Aaron Carter of the Fantasticks -- the pre-Bieber Bieber?

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 6:21pm

I saw Broadway in Bryant Park today and was struck by what a charismatic performer Aaron Carter is. Then I learned he was Justin Bieber-like at an even younger age.
So any fans of his out there? Do you think he's going to stick with theater?
Broadway in Bryant Park: Aaron Carter, John Davidson from The Fantasticks

[Overkill]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 7:08pm

Oh yeah. I was definitely a Carter kid. I always say to kids today, "When I was your age, we listened to Justin Bieber, too. But his name was Aaron Carter..."

He had a brief stint as Jojo in Seussical back in his hay-day, but I hear he was an un-autotuned mess...

EDIT: Oh yeeeah, there's this video.
Ouch Updated On: 7/26/12 at 07:08 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 7:18pm

I actually like that Seussical video. It's a terrible performance for sure, but there's something endearing about it. That clip of "Soon it's Gonna Rain" is a little better.

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 7:24pm

Oh, jeez. Enough with the hands, Aaron!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 7:26pm

Was Aaron already starting to have his issue with drugs when that CNN interview was done? (I'm asking in all seriousness...)

Also, was that the original staging of Seussical? yikes. Ha I like how he does his white homeboy hands even when performing in the musical though.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 7:29pm

He's giving a very effective performance in THE FANTASTICKS. Honestly, I didn't expect him to be as good as he is.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 8:46pm

Wow. He has, um, a lot of tattoos on his arms. And yes, he looked quite uncomfortable in SEUSSICAL judging from that CNN clip. I'm glad I saw the first child who played the role before Carter came in to "boost ticket sales."

I actually liked the original company of SEUSSICAL very much. I was reminded of them by Kevin Chamberlin's very moving performance at the Ahrens and Flaherty Carnegie Hall tribute in April. I don't remember disliking David Shiner, as many others did. Maybe if the producers hadn't blown the show up and kept it cute and imaginative, things would have turned out differently.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 9:07pm

In THE FANTASTICKS, Aaron doesn't expose his tattoos until after he's experienced "the world"

[jv92]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 2:17pm

So "the world" is nothing but a plethora of tattoo parlors?

[tazber]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 2:31pm

^^^
LOL