The Official Greg Jbara Love Thread PART 2!!!!- Page 431

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 12:15pm

today for me no English class since today is a holiday too... ugh. I love my English class. Last time I got a smiley for my informal letter I have to write to someone...and my teacher said: "it is offical Annie, you became an american!" It was so cool.

And okay, my love list (not in order - and just the singing actors).
Male: John Lithgow, Raúl Esperanza, Matt Morrison, Marc Kudish, Norbert Leo Butz, Gavin Creel, The producer's male singers, Daniel Davis, David Ayers, Greg Jbara (haha, I almost left out the best!), Douglas Sills, Terrence Mann, Brian D'arcy James (the best), Brian Stokes Mitchell, Patrick Wilson...etc.

Female: Sherie, Joanna, Sutton, Kristin Cheno, Julia Murney, Kelly O'hara, Liz Calloway, Chitty's ladies...

These are the "must"s.

[Traci]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 12:29pm

Panda: WoW. Sounds like an amazing night you had. I cannot wait to see those pictures.

Annie: You'll love Adam when you see the RENT movie. I had always been a fan of his voice from listening to the RENT and Aida OBCR's, but it wasn't till I saw him perform in Cabaret did I really fall in love with him. Plus, he's a total sweetheart to boot.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 12:55pm

Well that's a decent list Annie. Couple others from last night you should add, but hopefully you'll get more familiar w/ the RENT Movie. Here's mine:

Male: Gerard Butler(he sings in a movie...), Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Norbert Leo Butz, Matt Morrison, Greg Jbara, John Tartaglia, Michael Ball, Scott Porter(he's in altar boyz and gorgeous!!!(well how much of this is talent and looks? I can't help myself!)...ummm...Jose Llana, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Panaro, Larry Kert(okay he's dead but listening to him on the West Side Story OBC...wow), after last night Raul has gotta be up there I suppose...

Female: Idina Menzel, Rachel York, Sherie, Joanna, Daphne Ruben Vega, Traci Thoms, Julia Murney I'm starting to adore for vocal quality, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Charlotte D'amboise(you gotta see her dancing to truly appreciate her), Liza Minelli, Rachelle Rak, Sara Gettelfinger, Laura Marie Duncan, Jenn Gambatese, Ruthie Hensall, Lea Salonga, Julie Andrews(duh).. Sarah Ramirez(fence hopping!)

okay, I have a lot of loves, what can I tell you? Anyone not too familliar or want more info or recommendations on anyone, feel free to ask!

Traci, you've seen the other pics right?

Updated On: 11/1/05 at 12:55 PM

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:10pm

last night there was a movie on HBO (some sci-fi) I don't really know... my sis came to my room after seeing it and she just looked at your avatar Amanda and she was like "oh, I have just seen him in a movie, he was gorgeous". So Gerard has a new fan!

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:21pm

hey girls!!

ok so can someone do me a favor? according to the original broadway cast, what actor plays what part? i don't know..i just know who the actors are, and who the parts are, but i can't put them together quite yet. i know who norb played, cuz i saw him as that. but yeah...that would be great! thanks!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:23pm

Yaay Annie's sister. Ahem, shouldn't my Gerry have *two* new fans?

Ali sure I'll do you that favor...but umm, what original broadway cast are we talking about?

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:26pm

lol. Well I haven't seen the movie, only my sis...but I will watch the rerun I promise...

Yes I was about to ask too? What cast recording?

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:29pm

oh wow..i'm retarded! lol rent...rent original broadway cast...wow. lol sorry about that..

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:31pm

lol.
that's not my table...I haven't got it.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:31pm

I'm still confused, Norb wasn't in the OBC he was the first roger replacement...

Updated On: 11/1/05 at 02:31 PM

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:38pm

if we solve Ali's problem/question...lol, I have one too?

What is exactly the story in Sweeney? I know only the plot: the barber killes people and the woman has a restaurant or what where I guess she serves the "meat". Is it a comedy? Etc. Thanks.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:46pm

Okay...Rent OBC, first Norb explanation

He wasn't in the off-broadway production of Rent, but he was in the OBC as a swing and a Roger understudy, and he did replace Adam. But he didn't actually have a "part" in the cast and as a swing he cannot be heard on the CD. But original cast(just realized this is the original cast of the off-bway run so Norbert isn't included...obviously the leads are the same, there may have been one or two different ensemble members when it opened on Broadway):

Anthony Rapp-Mark Cohen
Adam Pascal-Roger Davis
Taye Diggs-Benjamin Coffin III
Jesse L. Martin-Tom Collins
Wilson Jermaine Heredia-Angel Shunard
Fredi Walker-Joanne Jefferson
Daphne Ruben Vega-Mimi Marquez
Idina Menzel-Maureen Johnson
Gillas Chiasson-Steve, man with squeegee, a waiter, and others
Rodney Hicks-Paul, a cop, and others
Kristin Lee Kelly-Mark's Mom, Alison, and others
Aiko Nakisone-Alexi Darling, Roger's Mom and others
Timothy Britten Parker-Gordon, the man, Mr. Grey, and others
Gwen Stewart-Seasons of Love soloist, Mrs. Jefferson, woman w/ bags, and others
Byron Utley-Christmas caroler, Mr. Jefferson, a pastor, and others

Swings: Yassmin Alers(Karmine's sister!), Darius de Haas, Shelley Dickinson, David Driver, Mark Setlock, Simone

Ali, not that I mind but your information:

www.ibdb.com

Internet Broadway Data Base, type in Rent, that's how I got this info

Hmm, lotsa Sweeney fans on here and I post too much, I'll let someone else answer Annie's question.

Updated On: 11/1/05 at 02:46 PM

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:51pm

OMG, that is sooo cool! DRS will open on West End next summer! don't get me wrong...I want to go to NY.

Our plan "A" and "B" is that we go to NY...but our plan "C" is west end if we can't get the visa.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 3:12pm

Oh annie say it ain't so don't forsake us...

And Sweeney Synopsis...
http://www.mtishows.com/show_plot.asp?ID=000075

I started to write one but go bored of writing halfway through...

The show has many comedic elements but its primarily a drama...Sondheim intended it to be a social commentary amongst the inequality of the different social classes, focuses on the plight of the common man...well ya know the plight of the common demon barber...

You can actually get the original production on video which is really wunderbar, and if that wasn't amazing enough,they also taped the concert version with Lupone and Hearn as Lovett and Sweeney...

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 3:20pm

OK THANKS!!

and with the norb thing, i meant that when i saw it, he was in it so i knew what part he did play, but i knew he wasn't in the OBC...but yeah. thanks again! now i can listen to it and it will make sense

[cserannie]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 3:22pm

thanks

ok, I am getting ready for tomorrow's cam day. I'm off to sleep! lol.
'nite.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 3:29pm

Heh, kinda thought you might reply Cat. For Annie or anyone interested on the "another review of sweeney thread" I asked specifically to explain the social commentary, and I got a really fascinating response, glad I asked.

Ali-ENJOY RENT! It's amazing, cast is amazing, and you'll hear voices of ppl I talk about in stories

I def recommend the Lansbury/Hearn tape...though I now realize it's a whole different experience seeing it live...when I saw the tape I was like okay this is pretty good, but why such the hype? and now I still don't worship it as the best show ever(honor belongs to West Side Story), but now I certainly appreciate it much more. And Hearn and Lansbury give great performances.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 3:56pm

Wow ali how old were you when you saw Rent, wasn't he in it in like '98...

I don't "worship Sweeney as the best show ever", but I tend to enjoy sondheim muchly, not sure why...I also saw Sweeney done by my highschool...and they did an amazing job...And of course its the first Sondheim show I've ever seen on Broadway...

And Cerveris and Lupone...can't get better than that...Although come to think of it, I think the much lauded Raul would be unbelievable in the role...

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 4:06pm

he was actually in it in 96...i was 9..lol i dunno why my parents brought me to go see that, but whatever..thats when my love for norb started i don't really remember it, but apparently i LOVED him and i wouldn't stop talking about him. weird. lol

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 4:23pm

Ali, you probably saw him when he went on for Adam if it was '96 as an understudy.

Cat, sorry, I didn't mean to like..."diss" the show or the show's fans at all. I guess w/ me it's kinda like how people feel about Wicked fans, I sometimes feel about Sweeney/Sondheim fans...I really like Into the Woods and now I really like Sweeney as well, but I fell asleep 3 times trying to watch Sunday in the Park, fell asleep watching the Passion concert(and there were great performances, etc) I certainly acknowledge that these are(probably for ones I haven't seen) great musicals and deserve recognition, but...I dunno I wish ppl would give more credit to other composers/works as well...like when asked who your fav composer is a "true" theater fan should say Sondheim w/o a doubt.

Like I said, I saw less of the big deal w/ Sweeney seeing it on tape, but I did walk away from this thinking amazing amazing amazing, partially the show, partially the instruments. And I'm learning more about and appreciating the show, but I just mean I'm never gonna be one of those ppl that says Sweeney is the best or Sondheim is my fav composer, that's all.

Ooh, that's awesome that your HS did it--it's one of the top 5 pit/scores I'd love to be in/play. (Has an all clarinet book hehe).

Hmm...Raul as Sweeney...good call.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 4:45pm

I think its a misconception or stereotype that sondheim fans dont apprecate other composers,it doesn't even really make sense,one doesn't have to like Sondheim to the exclusion of all other composers...le sigh...

And Sondheim wrote the lyrcics to West Side Story!!

Haha you're turning me into a crazy Sondheim defender when Im just a fan who casually enjoys his work...

Updated On: 11/1/05 at 04:45 PM

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 5:48pm

Hey all.

School was stressful.

I ate too much lunch, and feel like a pig.

I don't want to go to rehearsal with my mom tonight.

And how are the rest of you?

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 6:11pm

i'm pretty sure i saw him as roger..hes in the playbill i have as roger...whatev.
hey any chance amanda you can post that site that you found the pictures from the other night? that gettyimages.com or whatever? i can't find them on there...

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 6:23pm

Okay first off...Sondheim wrote SOME lyrics to WSS, I can't say how much. What actually happened is he and Bernstein collaborated on the lyrics, and it was initially released with lyrics by both, but for some reason, Sondheim was left off and most ppl just wrote lyrics by Bernstein, so Bernstein wanted Sondheim to get notice, and graciously took his name out of lyrics so now it strictly says lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Not that I'm discrediting Sondheim, WSS is my fav musical...the choreography and score go far behind what I personally feel any musical was ever able to accomplish...those are its two strongest parts, but obviously I do love and feel that book and lyrics are very strong too.

But after stopping to think for a bit, I think I found exactly what I want to say. Sondheim is certainly great, I will agree with that...just sometimes I get a little sick of constantly hearing how great he is, that's all...not to the expense of other composers or anything, just...yeah. He has a lot of fans and it's understandable and I'm not asking anyone to stop saying he's great, just that's personally how I sometimes feel.

But...if you wanna discuss Sondheim-Into the Woods! I loove that show, Joanna and Bernadette were great, I mean what a concept, the first act alone is hilarious taking all the different stories, and then what it's turned into the second act, essentially asking do we really want a happily ever after? and some great songs like No One Is Alone. And though I wouldn't call the score as amazing as I would West Side Story, Sweeney Todd or Les Miz(those also come from an instrumental perspective, those shows have lots more orch members than ITW but that's a part of it) the score fits the show perfectly. Not one song doesn't advance the plot, and they all have the same general sound but are all different.

Updated On: 11/1/05 at 06:23 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/1/05 at 6:30pm

Oh and stupid Halloweenie. Stupid ppl taking lots of pics and costumes which means really important photos like mine which don't contain costumes(well except for Daphne but she's awesome) get delayed and I won't get them till Friday.

Oh Ali, they have a bunch of AWESOME(after party) photos at broadway.com If you can't find it right off that page, the main board Costello thread has the link.