The Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part Four- Page 71

[jayfpinker]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 11:02pm

Just back from MISCAST 2009.
Early in the show, Raúl & Norbert Leo Butz sang Jaimie (Raúl) and Cathy(NLB)'s "The Next Ten Minutes,' ending with the "I Do's" and a great Kiss.

Next to last number of the evening had Raúl doing a Kick-Ass version of "The Man Who Got Away," with Garland's choreography and hand movements. NOT Camp at all. Killer!
I hope it shows up on-line SOMEWHERE!
Updated On: 3/9/09 at 11:02 PM

[jayfpinker]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 11:12pm

The full Line-Up of MISCAST 2009 was:

1. Robin de Jesús singing "It Won't Be Long Now" from In The Heights.
2. Steven Pasquale singing "Maybe" from ANNIE.
3. Alice Ripley and Kelli O'Hara doing "It's a Hard Knock Life" from ANNIE.
4. Aaron Tveit singing "Back to Before" from Ragtime.
5. Raúl & NLB's "The Next Ten Minutes" from The Last Five Years.
6. Kelli O'Hara singing "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific.
7. Daniel Breaker singing "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde.
8. Steven Pasquale singing "Free At Last" from Big River.
9. Alice Ripley singing "Epiphany/We All Deserve To Die" from Sweeney Todd. WOW!!!
10. Norbert Leo Butz & Aaron Tveit singing "What Is This Feeling?" from WICKED. (Included a Fiyero "White Pants" Butt wiggle contest!)
11. Raúl Esparza singing "The Man That Got Away" from A Star is Born.
12. Beth Leaval finished the evening with "I Am What I Am" from La Cage aux Folles.

Terrific evening.
Updated On: 3/9/09 at 11:12 PM

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:12am

Pic from the arrivals tonight:

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:19am

Seeing Raul sing something from L5Y was a DREAM.

What a fun night! I would definitely go again.

[misschung]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 11:31am

11. Raúl Esparza singing "The Man That Got Away" from A Star is Born.

Oh my God....

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 11:32am

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know the song, but he sounded beautiful!

They had a projection backdrop that showed the actors' headshots, and then said their name and the role they were "playing." I enjoyed that Raul was playing Esther on Purim.

Updated On: 3/10/09 at 11:32 AM

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 11:53am

The program lists the songs alphabetically without saying who will perform them, but I just knew that had to be a Raul performance! Emcee - you have to rent the DVD of STAR IS BORN and see how Raul channeled Judy Garland, especially the right arm extended over his head with the palm up. That became a characteristic Judy posture after that movie.

Did anyone see Raul/Norbert/others on the way out? I wanted to wait but had to run home early.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 12:02pm

I just put it on my Netflix queue. I assumed it was choreographed, but I didn't realize it was exact. That just makes it all the better!

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 12:19pm

It made me think of DEFYING GRAVITY when Raul does the Idina hand gestures.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 12:23pm

Yeah, but that was all camp. This was NONE.

[Hest882]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 2:06pm

Oh, how wonderful. As usual, I'm totally friggin' jealous of the people who were able to go.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 2:59pm

Wow, I bet "The Man that Got Away" was intense. Sad, really when you think of it's significance in his life. I wonder if that was intentional or not.

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 2:59pm

It really is a lovely sad song. It suits Raul's voice -

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 3:07pm

Sad, really when you think of it's significance in his life. I wonder if that was intentional or not.

From what I understand, they don't choose their own songs.... but maybe some of the performers do.

Updated On: 3/10/09 at 03:07 PM

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 4:19pm

Maybe they don't, but maybe someone who knows them really well does....

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 10:32am

The L5Y duet is deadly. Just thought I'd declare that.

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 11:11am

I am not familiar with LAST 5 YERAS and there doesn't appear to be a cast recording. Any suggestions on a way for me to get to know this show better? I am really kicking myself that I missed the performances at Westport Playhouse about a year ago (I think I have the timing right.).

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 11:15am

Um, there is a cast recording through Sh-k-boom. And you should def buy it.

I think it's on iTunes as well.

Updated On: 3/11/09 at 11:15 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 11:18am

http://sh-k-boom.com/boutique.html#shkboom

Scroll down, it's there. It's also on iTunes. It's one of my favorite scores. You're missing out if you haven't heard it!

I wanted to go out to the production in CT last year (the one Kristin Huffman did), but the timing was horrible for me. I was finishing my senior spring semester and spent much of it in thesis isolation.

[Craww]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 11:35am

The Last Five Years (a fairly awful local production) was actually the very first stage musical I ever saw. I don't listen to it often (or ever, really) but it is very good.

Here you can insert a coy comment about how wonderful I found the Miscast duet (if only I'd happened to hear it).

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 12:02pm

I'm with you Craww, I rarely listen to the album. It's not one of my favorites. From my experience, "Goodbye until Tomorrow" is a great song, BUT the tempo is torture.
However, I LOVE the song "Moving Too Fast".
But what makes the album a must have is Norbert. Really, his brilliance is rarely matched.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 12:47pm

Emcee called to read me the songlist before the show and I said Raul should have The Man That Got Away. Or one of the Annie songs. Sadly I was only half right.

If I were running this show, I'd want the choices to be humorous. Like Michael Cerveris performing "Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair". That would be more fun than just switching the genders.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 1:03pm

But what makes the album a must have is Norbert. Really, his brilliance is rarely matched.

Agreed. I love Sherie too, but Norbert makes the album.

I'd probably make the choices a little more comical, too. lol, Michael would rock it, you know he would.

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 2:05pm

Does anyone know if clips of this performance have shown up anywhere?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 3:34pm

But at the same time, a song that taps into your life are just plain brutal and can show vulnerability that actors usually like to keep locked away. Which is why I'm sure there was a reason Raul sang "The Man that Got Away". I could see Michael singing something like "Past My Prime" from Lil' Abner.

And Michael is ALL about Rock. And skirts. So he'd love it. Actually, that could be really funny. And use all those HORRIBLE whigs he's had to where in the past.