Brandon Victor Dixon, Vanessa Hudgens, Keala Settle, Jordan Fisher Set for Fox's Rent Live!- Page 4

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 12:57pm

Valentina3 said: "LuPita2 said: "But does seem an odd choice for a LIVE version during the holidays...

January 27th is long after the holidays."

Tell that to my neighbor who had Christmas lights up till March"

 

I mean... the show is partly set during the holidays... 

[Rainah]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 4:41pm

Miles2Go2 said: "rjm516 said: "I agree with the doubt about a nonwhite Mark. His whole dramatic arc is realizing that his privilege shelters him from the problems of his friends that he exploits for his 'art'. Maybe they'll have his family support/money be more prominent and make him more of a poverty tourist than a white savior, but that vibe of his is important."

As I stated above, I have my own concerns about Fisher as Mark, but not because he is African American. Why doesanyoneassume that an African American character couldn’t come from a life of privilege?"

I think you're confusing racial privilege with economic privilege. Mark's family is implied if not outright stated to be middle class/well off, same as Joanne's and (at the time of the show) Benny. They absolutely have that privilege no matter what their skin colour is. No one is saying that an African American character can't be wealthy or from a middle class family.

What people are saying is that the experience of being a black Jewish man in American is very different than the experience of being a white Jewish man. Especially in a show that is heavily about marginalization. People are saying it changes the vibe of the character and the subtext around him.

 

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 4:43pm

Angel kills a dog for money.  Angel... KILLS DOGS for MONEY.... and we're supposed to cry when Angel dies? Yeah, no. 

They kill Benny's dog, Benny basically says they can live in their big ass warehouse apartment for free as long as their not a$$h01es only to be treated like an a$$h01e, and I wish the show ended with all the leads besides Benny dropping dead.

[ccbway]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 5:27pm

People seem to forget that you can't cast people who are currently working on other shows, because they are committed to those shows. Talking about Ben Platt, people from Riverdale, Liz Gillies, etc. was fine for dream casting - but a lot of this comes down to availability - and who's actually free for the month of January to rehearse and prepare for this thing.

As for worries about Mark being Jewish and re-cast as black...they are re-writing/adapting this for the live tv musical format - and can make changes to adjust. Or maybe the casting was made for adjustments already made to the script/book. Updated On: 10/30/18 at 05:27 PM

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 5:34pm

The re-writing/re-adapting of this is going to be limited to four letter words being removed and contact probably being cut.  They aren't re-writing Mark's character or any piece of the show.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 6:46pm

"Angel kills a dog for money. Angel... KILLS DOGS for MONEY.... and we're supposed to cry when Angel dies? Yeah, no.

They kill Benny's dog, Benny basically says they can live in their big ass warehouse apartment for free as long as their [sic] not a$$h01es only to be treated like an a$$h01e, and I wish the show ended with all the leads besides Benny dropping dead."

Either you're joking or you're not familiar with the show because none of that is correct.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 7:05pm

Mister Matt said: ""Angel kills a dog for money. Angel... KILLS DOGS for MONEY.... and we're supposed to cry when Angel dies? Yeah, no.

They kill Benny's dog, Benny basically says they can live in their big ass warehouse apartment for free as long as their [sic] not a$$h01es only to be treated like an a$$h01e, and I wish the show ended with all the leads besides Benny dropping dead."

Either you're joking or you're not familiar with the show because none of that is correct."

What is incorrect? Are you sure YOU'VE seen the show?

Today for you outlines how Angel killed a dog for money.  We find out in La Vie BlahBlah that it was Benny's Dog.

Benny comes to them and basically says, "our mutual friend is trying to protest the arts space that I'm trying to build in order to give you guys a place to work.  If you wouldn't mind talking to her, I'll forgo the YEAR OF RENT you owe me." 

Benny pays for Mimi's rehab and THAT'S THE THANKS HE GETS?! 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 7:46pm

A woman paid Angel to play the drums, hoping the dog would jump out the window. Angel doesn't murder the dog and "they" certainly didn't kill his dog because only Angel was there.

Benny used to live with Mark and Roger. After he left, there was an agreement that Mark and Roger could stay for free. Benny announces that they suddenly have to not only start paying rent, but all back rent immediately. Then Benny leverages this new information to extort his friends so he can benefit (of course, issues of societal morality and artistic integrity are wrapped up in this as well, which are integral to each character's decisions and attitudes that you've somehow seemed to have...forgotten?). They didn't "owe" Benny the rent because they weren't being charged rent and there was no agreement to pay rent.

"Benny pays for Mimi's rehab and THAT'S THE THANKS HE GETS?!"

What "thanks" are you talking about? You're all over the place.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 7:56pm

Mister Matt said: "A woman paid Angel to play the drums, hoping the dog would jump out the window. Angel doesn't murder the dog and "they" certainly didn't kill his dog because only Angel was there.

Benny used to live with Mark and Roger. After he left, there was an agreement that Mark and Roger could stay for free. Benny announces that they suddenly have to not only start paying rent, but all back rent immediately. Then Benny leverages this new information to extort his friends so he can benefit (of course, issues of societal morality and artistic integrity are wrapped up in this as well, which are integral to each character's decisions and attitudes that you've somehow seemed to have...forgotten?). They didn't "owe" Benny the rent because they weren't being charged rent and there was no agreement to pay rent.

"Benny pays for Mimi's rehab and THAT'S THE THANKS HE GETS?!"

What "thanks" are you talking about? You're all over the place.

"

There's this song called Today 4 U where Angel is pretty gleeful about killing the dog.
Angel performed an act and was paid by a woman to drive a dog to suicide.  That's... like... the entire song.

I would have kicked them out too if they were being a$$holes to the level that they were.  Benny needed to keep the empty lot because why?  Because Maureen did wittle shows there?  he asks Mark and Roger to talk to Maureen about not doing it and they basically say, "fvck you, Benny."

Benny pays for Mimi's rehab and the thanks he gets if being painted the villain of the piece when really the villain is Mark, Roger, Angel, Collins, and Maureen.  

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:37pm

"There's this song called Today 4 U where Angel is pretty gleeful about killing the dog.
Angel performed an act and was paid by a woman to drive a dog to suicide. That's... like... the entire song."

I already explained precisely what happens in the song. Your editorial doesn't change the actual event.

"Benny needed to keep the empty lot because why? Because Maureen did wittle shows there?"

Nope. You really should read the libretto.

"he asks Mark and Roger to talk to Maureen about not doing it and they basically say, 'fvck you, Benny.'"

That's a very creative attempt at provactive reduction, but wildly inaccurate.

"Benny pays for Mimi's rehab and the thanks he gets if being painted the villain of the piece when really the villain is Mark, Roger, Angel, Collins, and Maureen."

LOL. If you're trying to sound like Trump, then you've succeeded! Congratulations! Perhaps we should call his fiance Melania.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:53pm

A monumental day in my life, truly.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:57pm

Aw... you earned it!

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 9:00pm

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 8:15am

Mister Matt said: "A woman paid Angel to play the drums, hoping the dog would jump out the window. Angel doesn't murder the dog and "they" certainly didn't kill his dog because only Angel was there."

As Sondheimite pointed out, Angel doesn't exactly seem remorseful that those actions led to the death of the dog. Since the very first time I saw the show - which I actually love - I thought this was a bizarre and misguided way to introduce Angel, whom we're presumably supposed to find quite lovable.

Something very similar is true about Whistle Down The Wind (at least as recorded in the London version) - a character we're later expected to regard as quite noble is introduced in a scene where he's drowning a bag of kittens. What on earth were these people thinking?

Updated On: 10/31/18 at 08:15 AM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 8:16am

[I pressed "quote" rather than "edit."]

Updated On: 10/31/18 at 08:16 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:12am

As Sondheimite pointed out, Angel doesn't exactly seem remorseful that those actions led to the death of the dog. Since the very first time I saw the show - which I actually love - I thought this was a bizarre and misguided way to introduce Angel, whom we're presumably supposed to find quite lovable.

First of all, the whole dog thing was created to mirror the Schaunard/parrot story in La Boheme, in which Schaunard directly murders a parrot simply because he's tired of his job (he was hired to play the violin until the death of the parrot and kills the parrot after three days).

Second of all, the dog is described as being so disruptive, it has kept the neighbor awake for year.  Benny later laughs and admits he always hated the dog.

Third, Angel is detailing the rather bizarre request that provided the money to pay for the gifts she bought for Tom's friends.  She's lovable because of everything else she does in the show.  The story is a bit of macabre humor deliberately told in a humorous way that is a direct nod to the source material.  Ignoring everything else about the character because of this tale is a rather extremist view.  I mean, good Lord, musical theatre is littered with complex characters of questionable morality that we embrace do varying degrees simply because the book and score guide us with a roadmap of the characters' flaws and qualities: the Phantom?  Billy in Carousel?  The King in King & I?  Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady?  The Witch in Into the Woods?  Sally Bowles in Cabaret?  Sweeney Todd?  Miss Mona?  Georges Seurat?  Evan frickin' Hansen (oh, the tears of devotion for this one)?  Alexander Hamilton?  Everyone in Follies?  Do we really need to demand remorse for what is obviously intended to be a relatively light comic number without actual major relevance to the plot?  One could even say the death of the dog foreshadows and balances the death of Angel, if they really needed some literary analysis to justify the character, though I feel it's ridiculously unnecessary as Angel actually comes across far more realistic and human when not painted with a golden brush of altruism.  

Something very similar is true about Whistle Down The Wind (at least as recorded in the London version) - a character we're later expected to regard as quite noble is introduced in a scene where he's drowning a bag of kittens. What on earth were these people thinking?

To me, it signaled the period and setting (where it was not an uncommon act) as well as the characters themselves.  The father is doing what he considers to be practical for an impoverished family in a small town and we're introduced to the charitable nature of the children (who save the kittens) that ultimately drives the entire plot.  But to be fair, Whistle Down the Wind was not a well-written show by any means.  Unsettled Scores is Lloyd Webber's most tedious and poorly structured ballad to date.

Updated On: 10/31/18 at 10:12 AM

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:49am

Editorial on Rent Live from Vanity Fair

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/10/rent-live-musical-cast-jordan-fisher-vanessa-hudgens/amp

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:30am

^
"signaling an emphasis on social-media stars, reality-show favorites, and singers, rather than more traditional celebrity star power. Which is not surprising for a TV phenomenon that lives and dies by the live-tweet."

Is this supposed to be encouraging?

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 1:03pm

Mister Matt,

we get it.  we have to see RENT like you see it our we're Donald Trump.  okay, we get it.  move on.  

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 3:25pm

Nope! Wrong again!

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 3:58pm

I plan to watch Rent Live no matter what happens

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 4:19pm

Mister Matt said: "Nope! Wrong again!"

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 9:48pm

I'm not mad at it. It's def a random mix of people. I was not expecting Valentina or Tinashe. I've seen Tinashe live and she is an amazing performer - I can totally see her as Mimi. Valentina has a beautiful singing voice. Even though theyre from at least 10 years ago, there are videos of her on youtube singing in high school productions..She was the lead in a lot of productions, apparently. 

[ccbway]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 3:01pm

Sondheimite said: "The re-writing/re-adapting of this is going to be limited to four letter words being removed and contact probably being cut. They aren't re-writing Mark's character or any piece of the show."

I suppose it all depends on what you mean by "re-writing" Mark's character or any piece of the show. I think it's very possible that there may be some contextual changes around Mark's character, given the casting, that could be addressed directly or indirectly to tweaks to the script. It seems like you seem to believe that outside of being edited for content, nothing will change - but I don't think that's guaranteed whatsoever. Changes will have to made to accommodate the casting, the "live" musical staging, the language and content for network TV, the run-time, etc.

I wouldn't imagine any drastic departures but I also don't think they will be treating everything like holy canon either.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 6:05pm

lukeworsham said: "
Also also, Michael Grief doesn't screw things up. Ever."

Oh I beg to differ