American Idols on Broadway

Maybe I'm the only one.. but I get so mad when rejects or even winners from American Idol end up on Broadway. I'll admit I thought Diana Degarmo was good, but Ashley Parker Angel? That kid thats in The Fantastics now? Frenchie Davis? Constantine? Are you telling me that there aren't any other actors in New York that are better?? And now with the Grease reality show... it's getting so that I'm going to have to go on TV to get on broadway? That doesn't make sense. I must be the only one that feels this way, because "stunt" casting certainly isn't going away.

p.s. you should also draw a distinction between STUNT casting and STAR casting. I can see how some people would be considered stunt casting (which has a negative connotation as if they can't handle the role) versus star casting which is just bringing in a well known person to do the role.

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Yeah you're right about Mr. Angel.. I was on a Hairspray kick and he jumped into my head. I know he wasn't on American Idol...but he WAS on a reality show.. wasn't he? Yeah. I think so. Well.. maybe. I see your point with the "Stunt" casting and "Star" casting.. but I still think its a fine line.

I agree with you defying gravity!

You make so much sense! Good calll!
...and I saw another post of yours about being a college student whos never had sex, been drunk, or smoked. And i totally respect that! I'm in college myself

I have seen all of these Idols on Broadway: Frenchie, Constantine, Diana, and if you want to count Ashley, I've seen him too. I thought they were all great! So, I wouldn't call any of them stunt casting, but I do think that the shows used them to sell tickets. Nevertheless, they are good! I think casting Alexa Vega was stunt casting cause I don't even think she's a good Penny.

So just because they were on some reality show means they don't have any business being on the Broadway stage?

As long as they have talent, I don't see the problem. I hate it how people are quick to jump to conclusions regarding performance just because they may not have liked them on a reality show or don't care for them in general. I've heard good things about the current "American Idol rejects" on Broadway, so whats the problem (I haven't seen any of the current "Idol rejects" on the stage, and I am not saying they are good or bad or coming to any conclusion about their performance)?

By the way, have you even SEEN any of the people you mentioned in the musicals? If so, you can't judge and your arguement has no basis.

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Updated On: 2/25/07 at 12:41 AM

I don't have a problem with it just as long as they can act (as stated above)

I think Frenchie Davis has earned her spot on broadway. Along with Josh Strickland and some others. Fantasia is MAJOR stunt casting. She's not a bad singer, but she couldn't even play herself in a movie about her life. She can't act and should stay away from broadway.

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muscle23ftl, that's Anthony Fedorov in The Fantasticks, but he's not starting until May 1st. I'm very excited! He's got a great voice! It should be wonderful on stage! I just hope he's good at acting! So The Fantasticks is Off-Broadway, right?

Updated On: 2/25/07 at 01:14 AM

There are more American Idol losers who haven't gone to Broadway than ones who actually have. The ones who have gone to star on stage have generally gotten good feedback from theatergoers.

If Constantine, Diana, Anthony, Frenchie, and Ashley were never on reality shows, would you feel the same way?

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Well I guess thats something that I could never tell you... If I would have seen them at the EPAs and ECCs and THEN I saw them on broadway... even if I didn't like their performace.. Yes. I probably would respect the performace more. I suppose thats a bit jaded of me, but there it is.

Frenchie Davis had a major theater background before AI. I think she had been in some touring productions.

Diana, though, seemed to be the one who kicked down the door on Broadway for people like Fantasia to follow. It was considered a "step down" among AI fans for someone from the show to go to Broadway (American Idol fans aren't always the brightest bunch) when in reality it's probably a far more difficult and skillful area of the entertainment industry than most.

So while Diana's major theater experience has been over the past year and a half with lead roles in West Side Story and Brooklyn, and a major supporting role in Hairspray, she's already talked about wanting to return to Broadway, perhaps in a new show. She's not stunt-casting, she's the real thing.

"is it such a bad thing to have one more path to getting to broadway?"

Exactly. Too many people are precious (even jealous) about this sort of thing. As with any job, there are many routes to get higher.

The fact that some might have been acting regionally or in the ensemble on Broadway for many years does not and should not automatically mean that they have the immediate right for that star role or even any significant role. Some people just coast along, doing well but not perhaps standing out (and that is absolutely fine - many have made a decent career out of doing just that). Yet at the same time someone new might come along and immediately overtake them. And good on them too. If they have the talent.

Broadway as a consolation prize - and movie stars that all of the sudden want to do broadway.

Honestly - if there's one medium that scares the living crap out of any performer - it's Broadway. Other than a live concert, no other performing medium requires an actor to be perfect 8 shows a week - in front of an audience - and live. Most of these actors don't even "like" doing awards shows (presenting) because of how nerve wracking it is to get up in front of all those people (live) and speak. Trust me - if an actor "from hollywood" is doing Broadway, it's not some random fancy they are having. It's not even financially beneficial for them. They could make more doing a movie, sitcom, commercial, etc. Add to that the fact that they open themselves up to the press and reviews and you get the picture.

In addition, why are stars from hollywood "prohibited" from trying to expand their skills and stretch their abilities? I really dislike the notion of people saying that some people have no business coming to Broadway or others who are on broadway are selling out going to hollywood. Just silly banter.

Not to mention, and I'm guesstimating here, that 90 percent of the people on Broadway who come from other mediums HAVE a background or training in theater. Just because they aren't known for it or it was well before they became famous doesn't discount it.

As with anything - you really only have a right to judge a performance you've seen. Otherwise, it's just silly to make baseless commentary.

I'm reminded by posts on another message board when it was first announced who would star in the movie Chicago. People were up in arms and the ranting and raving lasted several weeks at what a disaster the movie was going to be, yadda yadda. The movie came out, and the same people that posted the acerbic comments were raving about the movie and the casting - and then tried to plug the performers into where they should be on Broadway and or other movie musicals AS IF THEY NEVER CRITICIZED THEM before they saw the movie.

Very amusing to me...

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