Exclusive Interview: The Young and the Restless star Christian LeBlanc admits to an upcoming performance that "terrifies" him 

Michael Baldwin, played by Christian LeBlanc on The Young and the Restless, may feel like he's trapped in a zoo, unable to get off Cane's estate in France. In September, the actor will head to the East Coast for a literal "Zoo Story" — the famous play by Edward Albee. s play by Edward Albee.

The Young and the Restless, Zoo Story

"This is kind of our 'out of town' tryout to see about doing the show off-Broadway in New York," LeBlanc tells Soap Central about his three-performance run in The Zoo Story, set for September 4, 5, and 6 at the historic Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

The Zoo Story is a play written by Edward Albee (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf), and it tells the story of two men, Peter and Jerry, who encounter each other at a park bench in New York City's Central Park.

Peter's a wealthy publishing executive and a family man. Conversely, Jerry is a disheartened loner, desperate to make a connection. The encounter between the two men escalates into a powerful confrontation in which Jerry brings Peter down to his level. LeBlanc will be playing Peter. Matt de Rogatis, who LeBlanc appeared on stage in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, will be playing Jerry.

Inside the actor's studio

There's a good deal of physical action in the play, but that's only part of what LeBlanc likely finds challenging about playing Peter and all his roles. "This is the heart of what we do," the actor says, "And I've got to tell you the build to it, as you dig deeper and deeper, it's like, I'm terrified, just like I was when I did Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It's at the same theater."

Why does LeBlanc take on parts other than Michael on The Young and the Restless? "Ewan McGregor (My Master Builder) said on The Graham Norton Show, 'You know when you're in your run and you're at brunch and you're just all quiet, and you know you have a matinee coming up, you really can't go home," LeBlanc recounts. "There's this whole life [you're living] that stops. Your life only happens during the show."

The scenes between Peter and Jerry are intense, which will call for each actor to truly be connected to his scene partner. "Some of the best compliments I've ever had in my acting have been where someone will say, 'I saw you in the scene and you were fully engaged even if you weren't talking,'" LeBlanc shares. "I thought that was brilliant. I said, 'Thank you.'"

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For ticket information on The Zoo Story, check out Tickets are priced at $40 and are on sale now at Ruth Stage and Event Brite.

You can watch Christian LeBlanc as Michael Baldwin on The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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