Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
"Cynics say, "stunt casting." If a great dancer at the top of her game -- and in very the week she made ballet history -- lends her artistry to a show built almost entirely on dance, no matter the brevity of her run, the stunt is genius. "
Who is calling this stunt casting?
"I have no idea who she is. "
"If you're serious - you will know who she is very soon. Her career at ABT is finally on the rise."
Starcatchers, I'm kind of chuckling at your response. I'm not sure why anyone would be astounded that some readers here know little or nothing about ballet outside of Broadway. But stop and think. If someone doesn't know who Misty Copeland is, I'm willing to bet they won't have a clue what ABT stands for, so I'm not sure how much good your response did! LOL"
I think the astonishment is more because Copeland's profile has been unusually high for the past few weeks. Were that not the case, I wouldn't be surprised that someone couldn't name principal dancers at ABT.
""I have no idea who she is. "
"If you're serious - you will know who she is very soon. Her career at ABT is finally on the rise."
Starcatchers, I'm kind of chuckling at your response. I'm not sure why anyone would be astounded that some readers here know little or nothing about ballet outside of Broadway. But stop and think. If someone doesn't know who Misty Copeland is, I'm willing to bet they won't have a clue what ABT stands for, so I'm not sure how much good your response did! LOL"
I think the astonishment is more because Copeland's profile has been unusually high for the past few weeks. Were that not the case, I wouldn't be surprised that someone couldn't name principal dancers at ABT."
That was it. Sorry. I feel like I've been hearing her name fairly consistently from EVERYONE over the last couple of weeks.
Is it me or do her feet look like they're facing the wrong way?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
If you're buying tickets specifically to see Copeland, be aware that she is not doing all performances:
Copeland will appear only at the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening shows and the Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees. The show will also have a Saturday and Sunday evening performance during those weeks.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
I had no idea who she was until this morning. I follow Broadway. Really not into ballet or Opera. Those areas belong to my husband in our house.
And I agree with Mr Roxy. Putting a star ballerina in for 2 weeks during the slowest time on Broadway is kind of senseless.
Misty Copeland is on The View right this second if you are home and can turn it on.
Updated On: 7/6/15 at 11:39 AM
Ivy barely sings, so I don't know why they were asking her about her singing on The View. So Misty will only do a total of 12 shows for OTT?? At least their website is very clear she's only doing 12 performances.
That's a strange picture of her. She looks like a spanish/white lady. And then I read the article and she's Africa-American. Crazy. But she's gorgeous. I'd love to see her in the role.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
"That's a strange picture of her. She looks like a spanish/white lady. And then I read the article and she's Africa-American. Crazy. But she's gorgeous. I'd love to see her in the role."
She looks like she looks. The production isn't trying to white-wash her appearance or her race.
Updated On: 7/6/15 at 12:33 PM
Thanks Larry D2 for the info about which performances she will be doing. That info will definitely help me as I plan to see OTT again.
I initially became familiar with Misty from when she served as guest judge over several episodes of So You Think You Can Dance. I thought she was an excellent judge on that show.
She has a varied resume and I find her to be quite impressive.
Updated On: 7/6/15 at 12:39 PM
"Cynics say, "stunt casting." If a great dancer at the top of her game -- and in very the week she made ballet history -- lends her artistry to a show built almost entirely on dance, no matter the brevity of her run, the stunt is genius. "
Who is calling this stunt casting?
If there ever was a definition of stunt casting, this is it.
Yep, this is definitely stunt casting, but it's excellent stunt casting.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
When I think of stunt casting, my mind goes to Jerry Springer in Chicago or NeNe Leakes in Cinderella -- not an eminently-qualified dancer being cast in a dance role in a dance show.
She's a name being used for publicity, in the wake of high profile national news coverage. And she's only doing a set number of shows over only two weeks. It's a stunt, plain and simple.
I doubt they'll make a fortune with Copeland doing only 12 shows. But it would be nice to see that theater packed for once.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
She's a name being used for publicity, in the wake of high profile national news coverage.
From what I understand this was in the works well before her recent promotion was announced. She wasn't cast because of her recent achievement. That's just a bit of happenstance -- and sure, it's good publicity for the show. But this production obviously wants a trained dancer in the role and Copeland is certainly that.
Updated On: 7/6/15 at 01:07 PM
Yes obviously this has been in development since at least before she intro-ed On The Town's Tony performance. And the show's PR team waited until the earlier announcement this week to take advantage of it for their own publicity. This was probably all mapped out and planned months ago. Things like this aren't happenstance.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
This was probably all mapped out and planned months ago.
That would require them knowing that she was going to be promoted months ago -- and promotions are not decisions made months in advance.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
This site is not a big fan of Misty's. Not knowing much about ballet, I couldn't say anything about her abilities. I'm not wild about all the non-singers or not-primarily-singers starring in musicals but if this gives OTT a bump at the box office then I'm all for it.
Taz, you are right. They are facing the wrong way
Problem is that for 12 performances they have to keep pumping money into it to keep it running. What do they do after she leaves?
$10 bucks says this closes on Sept. 6.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/22/14
"This site is not a big fan of Misty's. Not knowing much about ballet, I couldn't say anything about her abilities. I'm not wild about all the non-singers or not-primarily-singers starring in musicals but if this gives OTT a bump at the box office then I'm all for it. "
It seems like that site has way more issues about life that go well beyond Misty Copeland and is using her as a tool to vent out those frustrations.
As to OTT finally getting a ballet superstar, well, I thought Megan Fairchild was a thrilling dancer who really knew how to act the part through dance.
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