Andy Mientus...Is No 'Flash' in the Pan

Broadway showman, actor Andy Mientus known for his exhilaratingly bright performances in the touring company of "Spring Awakening" and the TV musical cult-fave "Smash" is taking on a new role that is pitch-perfectly suited to his talents. Currently appearing on the Great White Way in the stunning revival of "Les Mis" as Marius, Mientus is raising the decibel levels on the television season's biggest hit, the CW's action series "The Flash" as the hero's sonically-inclined adversary: The Pied Piper.

Mientus now joins a distinctly prestigious fraternity of actors (read: Jack Nicholson, Oscar-Winner Heath Ledger) who have brought to the screen infamously popularly characters from the DC Comics pantheon of villainy. "It's amazing," he said, "it's an adolescent dream come true." Landing this part was a coup for the talented Mientus -�describing it as a "dream job" -�who has also appeared on the short-lived NBC musical "Smash" (cancelled largely due to its over-inflated budget and not the widely regarded myth that it was suffering low in the ratings) and is also joining the cast of the ABC Family series "Chasing Life" all the while juggling his stage commitments.

Adding onto his resume, Mientus' Pied Piper is a dangerously crafty opponent taking on the Scarlet Speedster and is among one of the hero's most dastardly rogues. "DC was really great about sending along a big old care package of comics -�specifically labeled with what I should be looking at." Mientus began to research the character which was introduced in 1959, and has been battling the Flash ever since. His portrayal of Hartley Rathaway (the Pied Piper's true identity) immediately got the attention of fan boys and industry insiders, as the Pied Piper is among the few characters in comics that is narrated as openly gay.

From Stage to Screen and Back

"The writing is very strong," Mientus says about the episode which premiered on Tuesday, Jan 27th. "It gave me a big clue as to who [Pied Piper] really is. This villain is super complex." Hartley is seen as a calculating antagonist with a master plan that threatens Central City's denizens, and especially targets those closest to the Flash. The episode also reveals that Hartley is motivated to exact revenge on his wealthy jet-setting parents, who disowned Rathaway because of his sexual orientation.

Asked if it's true that actors have more fun playing the bad guy as opposed to the hero, Mientus is quick to point out that the Pied Piper isn't your regular bank-heisting baddie. "It's really fun to play this villain, because you're not really sure where he stands." Mientus' Hartley Rathaway is a brilliant scientist who finds himself part of the team assembled by Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh's character) to work at S.T.A.R. Lab. "It's fun because the villains always get the most maniacal dialogue, but this guy has a whole lot going on." After a freak accident at the lab leaves Hartley with a hearing impediment, he returns to exact his twisted revenge on Wells and his family's business.

Mientus' Pied Piper though is not the only character on the show that has also revealed their gay orientation. Central City Police Captain David Singh (played by series cast member actor Patrick Sabongui) made it very clear of how strict his boyfriend is about their diet at home, forcing Singh to keep his indulgence in a fast-food "Big Belly Burger" combo a secret. Comic book fact: In the DC Comics continuity Rathaway and Singh have actually dated (it's a small multiverse indeed).

Andy Mientus' Pied Piper also delivers the best line of the season thus far. After having confronted and been captured by the Flash (series lead Grant Gustin), he admits that it's always been a fantasy of his to be taken prisoner by a man clad in skin tight leather. "That was the first scene that Grant and I shot together," Mientus revealed."We were both standing there in these [super] costumes waiting for the elevator doors to open [onto the S.T.A.R. Labs set, the main hub for all of the Flash's superhero activity] and it was so surreal -�definitely one of those 'Dear Diary' moments." It helped that the two actors have known each other professional for a very long time. "We had a blast doing that scene. It was a really fun day!"

Arch Enemies? Think Not!

Taking it one step further, Mientus admitted that there was an additional line in the scene where he implies that the red-clad Flash isn't as "cute" in his form-fitting super tights as he may think he is, but it got cut for obvious reasons. As Mientus further illustrated, "Grant looks great in the suit." Andy Mientus' history with "The Flash" goes further back. Before he took on the path of ne'er-do-well Pied Piper, he had read for the role of Barry Allen, which went instead to Gustin, a former "Glee" star.

"I feel I wound up right where I should have," Mientus says. "Grant is spectacular! I'm so thrilled by the way he's been embraced by the fans. This role -�Pied Piper -�feels like a much better fit for me." In a bit of trivia, Grant Gustin played a not-so-nice guy on FOX's musical ensemble "Glee" before coveting the red and gold spandex in "The Flash." He is also the second actor to run with the speed force in primetime. The first is John Wesley Shipp who now plays, Dr. Henry Allen (Barry's Dad) on the CW reboot.

And true-believers can rest assured...they haven't seen the last of Hartley Rathaway! Fans of Andy Mientus and his Pied Piper are guaranteed to see more of him this season especially as his story continues to unfold. "I just love this role," he said, "but more specifically, I just love this cast and crew -�they're the best!" With his character having made such an enigmatic entrance, you can bet Mientus has more in his repertoire and is prepared to suit up for his next adventure, which we understand is already in the works.

With the joyous news of his recent engagement to fellow theater actor Michael Arden, Mientus also joins the ranks of his peers in the business (including Wentworth Miller who plays the villain Captain Cold also introduced this season on "The Flash") who are out about their sexual orientation. "I get letters all the time," he says from young LGBT fans. "Kids really respond to something when it comes off as not a 'really big deal.' It's not the focus of my career, and is just another cool thing about me." Another fun fact!

Andy Mientus will continue to scheme against the forces of good, Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. EST on the CW's "The Flash," and he can also be seen (and heard) as Marius on Broadway in the critically acclaimed revival of the modern-classic "Les Miz" at the Imperial Theatre in New York City.

Need to get caught up with the CW hit "The Flash"? Take a look at the clip here of Episode #111 "The Sound and the Fury" which introduced Andy Mientus in the role of adversary Pied Piper!