Aaron S. Gross - Outer Critics nomination

[homeimp]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 3:52pm

I just wanted to post a message about Aaron Simon Gross. I am thrilled with his nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical in "13" by the Outer Critics Circle. I realize the show wasn't particularly well liked by critics, but I enjoyed it, and I thought Aaron was at least deserving of consideration in this category when I saw the show. He was terrific as a "terminally ill" boy still in quest of a hot date. I don't expect to see Aaron nominated by other critics' groups, but I was very happy he at least gained a mention here. Way to go, Aaron!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 4:19pm

I find his voice grating and impossible to listen to for 90 minutes.
The fact that he was nominated over performers like Marc Kudisch, Gregory Jbara, and Will Swenson is outrageous.

[AntonEgo]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 4:30pm

I agree PiraguaGuy. I couldn't believe that he was nominated.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 4:31pm

As a fan of '13,' I thought Gross was terrific in a show that deserved even MORE OCC nominations for Best Musical, Score and Actor (Graham Phillips). But you might want to re-read that Outer Critics list of nominations: Jbara WAS nominated.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 4:37pm

imo, if ANYONE from 13 should have been nominated, it should have been Allie Trimm, but I don't think that anyone should have been nominated at all
Updated On: 4/20/09 at 04:37 PM

[Just_John]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 4:42pm

Also, I don't think Marc Kudisch could have been nominated because 9 to 5 hasn't opened yet, right?

[Bwayfan39]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 4:45pm

I believe Megan Hilty is nominated...so I guess 9 to 5 is eligible

[loverly]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 5:16pm

This thread is a joke, right?

[snl89]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 7:06pm

Aaron was cute, but I agree that his voice kinda got on my nerves quite a bit. But more importantly- Aaron was nominated but Will Swenson wasn't? Really? just, REALLY???

O-o

Crazy I tell you. haha

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 7:11pm

I...oh man, I can't believe I'm going to admit this...I did kinda like 13. I agree with the person who said that Allie Trimm was the only nominatable person in the cast, even if Aaron was solid.

That said...he's 13 (-ish). I can't help but be happy for him.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 7:16pm

I had the pleasure of working with Aaron on Brundibar. While i agree that he got in over people who were also deserving I congratulate him on his nomination. He is the kind of person who knows every piece of theatre history and has aspired to be on broadway for a very long time. If you saw Brundibar you know that his performance was heartbreaking. I am very proud to have worked with him and while many did not like the show and he wasn't considered a likely candidate, I applaud him and hope this helps advance his career.

CONGRATS AARON!

[snl89]

Posted: 4/20/09 at 7:16pm

Oh I happened to think 13 was adorable- I really enjoyed it :)

I was actually just listening to the recording again for the first time in a while earlier. But I agree, if anyone from that show should have been nominated, it'd be Allie Trimm. She was fantastic. (And I love Ariana Grande's voice a ton too but obviously that's not really enough to merit award nominations haha- but her voice really is gorgeous)



I just think Will Swenson is absolutely brilliant, and how Aaron got a nod but Will didn't is beyond me.

Aaron IS very cute and I'm happy for him, but just.. it's unfair. haha

Updated On: 4/20/09 at 07:16 PM

[srg129]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 6:04pm

I actually don't find it that outrageous. Allie Trim would have been my first guess for a performance nomination from 13 and Aaron my 2nd guess. Aaron actually delivered a more nuanced, dimensional, unexpected, and realistic supporting performance as Archie than Gregory Jbara as Dad in BE.

I haven't seen Hair yet, so I can't comment on those actors. Jbara did what thousands of others could do in a supporting role--play a one dimensional stereotype who bellows through 90% of the show and plays a macho stock character that softens up at the end of the show. In other words, very predictable and quite flat. A dime a dozen. Not to mention the pedestrian and typical manner with which he approaced the scene when he takes Billy to the Ballet School.

I kind of found it to be the same for Mark Kudisch in 9 to 5. While I thought Kudisch brings something endearing to the stereotype he plays in 9 to 5, it wasn't quite the cardboard standup of a performance Jbara delivers in BE, so I felt he did a better job with his role. However, I think there are a lot of other actors that could give the same performance as Kudisch.

Same thing goes for Carole Shelley. She did nothing but play a fiesty sharp tounged grandma. Certainly not anything out of her reach or many other actresses her age. And the number she is given (unimaginatively called "Grandma's Song"--don't think too hard there Elton!) is so utterly forgettable and boring there's absolutely nothing she does or even can do with it to make it interesting. The only thing I remember is the ridiculous staging with soldiers meandering from stage left to stage right and walking over and out the set windows and thinking, WTF? Some could argue that Allie Trim got robbed by Shelley's nomination in this category.

What's more outrageous than any of the supporting acting nominations is that 13 didn't get a score nomination and musical abomination of a score that is Billy Elliot did. While 13 certainly wasn't the strongest score it was better than BE. Billy Elliot should be a contender for worst score of the year, not best. The score to Billy Elliot is disjointed, utterly forgettable, unimaginative, lacking any strong melodies, and completely unemotional. I did not see A Tale of Two Cities, so I wouldn't be able to determine which of the two had the worst score. However, Billy Elliot certainly does not deserve a nomination for best score.

I really hope by the time the Tony nominations come out that the nominators really view Billy Elliot exactly for what it its--smoke, mirrors, and flimsy fodder for hungry tourists.
Updated On: 4/21/09 at 06:04 PM

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 6:08pm

The Grandma's Song is actually called "We'd Go Dancing" here in the US.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 6:31pm

srg, you went completely off topic to trash Billy Elliot. And you putting BE and 13 in the same category is laughable.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 6:43pm

I thought Aaron Simon Gross's performance in "13" was astonishing. Totally credible and never slipping into cliched caricature - he had genuine comic timing and he brought out the touching moments quite perfectly. It's great he's had recognition for his work.