The Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part Four- Page 24

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:29pm

Thanks, Plum.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:29pm

"Yeah, keeping me away from my beloved Raul. Have you no shame sir!"

At least you don't have to be at a 8:30 AM production meeting.

Yes, 8:30 in the f^cking morning.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:30pm

It was nice to see "Soliloquy" acted and sung rather than just sung. Exceelent job, Raul! And "Tonight" was wonderful - nice to hear it sung by two performers who don't have to struggle with the range.

I saw Swoozie Kurtz and the other crazy sister (drawing a blank on her name, sorry!) from PUSHING DAISIES, so it must have been a regular DAISIES reunion backstage.

I thought the audience was kind of cold - I'm used to more responsive Broadway audiences!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:33pm

Eh, I thought it was adequate.

Ellen Green?

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:43pm

Just a couple of photos:

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:47pm

Updated On: 1/24/09 at 11:47 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:49pm

Heh, there was this woman standing near me who, as Raul was making his way down the line, kept telling this girl (who I assume was her daughter) things like, "take a picture of him! He's so cute!" and "oh my, he's so gorgeous!"

He was looking pretty good.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:51pm

He changed his outfit like three times. He started in a tux -- bowtie, suspenders, whole nine yards. Then for Being Alive... I don't know if it was the tux just minus the bowtie, etc., or if it was another suit. But white shirt, no tie. Very Bobby. And then when he came back again, he was in all black.

... Kristin didn't have any clothing changes.

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:52pm

Taking off the jacket made me flutter. Don't know why... It was just an unintentionally sexy movement.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:55pm

The suspenders were hot. =P

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:56pm

Suspenders are always hot. :P

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:00am

Couple more...

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:00am

Updated On: 1/24/09 at 12:00 AM

[misschung]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:52am

The whole thing was hot.

He's in great shape, and just...looks fantastic altogether. Great show - a very nice treat, and sort of a season wrap-up. Next stop: Leap of Faith!

ETA: I apologize for the blurriness, but just so you can sort of visualize the evening, lol.

Updated On: 5/21/08 at 12:52 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:23am

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:24am

Awww!!! THOSE PICS ARE GREAT!!! THANK YOU!!!

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:35am

Ooh! Thanks for those! I tried to fish out my camera during the curtain call, but I wasn't fast enough.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 8:13am

dizzy - I was in 2nd Tier Box 23. My neck hurts a bit but otherwise it was lovely view. But with my eyesight and the lighting during soliliqy, Raul looked like an angel glowing (white shirt/bright spot light) lol.

Em - Were you able to deliver the package?

[misschung]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 8:41am

lol, this sounds like the post-Philharmonic drug trade of 2008

[MotorTink]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 8:46am

haha, well come on, I had to be on something to explain Raul having a halo.....

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 9:58am

My friend and I were in First tier, box 20. I actually had borrowed my dad's ginormous field binoculars just in case, but I didn't really need them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:01am

Haha, it does sound like a drug trade.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:10pm

I had so much fun. I just recently played Joanne in a production of Company and I got our very young Bobby into Raul. He had watched the production on television, but never had seen Raul live. So I brought him along last night for his first experience and he was quite rightly, blown away.

My one complaint about the program, was after hearing him sing the song from Carousel, everything else kinda paled in comparison. That was REMARKABLE. They might shoulda saved it for last.

[spidey_882]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 6:51pm

Was there no press coverage of this event? I was hoping to see some professional photos from last night but I haven't seen it come up on any sites.

My Company DVD came today! It's a very Raul week for me. :)

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:19am

Very nice review of the Philharmonic concert in the New York Times today. Here are the important parts:

Singing the soliloquy from “Carousel,” Mr. Esparza became his character, Billy Bigelow, projecting a volatile mixture of bravado and insecurity as he contemplates parenthood. His dramatic force was enhanced by the timbre of his voice at the top of his register, where the rapid pulse of his vibrato signals a hotheaded temperament.

His rendition of “Being Alive,” from “Company,” sung with recorded bits of dialogue, narrowed in on the character of a troubled bachelor voicing successive moods of panic, petulance and defiance. As in the soliloquy, dramatic coherence overrode the impulse to show off musical chops that were already self-evident.

The two stars came together for “Anything You Can Do,” the vocal duel from “Annie Get Your Gun,” in which Ms. Chenoweth, the ultimate competitor, won handily. As long as Broadway produces performers of this caliber, these songs will continue to live.




Make It Proud and Loud, With Strings

Updated On: 5/22/08 at 11:19 AM