Are You An OBC Snob?

I am a total OBC snob when it comes to Into the Woods. I think the revival, as cool as it may have been, was unnecessary. When the original is as brilliant as Woods was, don't mess with it...at least for a while. Nothing matches Joanna Gleason, Bernadette Peters, Danielle Ferland, Kim Crosby, and especially Chuck Wagner/Robert Westenberg singing "Agony."

---

I am with a few of my favourite shows, simply because I feel like there's a huge difference in the way the casting began and the way it changed after. I guess my most prominent example is AIDA, and that I could never consciously see someone other than Adam play Radames. I never saw the OBC of RENT, but that's probably the other one that I'm most "snobbish" about. That cast was a powerhouse, and they're irreplaceable. I used to not particularly care who I saw as opposed to who originated a role, but as I've become more familiar with the people in theatre, who I see has become much more important.

---

I used to be.
But, as I grew older, I have learned to disassociate myself from OBC's as opposed to live. I love JLT in Wicked. I'm glad I saw her, because I will go again and again just for her.

Also, I am an actor. As one you have to put yourself in their shoes. If I replace a character in a show, I want someone to see ME - not to compare me to the original, even if that includes on a recording.
When I saw Rent last week (First time since the original cast), I found most of these cast members to be just as good as the originals. They all had their own take on the characters and did things differently, and I liked the choices that they made.
The more you see theatre, the more you'll see differences in the choices actor's make. So you didn't care for Megan, and you liked Kristin better - that is a preference. But, it can be a valid preference if you don't compare. I love Kristin as Glinda...but I LOVE JLT more. They're both great - none better than the other, But I prefer JLT's choices.

---

I'm not by any means.

I keep saying this but the 2003 tour cast of AIDA (Paulette Ivory, Jeremy Kushnier and Lisa Brescia) are in my opinion the best Aida, Radames and Amneris to have ever played those roles. Better than the origianl cast. Although I do love the original cast.

Also concerning Terrance Mann: I love him in everything he's done, except Les Miz. I honestly have never liked his interpretation of Javert, I don't like the original Marius or Fantine either. And I prefer Lea Salonga to Frances Ruffelle.

I like to hear and see as many interpretations as possible, and when it comes down to it. Often times I prefer someone who was not in the Original Cast.

I'm wondering about Avenue Q w/ out the OBC. It's hard for me to imagine anyone else playing a lot of those parts. But who knows! Maybe it'll be ok

---

The great thing about Avenue Q's casting situation is that, thus far, they've been bumping up their understudies to take over

QtKt, I agree completely!

I am not really a obc snob. I enjoy it as I get to hear as the producers and directors and chreographers wanted as their first choice. But I have to say that in some cases, I enjoyed the person I first saw in the part.
For Example: I will always love Stephanie Pope in Chicago cause I saw her do Velma first.
And I will always love Charolette D'Amboise in CONTACT as I saw her do the part first.
The best example, is Laurie Beechman singing "Memory" from CATS. I saw her sing the role of Grizabella and have compaired all since her to the late great Laurie.