can gastayer sing it? chicago casting of Wicked- Page 2

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:18am

Congratulations to three time Jeff Award winner Gene Weygandt who will play the Wizard. Also, Steppenwolf member Rondi Reed will play Madame Morrible!

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:25am

I disagree that Hugh Jackman was stunt casting. Hugh has a decent amount of stage roles under his belt. That fact that he became a major movie star who returned to the stage is not stunt casting in my opinion.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:27am

i heart hugh..HE is damn good...people who think not I think are just not giving him a chance!

[sfs1414]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:53am

I saw here in Funny Girl in Pittsburg. She sang very well. Very nasally at some parts. But it worked.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:09am

but can she do Elphaba?

[Tom1071]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:30am

Someone obviously thinks she can do it. She had to audition, I'm sure they didn't just give it to her. As far as it being stunt casting. It's not like she is that huge of a name.

She will probably be feirce and then people will be like, "Ana is life!"
Updated On: 3/24/05 at 11:30 AM

[PerhapsACreamPuff]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:36am

I'd say she's a big enough name for stunt casting. SNL personalities are fairly well known in the US and a lot of them go on to gain even more recognition. Obviously she had to audition, and I'm sure she has a solid voice, but I wouldn't be surprised if she edged out someone who was slightly better qualified just for the name.

Whether or not she's good, it's still going to be hilarious seeing all the 14 year old girls adding "OMG ANA GASTEYERRRRRR!!!11!!1OMG" to their gushing agenda.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:46am

I would define stunt casting as hiring someone famous from TV, films, or recording (but lacking a strong theatrical background) simply because their name will sell tickets. Melanie Griffith and Drew Lachey are examples of stunt casting. It is most unfair to include Hugh Jackman in this list. He had proven himself to be not only a stage actor but an accomplished muscial theater leading man prior to his Broadway appearances. From Playbill: "Hugh last appeared on the New York stage starring opposite Audra McDonald in a concert production of Carousel at Carnegie Hall. Other stage appearances include Curly in Oklahoma! at Britain's National Theatre (Olivier Award nomination), Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (MO Award - Australia's Tony Award) and Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (MO Award nomination)." I would hardly call someone who had had three award nominated leading roles in major musical theater productions an example of "stunt casting."

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:01pm

tell me that boy from oz would have sold any tickets without hugh and ill agree. regardless of how good he was, or what he had done in the past- he was cast becase of his name and because it sold tickets. I think his name was bigger than the boy from oz font. granted- hugh was AMAZING, and totally well deserving of the part, but come on- you can't tell me he wasnt a shell in because of his movie fame too.

I think that when a celebrity (outside of the theatre world) is cast in a role and them playing the role is the focus of the advertising- the producers are in a stunt casting mindset.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:06pm

I had the pleasure of seeing Gastayer in "The Vagina Monologues" a few seasons ago. She is a fine actress. As for her singing, many of her best SNL sketches were built around her vocal abilities. I believe there is a "legit" voice there. She had the guts to do Fanny in "Funny Girl" and we all know what a treacherous course that is to navigate. I have tix for the show in Chicago prior to Gastayer taking on the role, but am already making plans for a return trip to see her. I too think she will surprise a lot of people.

[PerhapsACreamPuff]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:07pm

Another component of stunt casting, though, is that without the Hollywood name, the actor would never get the role. Joey Fatone would have been turned down if he auditioned for Mark and had never been in Backstreet Boys. If Hugh had never done X Men and whatever other big hollywood films, I have virtually no doubt that he still would have played Peter Allen and not that they would have brought in some big name movie star instead.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:10pm

I sure he could have landed the the part, but the show would never have opened without hugh. (stunt casting) Boy from oz had more problems than a therapy session with liza minelli.

for instance- i watched it thinking, who stole the scenery? where did it go? or where is peter allen's chorus. A true peter allen show would have a huge chorus of dancing girls (and boys) its sad to see a huge song about wanting to be a rocket done with 6 girls. (and mirrors to try to mask it?- please) If the producers hadnt shelled out so much money paying hugh's sallary, im sure that they could have affrorded the much needed set and chorus.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:10 PM

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:18pm

This board is obsessed with "Stunt Casting." First, no one seems to be able to spell Anna Whats-her-faces name. Can we agree that the very definition of stunt casting include the fact that most people can spell the "superstar's" name? Second, go out on the street right now and ask 100 people "who is Anna Gasteyer?" What's the percentage who can identify her? 3%? 4% That would be generous I'd say. The Producers of this show are betting $10,000,000 on this production. They are not going to cast someone who can not play the part. I will predict right now: If they are 1 week into rehearsals and she hits a wrong note, she will be recast. This is a tremendous undertaking here in Chicago. They will NOT allow a secoond rate performance.

And finally, Perhaps a Cream Puff, you may never post on this board again. Really. Joey Fatone was never in Backstreet Boys. Got that? Never. In. Backstreet. Boys. Go look it up.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:22pm

Actually, with her look and demeanor, she may give us something closer to the MaGuire Elphaba. A strong face, and a bit of edge that oddly enough pays homage to the Margaret Hamilton character MaGuire's book makes no bones about that sort of 'look' -- so that her emerging as a witch felt plausible. She was never a typical heroine, or a 'babe.' -- Idina, wonderful as she was, is a babe. Gasteyer will be a commanding presence, no? As for her age, she's probably not way older than Menzel (5 years?) And the role might benefit from some well used comic energy.

And maybe it's just my taste, but since she's striking but not pretty,' she'll contrast even better with Glinda. AND: doesn't it make the late-bloming romance with more typical Fiyero more poignant? Kinda of Fanny/Nicky's it, which helps, to me. He will fall for this woman because of who she is.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:22 PM

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:23pm

I wish Ms Gasteyer luck! :)

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:37pm

i want to say that, by in no means am i employing the idea that Anna can't sing and act the part, i actually think she can... i just cant remember how well she sings. For me that's a totally different issue than stunt casting.....I actually believe in stunt casting, on certain terms.

[JC14]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:47pm

Since we're being picky...it's Ana Gastayer.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:51pm

Sorry

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:54pm

"Since we're being picky...it's Ana Gastayer."

Actually, it's Ana Gasteyer, unless IMDB and IBDB are wrong.

On the subject of casting, I read in today's paper that local actress Heidi Kettenring has been cast as Nessarose.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 1:15pm

I'm sure she'll be great. She has a lot of power and I thnk will act it well. I think being older will give us a different take on the role. I would not be surprised at all to see her move to the Gershwin when Shoshana leaves. She is well known in NY.

[PerhapsACreamPuff]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 3:23pm

Perhaps a Cream Puff, you may never post on this board again. Really. Joey Fatone was never in Backstreet Boys. Got that? Never. In. Backstreet. Boys. Go look it up.


Er, NSync, whatever, sorry but the idea's the same.

Posted: 3/24/05 at 3:27pm

"Er, NSync, whatever, sorry but the idea's the same."

It's like saying that Stephen Sondheim sucks since he wrote Cats.

[PerhapsACreamPuff]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 3:36pm

No, I didn't say Joey sucked. I said he was given special consideration because of NSync. If Joey Fatone had come in and auditioned for Mark without any prior fame, there would have been a much slimmer chance of him getting the part than if he came in with a big name when they wanted to pull in bigger crowds. Whether or not he actually performed the part acceptably is a different issue.

[Di2]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 3:49pm

you guys are f*cking HILARIOUS!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 3:52pm

Casting Joey McIntyre in Wicked was possiblity the worst stunt-casting ever. I have my doubts about Ana, but hopefully she'll prove me wrong.