A Tale of Two Cities will play Al Hirschfeld Theater — Page 4

"Oh, wait, my bad, wrong musical based on a classic French novel"

Tale of Two Cities is technically and English novel. It's just about France.

Nonetheless...I feel you. And save that remark for Marguerite!!!!!

StageFan, the sets in Tale are great. They're large and minamalistic at the same time.

The wooden frame is on stage nearly for the whole show but it moves and they add/take away pieces. I felt it was used very effectively. The cast itself often pushes it around but it never once took away from the show. There have been times when I've seen that done and had it be jarring. But here it works.

I don't know how much different it'll be once it opens in NYC but they were great in Florida.

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PB: i hope you have passed your sage advice re: replacing barbour onto your friends. there was a whole separate thread on this issue that the mods appear to have deleted for some reason. (i think we can all infer why, but i don't recall any posts that crossed a line.) i think it would have given them great pause ...

i wish it weren't the case, but this would be a guaranteed PR nightmare ... one poster in particular pointed out the impact barbour's involvement in the project would have on school groups. people are irrational on this issue -- there's is no chances of discernment or "shades of grey".

no ill will against a talented actor (loved him in jane eyre), but his participation will generate only bad mainstream press for the show -- and a lot of it.

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Did anyone get to hear last week's Broadway Bullet with the show's producers? It was an interesting interview where they mostly discussed raising money, how they came to be attached, etc. They played two songs from the show and a Nelson Eddy/Jennette McDonald song that they, themselves, recorded. No word on casting but they did name Warren Carlyle as director. If you haven't heard it but are interested in the show I suggest checking it out.

To get to the interview roll your cursor over the screen and click on "More Shows". After that click on "Broadway Bullet - Mp3 Version." It, currently, is the first one - #206


Broadway Bullet 206: Tale of Two Cities, Triumph of Love...

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Updated On: 4/25/08 at 12:51 AM

"Barbour is still attached, as are some others from the Florida production. They are currently in the midst of casting open roles."

I'm a little disappointed to see that Barbour is still attached. I'm wondering if he got permission to do the show.

Also, I know most of the ensemble was made up of Asolo students so that needs to be addressed in NYC but I wonder which other roles are still "open".

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Well, I don't have Facebook and I, actually, haven't checked your page in a few days.

Looks like we had a "mind-meld"

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what are the best seats in thiis theater?

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I stumbled upon this article while looking for something else. Yes, it's about Wesley Snipes and doesn't have much to do with Broadway but there is a very short blurb about James Barbour. This is a Chicago publication. So the idea that "no one outside of NYC" knew about this isn't true.

http://www.southtownstar.com/lifestyles/928407,050408videosixpack.article

"James Barbour, the Beast in the Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast," was sentenced in February to 60 days for having sex with a minor."

Something else I found:

http://icicaille.livejournal.com/33093.html

"I just heard that Aaron Lazar pulled out of the Hollywood LM (unfortunate), but is going to be in Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities (fortunate!). Here's to hoping he's cast as Carton. I do love James Barbour in the role, however.."

Yes, I know it's just a blog but it's an interesting idea. Thoughts on this?

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Derek Keeling was one of the finalists on Grease: You're the One That I Want but you were close lol

Edit:

Here's the article The Distinctive Baritone is referencing. I hadn't seen it before so thanks for that.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117423.html

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Updated On: 5/6/08 at 12:04 AM

I'll be interested to see what role Lazar ends up in. Hopefully there will be an official casting announcement soon.

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Wow...this is really strong news! Hope Barbour will remain in the role. With due respect to PB ENT's opinion and others, I think Barbour has paid his price, and now it's time to leave this alone. He deserves to be in this work as much as anybody else who has labored with it, purely out of love for the work, some for 8 years, he for about 4 or 5, I think. Perhaps you have some "personal" reasons of your own, and that is fine. I found the whole thing a little rigged (as expected)towards the "victim", and a lot of things were quite shady in this case. And I read she was short of a couple of months for her 16th birthday (perhaps why she told him she was 16, not 15, at first). Also, I agree that a 15 year old is not exactly a "child". Barbour admitted to charges of endagerment of a minor
NOT of a "child molester" (which brings images of an 8 or 10 year old), and I would advise some in these posters to refrain from using the term, as it might incite a libel suit. If it was my reputation, I would not hesitate to do what I needed to clear my name. IMO

Sorry! Just was answearing back to the other posters, but you are right: It should be dropped! I think is fine to say I still hope Barbour remains in the role, though.

Ok, well I HOPE Natalie Toro stays on as Madame DeFarge! I like Jessica Rush's voice, and I think she seemed to do a good job with the part. Maybe in Broadway she will shine, if she is cast again.
Lazar would be a great counterpart to Barbour's Sidney (and an exciting one! I am ecstatic about this casting!). Derek just was not tall enough to hack it, although he had more of a resemblance. Also, Lazar is far a superior talent and would add enormously to Tale, take it to a higher level than Derek would be able to....a VERY smart move from casting!! Now I want even MORE to see Tale in Broadway!!!