A New Cinderella- Page 4

[Emma White]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 1:25am

Double post.

Updated On: 12/30/13 at 01:25 AM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 1:49am

I'm from the other side of the globe so I can just read and observe--Laura appears to be loved by all on here and yet her Cinders seems to be not doing so well even with all this love---does that mean that all who wanted to see Cinderella AND Laura have done just that? So now that she is leaving there are a whole lot more folks out there who were never interested in Cinderella in the first place but expected[hoped]to shell out $100.plus just to see Carly sing the type of songs she is not known for?[Incidentially I had never heard of Carly but after listening to her nasal twang on the early clip posted on here-no thanks.]Is this a live theatre version of SOM? Carrie and Carly possibly had to audition for the roles--blame them,not C&C--it's work.

[gabrieljwickedone]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:05am

They aren't stunt casting Topher.

The producers offered the role to Claybourne Elder (who sadly declined).

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:28am

And put up to 200 people out of work? I am sure they will appreciate you holding their place in the unemployment line on a cold January morning. Will you be there to hold their places in line or you will you be the one who comes by with pay it forward cups of coffee to keep them warm or will you be at home wrapped in your snuggie on your sofa cuddling with your cat and a warm mug of hot chocolate?

What a god damn drama queen. These are talented people who will find other work on other shows. If you want job security on Broadway then hope to land a nice ensemble job in Wicked, Mamma Mia, Chicago, or Phantom and pray that don't decide to not renew your contract because that's the only semblance to job security you'll find in this business. Do you really think the producers are doing this for the benefit of its actors? Yeah no. The actors are going to be paid regardless for the time they've put into the show because it's illegal not to! The producers are interested in making their money back and that's it.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 3:28am

I'm too lazy to read through all these posts. Has anyone made a "this is crazy, but here's my slipper" joke yet?

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 7:00am

Carly Rae Jepsen just tweeted:

"Dear @LauraOsnes I think you are truly lovely. Big shoes to fill! It's an honor to try on the Cindy shoes! Xoxox"

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 7:08am

Rachel Potter also posted on Facebook:

"I auditioned. Call me maybe?

Nope. They called her. "

Would she have brought tickets in because of the X-Factor or no?

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 7:48am

I'm SO SO SO glad I saw it before this happened.

I kind of get what they are doing -- trying to appease the super younger crowd in by putting her in there. But when I walked out I saw that the parents enjoyed themselves WAY more than the kids did (the jokes are hilarious in it). Children don't care about who is playing Cinderella or who is on that stage. Adults do or at least adults can READ the Playbill. I can definitely see it drawing in a lot of teens, however.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 8:33am

This all reminds me of 1981 Joseph Papp's Public Theater was mounting a major revival of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and the uproar that ensued when rock stars Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith were cast as "Mabel" and "Frederic".

The protests ensued: They have no stage experience, they're rock stars, they have no business being in a classic operetta that requires legit stage voices, etc. The very same arguments and protests that some of you are making on this thread.

You want to know what happened?

Here's what happened:

Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith went up on that stage and silenced all the naysayers. They more than held their own opposite George Rose, Estelle Parsons and Kevin Kline - all seasoned theater professionals.

What's more, it was such an unqualified success that the production transferred to Broadway and soon thereafter was made into a major motion picture by Universal Pictures. Rex Smith and Linda Ronstadt got to reprise their roles in the movie version.

I went out of my way to write all that because you cannot judge a performer strictly on the type of material or venue that performer chooses to express themselves. Every singer, songwriter, every artist should have the freedom to express themselves in whatever venue is available to them whether it's in a recording studio, a concert stage or yes, even a Broadway stage.

A lot of you are unfairly judging this singer and she hasn't even set one foot on the stage. You have absolutely no idea how she will fair in this part. She may surprise us and yes maybe she may not be good at all but we don't know that.

I can understand being disappointed because someone you thought was a better fit for the role didn't get it. I can't understand unfairly ripping the performer chosen just based on that.

[D2]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 8:54am

^^What Carlos said -- and I was there.^^

Except, dear Carlos, it was Patricia "Hyacinth Bucket" Routledge who played Ruth at the Delacorte. Estelle Parsons took over when the show moved to Broadway.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 8:58am

Carlos Alberto.... I couldn't have said it better myself. Good comment.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 10:17am

Yes D2, thanks for the correction. It was early in the morn and my mind slipped and I forgot that Routledge originated the role at the Delacorte and was replaced by Parsons when the production transferred.

Another interesting side note: George Rose and Kevin Kline also reprised their roles for the film version, Parsons was replaced by Angela Lansbury.

When Ronstadt left the production she was replaced by another rock songstress: Karla DeVito, who was Ronstadt's understudy. Rex Smith was replaced by Robby Benson, who was a big box office draw (and went on to marry DeVito). When Benson left he was replaced by Peter Noone who was lead singer for the rock group Herman's Hermits in the 1960s.

Pop stars on Broadway are not a new thing and many have proven that they can more than hold their own on a Broadway stage.

Another great example:

Vanessa Williams, a de-throned former Miss America who achieved success on the pop/r&b charts and despite her musical theater training in college hadn't graced the Broadway stage until she was given a chance to replace Broadway theater legend Chita Rivera in the smash musical "Kiss of the Spider Woman". Again, people voiced their doubts and some predicted the show would close.

You all want to guess what happened there?




Updated On: 12/30/13 at 10:17 AM

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 10:39am

RE: "I'm too lazy to read through all these posts. Has anyone made a "this is crazy, but here's my slipper" joke yet?"
Yes. Andy Mientus was the first person I follow on twitter to make that joke.
Andy Mientus ?@andymientus 16h
Hey, I just met you. And this is crazy. But here's my slipper. So call me, maybe?

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 10:57am

I'm still apprehensive about this decision, but, as I mentioned earlier, she could easily be great! She has a good voice. And, regardless of her performance, isn't it great that she may bring some outside interest to Broadway? I know E! News is reporting on this decision, and they only report about Broadway when a Hollywood or pop star is performing in a show.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 11:27am

To add to CarlosAlberto's point: people trashed the hell out of Corbin Bleu going into In the Heights. As most people here attested to: he was pretty wonderful in the role.

Even though I agree with Carlos entirely, you have to admit: the people here that go back to the show to see her, will (for the most part) be able to be honest as to her actual performance.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 11:37am

Oh yes dramamama thanks for reminding me about Corbin Bleu and In The Heights. He was fanastic!

It will be interesting to see how Carly Rae Jespsen will fair in the role.

I'm kind of rooting for her though, I have a tendency to root for the "underdog". Although I do have to admit I was wishing Ariane Rinehart would have gotten the role after her impressive turn as "Liesl" in NBC's "The Sound of Music". I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of Rinehart in the near future,



Updated On: 12/30/13 at 11:37 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 11:44am

I liked her a lot too, and she reminded me a lot of Laura -- which could work against her.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 12:18pm

Here's a video of Carly singing live on Canadian Idol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msk_Pthides

It's not bad, but her high notes don't sound very strong. Unless that's a creative choice?

Edit: Found more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isH-PSWWEI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuB9h6-EFBQ

She sounds like she doesn't have very good support when she's singing. Wonder how her voice will take this.

Double edit: Here she is singing a Cole Porter song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-zKw0Nv-DU

Updated On: 12/30/13 at 12:18 PM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 1:13pm

And don't forget the How to Succeed revival. The Darren Criss part of the run was basically sold out, but it sounded like he was pretty bad. Then the show closed with Nick Jonas, who despite having done some shows as a child, people were making fun of that and saying he would be bad.

I mean, if anyone is so against this casting, here is the simplest thing to do: Don't see it. Surely there are other shows you want to see, so why keep ripping this apart?

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:36pm

Does anyone know the date of Laura and Harriet's last performance?

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:38pm

With it being sold as "12 Weeks Only" does that mean Laura will in fact return?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:47pm

Why is Laura leaving? Is there a known, or at least rumored, reason?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:50pm

As far as I know she only signed her contract for a year and it expires in January and she did not renew it.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 2:55pm

I'm not really concerned with this. We got a good run with Osnes and fab cast recording out of the deal.

I wish Jepsen the best.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 3:26pm

I was pretty disgusted with the idea at first, but I am willing to give her a chance. She has training in musical theatre, and I would like to think that the producers know what they're doing. The real question is if she will help the show at all...