journal=Gulf Times|first=Mudassir|last=Raja|date=18 September 2019|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
Discography
- We All Want The Same (2013)
- Sides (2016)
Stage
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2007
| Jamie Wellerstein |
| 2008
| Rolf Gruber |
| 2009
| James | Watermill Theatre, Newbury |
| 2010
| Lance | Glyndebourne, Sussex |
| 2010
| Ensemble / Raoul cover | Her Majesty's Theatre, London |
| 2012
| Thirteen Days | Andrei | Arcola Theatre, London |
| 2012
| Armand | Tabard Theatre, Chiswick |
| 2013
| Chess | Anatoly | Union Theatre, London |
| 2014–2015
| Titanic | Charles Clarke | Southwark Playhouse, London / Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto |
| 2014
| Alan / Alfie cover | Theatre Royal Haymarket, London |
| 2015
| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Anthony | Tooting Arts Club |
| 2015–2017
| Her Majesty's Theatre, London |
| 2017
| Bertie Wooster | Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere |
| 2018
| Created with Dana Al Fardan |
| 2018
| On the Town | Ozzie |
| 2020
| Count Carl-Magnus | Opera Holland Park{{Cite web|url=https://www.sondheimsociety.com/single-post/2020/07/29/janie-dee-jo-riding-fra-fee-nadim-naaman-in-a-little-night-music|title=Janie Dee, Jo Riding, Fra Fee, Nadim Naaman in A Little Night Music|website=The Stephen Sondheim Society|date=29 July 2020|accessdate=12 April 2024}} |
| 2021
| Rumi | Co-wrote and composed with Dana Al Fardan |
| 2023
| Viktor Komarovsky | London Palladium{{Cite web|url=https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/doctor-zhivago/|title=Doctor Zhivago – In Concert|website=LW Theatres|date=2023|accessdate=12 April 2024}} |
| 2023–2024
| The Phantom of the Opera | International tour |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|4716388}}
- [https://spotlight.com/9436-6724-1421 Nadim Naaman] at Spotlight
- [https://profile.tagmin.com/df9kt84lr37794qk9s4ic2892vhms9zd5j7k Nadim Naaman] at Global Artists
{{DEFAULTSORT:naaman, nadim}}
Category:21st-century English dramatists and playwrights
Category:Actors from the City of Westminster
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music
Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick
Category:Composers from London
Category:English male dramatists and playwrights
Category:English male musical theatre actors
Category:English people of Lebanese descent
Category:Male actors from London
Category:People educated at Eton College
Category:People from Westminster