The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread- Page 208

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:30pm

If he's not, he's nuts.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:32pm

*nod*Completely wacko.
I mean, he has to know he's gorgeous, right?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:33pm

Well, if people got all quiet and jittery around YOU, what would you think?!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:34pm

Hm, I'm sure he knows people find him attractive. But, everyone has their days when they feel as though they look like total sh*t. I could do without so much red lipstick, though.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:34pm

Honestly? I would think they think I have cooties. Or something. I have low self-esteem.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:36pm

I usually have really good self esteem. I'm not really afraid to just go after what I want. But something about him just makes me really nervous. I just don't want him to think I'm a stupid little girl, I guess. I'm always afraid I'll do something he won't like.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:37pm

Exactly!

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:39pm

It's crazy, though. You know? Because he's so nice. Thats why I can't wait to just open up and talk with him at the end of this month. I just really need to get over myself and do it.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:40pm

I used to have REALLY low self-esteem. I was very self-conscious. But my self-esteem has greatly improved, and I'm no longer quite as self-conscious. yay for me!

I feel that way whenever I write letters to Broadway people. I don't want to sound like a fangirl freak, but I want them to know how much I love and appreciate their work. It's hard.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:42pm

I wrote Adam a really short note once, and I wrote Raul a *letter*. I had such a hard time balancing it correctly.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:43pm

I'm sure he really appreciated it, though. He seems like the type of guy that reads all of his letters and pays attention to them. Rather than just scanning over them.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:44pm

Oh, god. The very first letter I ever wrote was to Idina, and this was when I was obsessed, I mean OBSESSED, with Wicked. I shudder to think about what I said in that letter. I sent her another, saner one last October asking for a signed photo, and I got one, but I really hope she doesn't organize her letters by name, or something, and associate me with that crazy one. It was bad.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:45pm

Yeah, me too, g. I tried to make it personal and appreciative, yet sane and not over-emotional. I think he probably does read them. Part of me wants to think he wrote his extra little joke about chest hair because he was being nice after he read and liked my letter. heh.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:47pm

I'm sure that's exactly why he did it!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:54pm

I'm absolutely positive he reads them. I had met him quite a few times. And when I started getting more comfortable with him, I would go up to him shake his hand and say "Hi, my name is Anne Marie and I've met you several times." Then last year for his birthday, I wanted to do something special. But, I didn't really want to *give* him anything. I just wanted him to know how he had inspired me. So on a blank note card I wrote out a very short note thanking him, and saying I was blessed for his life, yadda yadda. It was an old black and white picture of Times Square, and I thought it was very fitting. You know, I could say Happy Birthday, without a card that said "Have a great one!" I just felt it was appropraite to tell him I was blessed for his life, you know, on his birthday. Anyways, I also included a picture of the two of us from the first time we met. It was taken after I saw Taboo. THEN, nearly a month later, I ran into him again. Actually, I had no idea he was gonna be at this particular event, so it was a total surprise. I went up to him, and introduced myself "Hi my name is..." and he stoped me mid sentance and said "I know. You are Anne Marie, and we've met a bunch of times." I'm convinced it was the card! He never made a connection with me until I had given him that card.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:56pm

There's just such a diference between "all my best" and "CHEST HAIR!" I love it!

That's sweet of him, Chrys. I think he really does take this all to heart, and it's impressive that he still does it while keeping his proper distance.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 11:03pm

He's so gracious. These are things he doesn't *have* to do. But he does them anyways. We are so fortunate to have someone that really takes the time to do what he can. He knows he's a role model and even if he doesn't want to be one, he's still always very encouraging. That's really important to me.

[angelic1]

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

Sorry, I have to do this for reasons Chrys knows:

Raúl Esparza is the most talented man I have ever seen. He is talent personified. I have seen him in almost all of his mainstream body of work in person and have been a fan for a long, long time. I am honored to have seen him, and will be eternally grateful that I was able to meet him. I wish him all the best and hope that many lovely roles that he will love to do come his way very soon. He's quite attractive, but that's just the packaging: his soul shines through when he performs. And it's a beautiful soul. I don't presume to know the man, but I know the characters he plays and the way he plays them...wonderful. I'm not alone in my feelings and respect, he is a brilliant actor and a seemingly brilliant and caring man. Here's hoping for future success and happiness, both rightly earned and deserved.

~~Ok, I'm not dying or leaving BWW, I just had a weird couple of hours and had to post that. You all can just read around it and keep talking about what you were talking about. Sorry, well not sorry, but you get what I mean. I swear I had to say this for internal-conflict reasons.

[greatdct]

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

He talks all the time about wanting to move people and wanting to be a part of a show that touches an audience. And so I think it really means a lot to him when his fans go out of their way to let him know that he has done just that. That his performance was moving. Especially in a show like Chitty where so little of the focus is on him. I just think that he really appreciates being told things like that. Probably more than he lets on.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 11:07pm

I think I get what you're getting at, angelic. And if I'm right, I understand.

I always want to do something for them for their birthdays. "Them." I mean, last year, I wanted to do something for Adam for his birthday, but I had no idea what to do. Or this year for Anthony... or, Raul. I mean, that's awkward.

[gavrochegirl]

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

Well, it is a little bit awkward. But it's also really nice, too. Giving is always fun.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 11:13pm

I absolutely agree.
He loves what he does. I think a true performer at heart performs to bless people. He talks about how he will never forget Peter Pan. I'm sure there has been many times when he's watched things and have just been so moved. And now, he's able to do the same thing. And I think that is why he performs. Not to say "oh look at me. Don't I look pretty." No. It's to say 'take from this what you will. But I've worked very hard on it, and I want it to bless you."

Michael Cerveris once said "It's the same kind of satisfaction, the same sense of accomplishment I felt opening on Broadway. Not look-at-me-aren't-I-cool-to-be-here, but I-made-it-from-the-crowd-to-the-stage-and-it-means-so-much-to-me. The watcher watched is still the watcher." I think that sums it up so beautifully.

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 11:13pm

i totally get what you mean ang. and i think that's exactly why we're here...i mean we all joke about kittens, and all that stuff, but i don't think any of us would hang around long if that's all we had to talk about. but i think we could all go on and on for hours about his talent, and his wonderful, wonderful presence both onstage and off, and i think that's what really sets him apart from someone who just "oh, has a nice voice" or "oh, she's really pretty." ya know? Like, i literally am moved by him just -thinking- about his performances....yes, i'm wierd like that.

and i do hope he takes to heart what we say about him to his face (or in a letter...you know what i mean.) not because i want him to know who i am because i wrote him a letter, or to seek me out or something, but because i think he deserves to know just how special he is. really, i do. i dunno, it's hard for me to put into words. and i think he deserves to know, not necessarily that he's fawned over, but that there are people out there who appreciate not only his talent, but his heart.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 11:14pm

Dang, I have to go to bed just when the conversation gets really interesting!
Ah well, good night!

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 11:18pm

I agree with all of you. Haha. No wonder we get along.

But I just feel so blessed and thankful that I have gotten the chances to see him perform live. Right before my eyes. Because THAT is what is so magical about him. That's the beauty... seeing his amazing talents unfold right in front of your face.