Best/Worst Casting Decisions of 03/04 season

I'll play.

Best: Idina and Kristin together, Adam as the Emcee, Raul and Euan in Taboo (though I didn't see Raul, he's always amazing), Hugh Jackman.

Worst: Toni Braxton, Joey Fatone (I think that was '02, but whatever) Michelle Williams, Jon Secada, Melanie Griffith, Scary Spice.... you all know it, I hate stunt casting.

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Updated On: 3/30/04 at 09:47 PM

Best: Adam as the Emcee, hearing wonderful things about Ave Q cast (tho didnt see it yet).

Worst: Scary Spice - just because i dont like stunt casting. But if she does good, she'll get my respect.

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Best: Ave. Q, The ladies of Wicked, Hugh Jackman (Boy From Oz)

Worst: Alfred Molina (Fiddler) and Melanie Griffith (Chicago

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kerry isnt half as good as alice ripley was in my opinion

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I've never seen Alice Ripley Qfan
Anyway, I still think Kerry is amazing as Audrey, most of you will hate me but I like her much better than Ellen Greene

BEST CASTING - - - ->The entire cast of Avenue Q, Idina and Kristin (though they may not like one another, I think they are absolutely the best women to be playing opposite one another in Wicked) Hugh Jackman (every show since its opened he has put absolutely everything into his performance)

WORST CASTING - - - ->Ashley Judd, Melanie Griffith, the pop starts they threw into RENT, Toni Braxton (ughh)

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Deborah was definetely GOOD casting!! she was fantastic.

other good casting: Adam in Cabaret, and Idina and Kristin in Wicked!

I really wish people would be more open minded about "stunt casting" because it's not always a disaster!! From what I heard, Joey wasn't the worst Mark, and Scary hasn't even PERFORMED yet and people are already dismissing her! That's not really fair. Granted, other times, stars SHOULDN'T be in shows (like Ashley Judd, Melanie, and Puff Daddy)

But in general, I don't think stunt casting is the worst idea. Like it or not, Broadway is a business, and it's important to get butts into those seats!!! That;s my rant for the day.

Best: The cast of Avenue Q especially Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rick Lyon and John Tartaglia. I love them. Donna Murphy, Gregg Edelman and Jennifer Westfeldt in Wonderful Town.
Worst: Nancy Lemanger Never Gonna Dance(or what i refer to as Never Gonna Sing)

Updated On: 3/30/04 at 11:23 AM

Best:
The Avenue Q cast,Idina Menzel,Hugh Jackman,Hunter Foster

Worst:
Boy George,Joel Grey,Christy Carlson Ramono (because of obvious reasons and because the actor playing the beast is old enough to be her father)Toni Braxton and that Destiny's Child chick, P Diddy,Ashley Judd and of course Melanie Griffith takes the cake. Oh and I almost forgot John Secada. That poster of him for Cabaret over Times Square never failed to make me shudder.

I'm not sure if all of these fall within the '03/'04 season, but here we go...

Best:
Neil Patrick Harris -- CABARET
Carole Shelley -- CABARET
Rob Bartlett -- LITTLE SHOP
Euan Morton -- TABOO
Liz McCartney -- TABOO
Kristin Chenoweth -- WICKED
Carole Shelley -- WICKED
Entire Ensemble -- AVENUE Q

Worst:
Tom Bosley -- CABARET
Douglas Sills -- LITTLE SHOP
Sarah Uriate Berry -- TABOO
Joel Grey -- WICKED
Idina Menzel -- WICKED
Barbara Barrie -- FIDDLER (she's been replaced already)
John Stamos -- NINE
Will Chase -- AIDA

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Updated On: 3/30/04 at 03:43 PM

Who the hell is Christy Carlson Romano?

Oh, and good point about Joel Grey not being miscast, but playing a role that is poorly written. Agreed.

He was miscast in CHICAGO a few years ago, however...

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I think Idina was miscast in WICKED because I wanted to hear more of a "legit" singer do the role. I find that Idina is not a strong actress, and while she has powerful pipes, I would have much rather have heard someone who didn't yell her songs quite so much. (The very ending of "Defying Gravity" on the CD as a case in point.) Now, if it were Audra McDonald (or another accomplished vocalist) and Kristin Chenoweth -- who was perfectly cast -- singing those songs together, I would have enjoyed the show a whole lot more. I understand that WICKED is primarily a "pop" score, and Idina is most certainly a pop singer, but Kristin is not -- and she adapts her musicality to the style of music she's given. It's hard to explain. I think that a lot of Elphaba's songs would be a lot more interesting with a different voice, that's basically it.

I thought Idina was the quintessential Maureen in RENT, but I feel that she just wasn't the right choice for Elphaba.

Not a popular opinion, but it's mine nonetheless.

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Updated On: 3/30/04 at 04:31 PM