The Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part Four- Page 45
The Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part Four
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1100
Posted: 9/12/08 at 8:04pm
OT - but you're confusing me with someone else because I have never been caught making any comments about CHICAGO much less calling it the cradle of anything.
I am not suggesting that Piven and Moss aren't going to do well - in fact Piven seems to be successfully playing a similar role in ENTOURAGE, and I am already a fan of Moss based on her multi-layered performances in MAD MEN. But the Broadway debut issue is so much more complex when it is a 2/3rds of the cast of three than some significant proportion of a larger cast as was the case in COMPANY.
And one more time and I'll stop - this isn't about Raul. For me it is really about Mamet. No one hopes more than I do that this is a success for all three actors (and the producers, God love them).
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1101
Posted: 9/12/08 at 8:28pm
Really? 'Cause the search feature generally doesn't lie:
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four - keen on kean Aug 26, 04:34 PM
So Jeremy and Raul both got started in Chicago - the new cradle of civilization.... [more]
(I meant Chicago the city, not the musical.)
How is suggesting that actors making their Broadway debuts aren't good enough to handle the material "not suggesting [they] aren't going to do well"? So it's two thirds of a cast making their Broadway debuts as opposed to handful in a fourteen person musical company. Unintended. But really, if you're implying that performers who have never done Broadway before shouldn't be trusted with the work of a master like Mamet (which I'm sure you'll tell me you're not)... well, what's Sondheim? Chopped liver? Why should it be okay for Company but not for Speed-the-Plow? If it's truly about the proportion, then I see your point, but I still have to disagree. Just because this is the Broadway debut for both of them doesn't mean they can't handle it. I just think it's kind of an insult -- you're basically saying that if it's a handful of people in a bigger show, it's okay, because they can ride on other people's backs and hide behind those who will carry their inadequate performances. But in a smaller show where they're more exposed and can't hide behind an ensemble, it's a problem because having not done Broadway before, they aren't good enough for it.
What I don't understand about your argument is that... you seem to be saying if they've never done Broadway before, they aren't good enough for it. But how would they ever be ready, by that logic? It's like you're saying that if you've never been on Broadway, you obviously can't do it. Everyone who's ever been on Broadway was once at a point where they hadn't been. So how is it remotely logical to insinuate that just because they have never been on Broadway, they shouldn't be in this show? How would we ever get new blood if actors yet who hadn't done Broadway were dismissed because of that fact? Celebrity aside here, I think that's an incredibly narrow viewpoint. These are two well-regarded actors with pretty strong followings. Not having done Broadway before changes the type of experience they have. It doesn't mean they aren't experienced enough.
I have a lot of optimism about this one. Mamet isn't even my personal cup of tea, but I think it's going to be great. Mamet founded the Atlantic, and Neil Pepe is the artistic director, so I trust the play is in good hands there, and I'm confident in the cast. I don't say that a lot about television and film actors. But this casting seems like it was done with the right ideas in mind.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1102
Posted: 9/12/08 at 8:32pm
Quick fly-by *hug* for Em (this is DG, in case you don't know yet 
)
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1103
Posted: 9/12/08 at 8:38pmHi! No, it seems I've missed a memo. I'll PM you.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1104
Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:50amI think it's kind of ridiculous to suggest that an award-winning actor with stage experience isn't good enough for Speed-the-Plow when Madonna was in the original Broadway cast.
Wanting life but never knowing how
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1105
Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:50am
Broadway.tv feature of the press gang-bang at the first day of rehearsals of STP.
"I like the language, I like the kick-ass nature of Mamet’s writing….getting to do something where you get to throw your balls up against the wall….I like that."
LOL Raul!!
Speed-The-Plow starts rehearsals
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1106
Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:10pm
I'm not sure if we've seen all of these Meet & Greet pics yet:
http://photo.wenn.com/index.php?ref=speed%20the%20plow%20090908&version=int
I especially like this one, lol.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1107
Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:53pmSpeed-the-Plow marquee is up at the theatre - looks great.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1108
Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:06pm
My good friend in NYC is excited as Raul is supposed to be one of the guests/speakers at one of their yearly concierge awards ceremonies.
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The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1109
Posted: 9/15/08 at 7:26pmHe's got a little Robin Williams thing going on in that photo.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1110
Posted: 9/15/08 at 8:20pm
Haha, someone looks like he needs caffeine.
Yay for the marquee. I'm never in that area anymore lately. I happened to be a couple of times last week, so I popped by to see if it was up, but it wasn't yet.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1112
Posted: 9/16/08 at 8:39pm
Holy toledo! Raúl is opening (sort of) for Barbra Streisand!
Hollywood buzzing over Obama fundraiser
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/27/04
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1113
Posted: 9/16/08 at 11:50pmThat's exciting!!
Wishes come true, not free.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1115
Posted: 9/17/08 at 12:39amCan anyone see the eaten posts?
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1116
Posted: 9/17/08 at 12:46amno....?
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1117
Posted: 9/17/08 at 11:02am
Apparently Raúl sang "America The Beautiful" at the Obama fundraiser in Beverly Hills last night.
Barbra Streisand sings support for Obama
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1118
Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:22pmAw, I want to hear that.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1119
Posted: 9/17/08 at 6:50pm
Additional note - Raul didn't just sing "America The Beautiful", apparently he sang it acapella.
Do you know how hard that is??
*dies*
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1120
Posted: 9/17/08 at 7:06pmWhoa, I want to hear him sing acapella.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1121
Posted: 9/17/08 at 10:57pmAnd at the Westport Theatre benefit Monday night, Raúl sang "Guido's Song" from "Nine".
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1122
Posted: 9/18/08 at 6:45amAcapella as in a group of singers each singing parts? Or just him solo unaccompanied?
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1123
Posted: 9/18/08 at 8:12amIt's without instrumental accompaniment.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1124
Posted: 9/18/08 at 8:32amIf only one of them Hollywood A-listers was into recording shows. Can you imagine, let's call Dustin Hoffman, he may have the master :)
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1125
Posted: 9/18/08 at 11:41am
Acapella as in him solo unaccompanied. Just Raul, a bare stage, a microphone, and a spotlight. And then...his voice.
The Raúl E. Esparza 'Spread The Love' Thread, Part Four#1126
Posted: 9/18/08 at 9:02pmThe marquee is so completely epic, you guys. I didn't have my camera on me today, but I will try to take and post some pictures next time I'm in the area, which will probably be in a few days.
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