Right! I hate stunt-casting. Unknowns are usually 100x better. There are hundreds of black girls that can sing circles around Toni and Michelle. I'm not hating on Deborah. She is actually a good singer. I didn't see her in the role though. I saw Heather.
You must listen to the cast recording. I live in Atlanta, so I remember back when the show was "Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida." Do you remember hearing about the revolving pyramid. That was the main set piece and it didn't turn out to well. The show was completely restaged, along with the addition of Adam Pascal, in Chicago and that is the version that went to Broadway.
I heard the concept album once, and didn't like it. Granted I don't usually like concept albums with pop singers on them, except CIVIL WAR (and they were country singers, and I hate country. Go fig.). OMG, I love that cd.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
It was interesting. I was really surprised to hear the OBC after becoming used to the concept album. I do remember liking "Written in the Stars". Of course, Heather brought down the house with "Elaborate Lives".