The Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part Four — Page 116

Ok, this is getting sort of silly -- so before we run into "the audio isn't very clear!" or whatever it's going to be, this is from the Tony nominees press thing in 2007. It's a little clearer. Raul's piece is at about 1:06. It hurts my heart a little to go back there and listen to this, but if you haven't heard it before, it's a a really nice, concise summary of the ideas driving the production, which is why I've held onto it. But he also introduces himself for the audio.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=A2APB3DN

lol, Seth. He's always so emphatic when he says "Raul." RA. OOL! (Double lol at "O'Skitz.")

Also, Raul isn't actually in this, but it might be of interest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBD82B5p_Fk&feature=player_embedded

---

Updated On: 7/9/10 at 03:50 PM

From the Miami Herald's review of "Babalu":


The Miami-raised Esparza, as the opening-night crowd's thunderous reactions made clear, is the show's true star, and not because he sings "Cuban Pete", "Granada", "Cuban Cabbie", "Babalu" and other songs associated with Arnaz. This is a Broadway leading man at the top of his game, an intensely dramatic singer making his first return to a hometown stage since he became a regular Tony Award contender. Soon to return to Broadway as the lead in the new Alan Menken musical "Leap of Faith", Esparza infuses his "Babalu" numbers with sexiness, impishness, blazing theatricality. Watching him work is, as Broadway audiences have long known, thrilling.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/09/1723457/review-desi-arnaz-tribute-babalu.html#ixzz0tE1GBPf9

---

Lovely! If anybody wants to save the video for any of a variety of reasons, I've uploaded it here:
Miami Herald Interview

---

Well, it's awkward and odd, but those kinds of things are pretty par for the course with a lot of Spanish talk shows. Lots of skits that are very silly and over the top, and probably uncomfortable if you're just being tossed into them. But he was clearly laughing about it by the end.

I watched the show when it aired on t.v., and really enjoyed it.

---

Thanks, now I want to go watch my I Love Lucy DVD's. I only have the first season, though, so no Little Ricky.

---

Yeah, the early ones are the best.

Meh, they finally posted these, but there's only one other (unflattering) photo of Raul, and none of him performing, which is really what I cared about.

https://florida.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_Opening_Night_at_BABALU_with_Esparza_Arnaz_20100713

---

Updated On: 7/14/10 at 10:52 AM

Here it is.



That's "Cuban Cabby," I believe.

---

Updated On: 7/14/10 at 02:28 PM

Listening to native speakers of any language (Raul's first language is Spanish) when you aren't one yourself can often make it seem like they're speaking very fast, when often, it's actually no faster than we do in everyday English. It's usually just an illusion. And if someone didn't know English, our speech in daily life would sound very fast to them, too.

---

Updated On: 7/14/10 at 06:55 PM

Bad boy suits you, RE.

---

But wearing that cross nonetheless...

"little"????

---

I knew about it a while ago, but not by way of anything official. I'm pretty sure it's in his updated bio?

---

Updated On: 7/15/10 at 11:04 AM