Ana Gasteyer Will be the next really BIG STAR

[SondhFan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 5:20pm

After seeing and hearing Ana perform and enjoying every second of her Wicked performance, it has become clear she will soon be a MAJOR MAJOR star on the stage and in movies. She was very good in SNL and she has now really taken off. What are your thoughts?

[Prisoner 24601]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 5:30pm

I agree. She was PHENOMINAL in Wicked (I saw it yesterday). Her voice seems more matured, like a 30-40 year old woman, compared to Idina Menzel and Maria Eberline (the two other people I have heard as Elphaba), who sound younger.

What really gets me is that as Ana belts higher, the notes sound clearer. It's amazing. I've only seen her on SNL a few times, and through the whole show I was amazed that this was really her. I never dreamed that she was so good!!! She definitely is a star.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 5:35pm

I agre that she is sensational in WICKED, and truly sounds the most effortless I've ever heard on the high notes.

She's a great talent, and was very smart to pick something like this that shows not only her skills as a singer but her skills as an actress.

Maybe she should do the Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL after all...

[SondhFan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 5:42pm

any idea how long she will stay with wicked

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 5:58pm

did anyone see her FUNNY GIRL with Cuccioli at PCLO?!?!?

[HBP]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 6:52pm

Hmm... I beg to differ. I wasn't impressed with her performance as Elphaba at all. I only saw her about a week into the Chicago production's opening, so maybe she just wasn't good yet. I was very dissappointed. Good voice, just not a good Elphaba.

[SondhFan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:24pm

You certainly have your right to disagree but you are part of an infinitesmally small minoirty as to her performance (maybe a minority of one). I saw her early also. She was flat out outstanding in every way. I didn't expect such a spectacular performance but we got it. And she has delivered show after show.

[HBP]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:48pm

That's for being nice about it sondhfan. I have also only heard rave reviews of her as Elphaba, but I just didn't enjoy her performance. Kate Reinders was an amazing Glinda. I also really liked Morrible and Nessa in the Chicago production. Ana just didn't do it for me. I think it was her awkwardness, especially in Defying Gravity. I don't think the end of that song should look as awkward as she made it look. Oh, well. Stephanie J. Block rocks!

[SondhFan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:10pm

I agree with your other comments on Glinda and the others but I just can't agree with your perception of Ana. However, I know how it can happen. I remember an instance where I thought a college basketball player was great in college but I said he would never make in the pros. Was I wrong and I am still embarrased by my misjudgment. Now while Ana may not become the Big Star I think she will, but her performances in Wicked have been virtually unanimously rated outstanding. While I can understand a difference of opinion as to good versus outstanding, I cannot fathom how her performance can be called disappointing. Are there any others out there who have that low opinion of her? Maybe your opinion was due to a bit of undigested potato.

[zoran912]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:14pm

The Undigested Potato!

Is that Ana's next starring role?

[SondhFan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:16pm

Next to Scrooge

[SondhFan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:17pm

were you disappointed by her too?

[Prisoner 24601]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:30pm

One odd thing I noticed alot of actors in yesterday's performance were doing- they were delivering the lines a lot differently than how they would naturally have been said. In other words, they would emphasize the wrong word in the sentence. A few of my friends who saw the show noticed it too. Maybe they were trying to do it differently than the other casts had done, or maybe it was just an off day.

But beside that, Ana was AMAZING!!!! She's a STAR!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:33pm

LOVE LOVE her

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:40pm

Michale Bennet! She would be amazing as Fanny in a revival of Funny Girl. She has the look, the voice, the comedic talent. Wow what a fit.

Elphaba wise, she blew me away. I was surprised by the tone of her voice and all that power. In Reefer Madness I thought her voice was okay, but as Elphaba she shines!

[DefyGravity23]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:09am

I saw her only a week after opening night and she was simply amazing. I don't understand how anyone could call her disappointing...at the end of her "Solo" songs if you looked around at the audience everyone was simply gaping at her with open mouths, quite an awesome thing to see and hear! Acting wise she really connected the audience with the character of Elphaba, the people I was with completely agreed with me. But I guess everyone has their own opinions. It'd be cool if she stayed in the role for awhile, because I'd love to see her again, but it would also be cool if she went on to do other things/roles.

[yarn769fink034]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:15am

OMG.I hope she goes to Broadway.I can't believe how prefect she is for this role.

[Akbar-n-Jeff]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 6:11am

Her one-woman show, LET IT RIP, is one of the best concerts I've ever seen.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 10:09am

I wish I could get over to Chicago and see her in this role. I've seen Stephanie, who someone here posted that "she rocks," and I couldn't disagree more. But, hey, to each his own. I don't think Ana will be going to Broadway. Rumor has it, and please note that I said rumor so I'm unsure of how much truth there is to this, but it's what I've heard, is that Eden will be taking over for Saycon as standby, due to Saycon going off to do "The Color Purple." Now, if Eden picks up as standby for Shoshana, when Shoshana's done, I imagine Eden will then step in as the Broadway Elphaba.

-Vincent

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 11:57am

If I could get tickets, I'm sure I'd agree with this opinion. I moved to Chicago to be closer to the theatre scene and now I can't get into this show to see it, even while I live here. Damn you, Wicked, for being so popular!

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:43pm

Is Saycon even going to TCP for sure? Both are great career offers, so who knows what she's decided to do.

[WiCkEd4LyFfE]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:50pm

I really wish that one day i will get to see her in this role!

[MissNY]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:05pm

To answer the question of how long Ana will be in the production, both her and Kate have 7 month contracts, so until the end of January

[CollegeKid]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:18pm

Any clips of Ana singing wicked online?

[Yankeeboy]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 6:57pm

I had the good fortune of being in Pittsburgh while Ana was starring as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl at CLO. I have to say, she was startling good. Not only is she an accomplished commedienne, but she is a point-on singer and a phenomenal dramatic actress as well. "People" and "Who Are You Now?" were chillingly heartfelt. Believe it or not, she actually attended Northwestern University as a vocal performance major.

And yeah, good for her for doing Wicked. But I think there are much more interesting roles than Elphaba that she could tackle and even bring something new and fresh to the table. Definitely I'd support her bringing Funny Girl back to Broadway - I think a Tony nomination or even award would be imminent. I'd also like to see her play Trina in Falsettos, the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods, Mary in Merrily We Roll Along, or Lucille Frank in Parade. She has all the makings of a dramatic singer-actress star-to-be. I hope she keeps in the musical theatre game, and I can't wait to see the work she does in the next few years.