LITTLE FISH, what did you see her in? how sad she left PIPPIN at Bayside. i hope it was for something really terrific---like maybe a new role?
any news of her in OPPOSITE OF SEX THE MUSICAL? is that show coming in to NYC or not?!?!?
Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys.
"I guarantee that we'll have tough
times. I guarantee that at some point
one or both of us will want to get out.
But I also guarantee that if I don't
ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for
the rest of my life..."
I had to go to page four to find this thread? No way! BUMP!
Well, now that we officially know she isn't playing Mrs.Lovett, what IS she doing next?
By the way, I was lucky enough to catch the final performance of the Ziemba/Garrison I DO, I DO, and it was perfection. Mary Martin and Robert Preston might have been living legends, but the new recording, with the great two-piano arrangements, is wonderful!
I saw Karen in "And The World Goes 'Round," then went to see "Crazy for You" with Jodi Benson. My friend and I said to each other "Karen Ziemba should be starring in Crazy for You." A week later, we were at "Five Guys Names Moe" and Karen was there with her husband. So we went up to her and said "you were AMAZING in And the World Goes 'Round, but you should be starring in Crazy For You." It wasn't too long after that she mounted the West Coast production (it was probably already in the works, but she couldn't mention it). Given her history with Susan Stroman, I'm surprised she wasn't selected to originate the role of Polly ANYWAY!!!
The original casting of Polly came down to Jodi and Karen - Mike Ockrent chose Jodi. A few years later, the casting of the female lead in "big - the musical" came down to Karen and Crista Moore. Mike Ockrent chose Crista. Not to speak ill of the departed, but Mr. Ockrent made the wrong choice both times.
Although I don't think castin Karen would have saved the awful "big - the musical"!
I went back to see Karen when she was in "Crazy for You" on Broadway, and she was stunning. The effortless dance, the GORGEOUS vocal interpretation of Gershwin, the acting, the charm . . . . need I say more? The role SHOULD have been hers from the start.
I saw Benson as well - couldn't stand her. I wish I had seen Karen. But Hanna, your description of her in the role certainly sounds more than accurate!
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
I WISH I would have seen her in "Chicago" with Bebe. I'm sure it was wonderful to see the Best Actress Tony winner performing with the one who SHOULD have won (in my opinion).
EDIT: And I know a lot of people have talked about how Karen's voice has improved, but wasn't she on the roster for a while with the NYC Opera (e.g., 110 In The Shade)?
I saw her in CHICAGO but unfortunately Bebe wasn't in for that performance. Seeing them on the Leading Ladies DVD - with the obvious joy they get from performing together - makes me all the more regretful that I didn't see them both.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Jon -- you are SO right. Everything I've seen Karen in, she's amazing. She was able to FILL City Opera with a presence that you don't normally see from Opera singers. Steel Pier was a Tony winning performance -- I was just floored by what she did up there (aside from the flaws with the work, HER efforts stunning). And The World Goes 'Round is such an incredibly crafted work celebrating Kander and Ebb and everyone associated with that production was top-knotch.
It was through a comment on the main board by Rath that made me look for this off-topic thread. Since Karen wasn't getting love (and I was remiss in my duties), I decided to bump her up. She's gotten my love on the main board MANY times.
It's almost impossible for me nOT to appreciate her, because every time I enter my house, I walk past her picture on the CONTACT poster hanging in my dining room.
I got it from a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS auction on Ebay - it cost me nearly a hundred bucks - plus another 50 to frame it. It's a rare poster, from when the show first played at the Mitzi Newhouse. It's two sided - one side has Deborah Yates and Boyd Gaines, and the other side has Karen with David McGillivray, who played the waiter she danced with. The side with Karen and David is autographed by the entire cast. The photos were obviously taken before the show opened. Karen and Deborah aren't in ther real costumes - Karen is in a blue dress and Deborah is in a yellow dress - but they are not THE blue and yellow dreses.