Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Orestes Fasting |
Heh. I saw some YouTube clips of him the other day and his Enjolras is... um... special. I have a secret liking for him as Grantaire, but as Fearless Leader? I'll hold my tongue until I've seen him live, but I didn't like what I saw too much. According to BWW, a casting call has gone out to agents for the roles of Enjolras and Javert, starting mid/late April. I'll be sad to see Aaron go, but the man is injured after all and he needs to recuperate. And I'll be interested in their replacements, especially Norm, whose talents are being wasted on the role of Javert as he's chosen (or been directed) to play it. |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
Oh, I did, but I admit I liked it better when I'd only heard, not seen. It wouldn't be so "special" if he just toned it down, but as evidenced by his past work, "Drew Sarich" and "tone it down" go together as well as "Jack Noseworthy" and "Armand." |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Well, with his Enjolras as with his Grantaire there were some things I really liked, even just from a couple YouTube videos. The trouble is that the rest just leaves me going "wtf?"
I was pretty disconcerted by his over-the-top gayness as Grantaire, but once he stopped openly molesting the other Amis, he and Aaron had some wonderful chemistry. I was cringing through most of the video of him in the caf� scene, but his barely-suppressed glee during "Lamarque is Dead" made me smile. Mixed messages much? |
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| NurseCodeBlue |
Ad from the NY Times. You can save 40% if you book through the link online with the times. (I wonder if they are going to make her wear a shitty wig like the other Asian Fantines).
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| Electricity24601 |
Thanks for posting! *Runs off to show to mom and beg for tickets* | ||||
| Orestes Fasting |
Probably not. Joan's wig was crap on the tour, but Daphne's looked really nice. Very full, not fake-looking, and not unnaturally curly. Some of the other wigs were pretty unfortunate, but they seem to be doing a good job on Fantine's. |
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| Electricity24601 |
NurseCodeBlue, do you think you could post the link you're refering to? I'm not having a whole lot of luck tracking it down... | ||||
| Elin |
Very nice ad. Thanks for posting it. 
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| Eponine93 |
I know Aaron is rotating. However, I actually sent him an email off his fansite and he replied saying he's only missing one show a week. That was a month ago or so, has the situation changed? Also, is there an actual schedule as to when the alternate? I'm in the process of trying to figure out a date to get tickets, and if I miss Aaron I'm going to be VERY upset. | ||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
Usually "alternate" only means twice a week, regularly. You could probably ask Drew via his MySpace.
I never really understood this. Why set your sights on one particular person in a huge ensemble show? This is live theatre, and that's just asking for disappointment. |
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| kitty17794 |
Because some people have favorite performers. Don't you have a favorite actor or actress? Wouldn't you be disappointed if you couldn't see them when you paid money to see them? | ||||
| Eponine93 |
I understand what you mean, but I would really like to see Aaron and also a few other cast members. It's probably going to be my only chance to see the revival, so I want to make the best experience of it possible. And having the best experience means making sure I'm seeing a performer who I think is really talented. But I understand, setting your sights on only seeing one person can lead to dissapointment. | ||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
I have a few, but I wouldn't go with those kind of high hopes. If they're out, they're out. Too bad for me, but that's not really what I paid for. I can't dictate exactly what my money demands of the producers. Unless you're paying money to see a show where it's billed as "JOHNNY McACTOR in... (insert show here)," then really, you're not paying to see that person. You're paying to see a show in which that person is performing, and they will likely be on the day you go. Them's the breaks. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Aaron was on both shows last night; I talked to him at the stage door and he says he's back to performing all shows unless he gets sick. | ||||
| TonyB |
Lea SalongaDoes anyone know how long Lea Salonga will be Fantine? The press release about Daphne said she'd be out Feb 18 - Apr 11. I find it hard to believe they would bring in Lea Salonga for only a month. I just bought tickets for late April and I am hoping that it will be Lea. |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
Re: Lea Salonga
Originally, Daphne was only going to be gone that long. But that was before the Lea Salonga news.
According to her blog: I'm getting some messages regarding my performance schedule and for how long my run in Les Miz is going to be. So, just to clear things up, I will be doing all the shows on any given week (unless I'm ill or injured), and will be in the production until the end of its run, whenever that is. Right now, it's been extended through the summer. Let's see if it goes on longer. http://bigsis222.multiply.com/journal/item/49 |
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| NurseCodeBlue |
Sorry, I can't find the link from the NY Times but here's another site that's offering a discount:
http://www.broadwaybox.com/shows/les_miserables_nyc_tickets.aspx |
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| TonyB |
Re: Lea Salonga
Thank you! |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
Rehearsal footage and interview:
http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=544644 |
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| Quique |
OMG...I love what I've seen so far. She's going to be incredible!
Thanks for that. 
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| EponinesRain |
Even though Lea owned the IDAD that she sang in that other clip, this one has all the emotions in it that I could ever ask for. I guess it's b/c she's actually performing in here whereas that one was a concert. She sounds awesome and it's sending shivers down my spine! Thanks for posting this!
By the way, is it customary to calibrate the key of a song to fit the performer? Or does the singer have to be just that good to hit all of those notes? Some IDADs sound higher or lower in key. |
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| eponine5 |
 My God, she's amazing!
But oh dear, the Fantiboppers are coming! |
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| Moci |
She looks and sounds as if she's going to be fantastic. I loved the way she was talking about the character.
(Does anyone else find the idea of Javert in DKNY hilarious though?) |
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| kitty17794 |
Oh lord have mercy, she's amazing!
I teared up when they cut to her in full costume...  I've always loved Lea. She's my musical role model, and she's been in my life for a long time. "A Whole New World" from Aladdin was my parents wedding song...(a wedding which I did have the chance to attend, they married when I was four) and so the song (and its performers) mean a lot to me and my family. I loved Lea as Eponine, and she's JUST as amazing as Fantine.
I wish I could see her! |
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| Orestes Fasting |
I'll just repeat what I said when this got posted on Livejournal: I was initially dubious because the announcement smacked of stunt casting and I'm not fond of Lea's Eponine; but between the rehearsal footage and her comments on the role, I must admit I'm impressed.
I'm still not looking forward to stage-dooring after she joins the cast, haha. |
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| LesMisForever |
Much, much better than the previous clip. This one is really lovely. | ||||
| Eponine93 |
Oh my god, I'm so excited. I'm seeing her next Sunday. When I saw that first clip I was worried, but now...
I just hope she remembers that day-lights saving time begins Sunday and doesn't show up to the theatre and hour late. I'm going to stage-door to meet her, but I'm a bit worried about all the fangirls (although I am a fangirl too...) I have a plan though... involving a big T-shirt and fabric markers.... I'm such a big geek! This is kind of O/T but I don't feel like making a new thread, so what single quote from the musical defines the show? And no one say "To love another person is to see the face of God"... The one thing that's going to bother me is that a lot of people who otherwise wouldn't think twice about the character of Fantine will all of a sudden be converted to Fantine-bopper-ism. And one thing I really like about Fantine (besides the fact she's awesome!) is that there are very few people who go around saying: "OMG, I'm just like Fantine. I AM Fantine" as opposed to some characters I could name... |
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| NurseCodeBlue |
From Broadway.com
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| EponinesRain |
There's also a new picture of Lea in costume on her blog.
http://bigsis222.multiply.com/journal |
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| LesMisForever |
I saw the clip again.
Lea says that it will help more to play Fantine that she is a real mother now. Personally, i don't think it really matters whether actors have children, or not to give great performances as parents. Oh! and what are the odds that Lea's daughter will complete a hattrick by playing Cosette, Eponine, and Fantine? 
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| The Very Angry Woman |
But it does help to have that kind of life experience. I don't think it neccessarily makes or breaks a performance if one is a parent playing a parent, but it may give that extra "oomph." Besides, if she says it helps, it's obviously working out for her. |
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| LesMisForever |
We don't disagree here TVAW. It certainly can't harm. I am just making a general point that actors can play a role greatly without going through that particular experience. | ||||
| Eponine93 |
What I really liked about what she said in the interview was that she wasn't going to play Fantine as a lovely person and not to expect her to give Fantine a lovely death. I specifically remember a lot of people saying that Lea would just make Fantine a pretty girl. In fact, I myself (and I'm a BIG Lea fangirl) thought that Lea would end up giving a brilliant vocal performance as Fantine but make the character seem more graceful than she actually is. It's interesting Lea realized people thought that about her and decided to comment on it.
I don't know if anyone really actively involved on the site has seen her yet but for those who have, do you think she portrayed Fantine as more graceful and lovely or as what the character was written? I can't really judge from the clip, but I think she was doing a nice job accurately portraying the character, which was pleasantly surprising. I also found it interesting she hadn't read the book before she portrayed Eponine. I think we've found out why Lea's Eponine performance has been argued as to be "too pretty and graceful." |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
More photos and a messed-up caption here:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/106365.html |
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| kitty17794 |
Pretty and graceful? Odd...I've never thought that. I thought her Eponine was really angry...thats what I heard in "In My Life" and "On My Own", anyway. |
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| Colle |
I was a little surprised that Lea said she didn't read the book before she played Eponine. From what I have seen of her as Eponine, which is basically the TAC and some other clips(I wish I could have seen her live), she is one of the few that I am convinced would trick Marius to going to the barricades if it was in the script. Also, I found her angry/bitter approach to "On My Own" made her voice less pretty than it actually is, though I understand why it would not work for everyone. It is interesting that there are those people who don't think her "On My Own' sounds pretty because she sounds angry and/or overpronounces words. | ||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
Another review: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?page=1&thread=928262 | ||||
| EponineBarker |
That's what I thought, too. I mean, I know that Eponine is supposed to be a bitter character, but Lea (now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Lea) in the TAC seemed almost too bitter and seemed angry all of the time, (well, except maybe in the songs "IML" and "ALFOR") which worked well in "The Attack of Rue Plumet," but it didn't seem righht for most of the other songs. And I probably would've never described her performace as "too pretty and graceful." |
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| Eponine93 |
OMG. Just got back from seeing her as Fantine. Oh. My. God. That. Girl. Is. Amazing.
I'll post a full review tomorrow, but that girl is the most amazing actress I have seen in my life. The only problem with her performance was I couldn't get her autograph after, the stage door was a nightmare. And then after Lea left (even though Alex, Norm and Aaron hadn't come out yet) all of a sudden, I was one of the only people left. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Glad to hear it!
I'm considering an impulse trip to see her on Thursday or Sunday, haha. Depends on when I get off work on Thursday, and whether there are any seats left in Row L or the boxes. I'm excited! |
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| Crapgame13 |
I think she's much more at ease now that she's married and has a kid. She's said she wants to do Wicked, I really wish she'd bag Cinderella and come back to LA or stay in NY and do that, but a lot of the money (for her) is in Asia. *I could be very wrong. I based this on a combination of her relationship with her father, a stage mother, the way she talked about wanting to "prove herself" beyond Miss Saigon, her lack of dating until a fairly late age, being raised "Very" Christian, the pressure of being "a representative of her country" etc. I always thought she should have been bigger. But watching clips on YouTube, her songs outside of Broadway...very Kathie Lee Gifford |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
Funny you should mention that, because I've thought that for a while, too. I own one of her Manila concerts on DVD and honestly can't watch any of her banter or patter. I've never seen anyone so horrifyingly insulting and condescending to their own audience before. Once she sings, it's a completely different story. She doesn't seem to come across that way these days, though. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
I bet they were hiding and waiting until the Lea fangirls had left so they wouldn't be mobbed.
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| Eponine93 |
I don't know about her being angry these days. She was totally mobbed by a mainly Phillepean crowd at the stage door, but seemed to be taking it well. I would have been running as far as I could in the other direction with the mob, but she was totally cool with it, even joking around and comparing to a mosh pit.
I need someone to get a bootleg sound clip so I can put it on my Ipod. IDAD is my favorite song but I can barely listen to any other version, even Ruthie's, without thinking "Lea is so much better..." |
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| Crapgame13 |
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| xavy_sangabriel |
Sounds awesome.
I might see her this summer.. Why do i have to live in Texas? |
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| sherwills |
The ViewLes Mis is also performing on The View for O'Donnell's birthday. Does anyone know if Lea Salonga is singing there? |
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| kitty17794 |
Re: The View
REALLY? Wow, thats incredibly exciting. I'm sure she will be there... |
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| Eponine93 |
Obviously she'll be there, but it hasn't been announced if she's doing "I Dreamed A Dream." I mean, I hope Rosie, with her theatre history, knows who Lea is and how good her Fantine is, but you never know. | ||||
| Crapgame13 |
one of the ensemble members wrote on her blog she'll be dressed as a boy, so I'm guessing "One Day More" or "Do You Hear..." | ||||
| kitty17794 |
Most likely ODM since that's like the 'signature' song. |
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| Colle |
Very Angry Women, could you give an example from that concert of what Lea said that you found insulting? I believe I do own a DVD of the same concert, and I admit I haven't watched much of what she says in between songs. It is good to know that it sounds like she has improved, maybe she just needed to grow up.
What emsemble member has written in her blog about the cast upcoming appearance on "the View?" It will be good to see Lea, even if it is a small role. I assume Rosie is a fan of Lea's, I believe Lea was on Rosie's talk show once. |
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| Crapgame13 |
Haviland Stillwell on her myspace page |
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| kitty17794 |
I just looked...the ensemble member doesn't say anything about LEA being dressed as a boy...but herself dressed as a boy. So that doesn't mean ANYTHING necessarily...they could perform a medley and Lea might be Fantine. I doubt they are even going to do their own songs, since I looked and saw this:
THE CAST OF LES MIS WILL BE PERFORMING FOR ROSIE'S BDAY, ALONG WITH THE COMPANIES OF CHORUS LINE AND THE COLOR PURPLE, NEXT WEDNESDAY, 3/21, AT 11AM ON ABC. I'LL BE DRESSED AS A BOY! TUNE IN! Thats what the exact blog is that was posted. So. Other casts will be there...maybe they will simply sing happy birthday...or something. |
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| Crapgame13 |
My grammar was off
I meant, since female ensemble member would be dressed as a boy, not Lea. Sorry |
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| sherwills |
Rosie is known to really like Lea Salonga. Once Lea was guest on her show and before Rosie introduced her, she sang a couple of lines from Mulan's "Reflection". Hope somebody posts the The View Les Mis bits on Youtube as we don't get to see that show here in London. |
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| Elin |
Lea to be in Spelling Bee on March 18:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/106568.html |
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| sherwills |
Yeah I saw that in the Playbill banner... with Raul Esparza and Brian Stokes Mitchell. I wish Im in New York now! |
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| Elin |
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=16698 | ||||
| lesmizfan814 |
lea salonga....i saw the video of IDAD on YouTube and it was fantastic. I'd prefer her over Daphne any day. I hope I get a chance to see Lea before the revival ends. Does anyone know when it will end? |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
Re: lea salonga....
No. Even the actors don't. |
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| Little_Fall_of_Rain |
I jsut saw Les Miserables tuesday night, and I have to say, I LOOOOOVED Lea so much more than Daphne. Her voice, acting, and even her body movements were perfect with timing. I cried about 5 times during the show, and usually it was because of Fantine.
I don't think the show will be closing anytime soon. They just recast several roles, Norm Lewis (Javert and my personal favorite of the whole show!) will be replaced by Ben Davis. Celia (Eponine) by Mandy Bruno. Jenny (Mme. T) by Ann Harada and Aaron (Enjolras) by Max Von Essen. Source: http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=16837 Norm Lewis will soon be opening the first adaptation of The Little Mermaid on Broadway, as King Tritan. |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=56984 |