The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, part two- Page 198

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:42am

Heh, I saw Brilliant Mistake live, and I was absolutely floored by God Give Me Strength. I was sitting about ten or fifteen rows back, and in person, from a decent distance, it truly was incredible. About a year later, I saw a video clip shot chest-up, and... I was frightened. It was the most overblown melodrama I have ever seen from him! Eek.

Anyway, news:

From Riedel's column in the NY Post:

* Raul Esparza, the star of "Company," will sing "Being Alive" on the Tony telecast. But he'll be performing without the rest of the cast members, who, in the revival, play all the musical instruments. Apparently, the producers of "Company" don't want to have to pay the other actors to appear on the Tonys. So they've asked Jonathan Tunick if they can use his original 1970 orchestrations for "Being Alive," which will be performed by the orchestra at Radio City Music Hall.

Updated On: 5/18/07 at 10:42 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:47am

I'm not pleased.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:53am

Me neeeeither.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:55am

Way for them to f*ck up the song I so wanted to see -- now I feel almost guilty for not having wished that they'd do an ensemble number.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:56am

This totally defeats the purpose.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:58am

well maybe his vocals will make it sound okay

? maybe?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:03am

I don't think we're upset about how it's going to sound -- the original orchestrations for Being Alive are beautiful -- but about the fact that the point of a Tony performance is to give a sample of what people would see on stage at the show. This isn't it, and it's also ANOTHER slap in the face to the lovely, brilliant, extremely talented Mary-Mitchell Campbell.

Updated On: 5/18/07 at 11:03 AM

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:05am

So. f*cked. up.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:11am

"I don't think we're upset about how it's going to sound -- the original orchestrations for Being Alive are beautiful -- but about the fact that the point of a Tony performance is to give a sample of what people would see on stage at the show. This isn't it, and it's also ANOTHER slap in the face to the lovely, brilliant, extremely talented Mary-Mitchell Campbell."


I agree
*edit* and it's because they don't want to pay them...?

Updated On: 5/18/07 at 11:11 AM

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:13am

I totally agree, Em.

Plus, can you imagine the conversation that went down with the rest of the cast:

"Gee guys, we really like you and all, we just don't want to pay you... Anyway, have a good show tonight!"

I have a feeling morale might be a little low at the Barrymore at the moment...

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:14am

Raul must feel awful about it - he seems so appreciative of and loyal to the ensemble cast.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:16am

He seems really aware that they LITERALLY are his support system. I'd be in awe of that kind of talent, too.

THIS IS CRAPPY.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:18am

I just....don't see the point of performing the song with Tunick's orchestrations! At the VERY least, isn't there some way that the orchestra could just use Mary-Mitchell Campbell's? That obviously doesn't make up for the fact that the cast gets totally shafted (and I feel terrible for them), but it's completely pointless to perform a form of a song that isn't even in your show.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:21am

It's like lying to the viewers!

Raul might as well just sing like, the alphabet. That's not in the show EITHER.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:28am

Well that sucks. The whole cast was wonderful to see in person.

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:31am

"Raul might as well just sing like, the alphabet. That's not in the show EITHER."

Hell, hand the man a phonebook to sing -- I'd still tune in. :)

[Clayford27]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:57am

That is SO lame! Way to not stay true to this production of Company at all! Ugh.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 12:47pm

They have to pay the actors to perform at the Tonys? Shouldn't it be, I dunno, an honor?

This kind of bad press could hurt his chances of winning.

Updated On: 5/18/07 at 12:47 PM

[MotorTink]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 1:04pm

That was my first thought Skittles. I guess it has to do with their contracts and all the union requirements, but hell I'd volunteer for free to perform on national television.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 8:09pm

Yeah, it's got to do with union rules regarding TV appearances.

I think this is going to look really bad, now that it got out, and could definitely harm their chances for best revival. But honestly, that show is pretty much f*cked anyway. It was the day the nominations came out. I'm trying to be ready so that a closing notice doesn't take me by surprise, but I've learned that you're never really "ready."

[misschung]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 11:40am

Well, I'm going tonight at 8, I am so excited!!!

I didnt want to risk it suddenly closing or something while I was away. Hopefully he won't call in sick today...

[Ariella]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 11:44am

All of this is so frustrating - it's just one factor or another that's always undermining Company. Did they ever consider that the decision itself might harm Tony chances?

Have fun tonight, Misschung. I hope the house is relatively full on a Saturday at least.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 2:32pm

thanks, I'm really excited.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 3:21pm

Did they ever consider that the decision itself might harm Tony chances?

If the philosophy is that awards won't really help the grosses anyway, maybe they think being too concerned with the chances is worth it. That's purely (negative) speculation, though.

Have a good time tonight, misschung. He has an excellent track record, I'm sure he'll be in.

Updated On: 5/19/07 at 03:21 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 3:38pm

thank you for the discount code :)