Breaking News: Neil Patrick Harris to Star in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH on Broadway - Spring 2014!- Page 9

[John Adams]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 7:26am

People who toss around words like "jabroni" without knowing what they mean (or how to spell them) are stunad.

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Ooooh. Lookey there - the 200th reply to this thread. I expected balloons and confetti. Updated On: 6/18/13 at 07:26 AM

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 7:52am

The jabroni (or gerbrony or gibrony) on NY1 just reported that Neil Patrick Harris would be returning to the Broadway stage next season in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY WITCH. Lol! What a jabroni!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 8:01am

I was away from the board yesterday, and I don't have time to read all the posts, but I'm sure I speak for everyone on BroadwayWorld when I say that THIS IS THRILLING NEWS, because NPH will be brilliant in the role and the play and music will sound WONDERFUL in a small Broadway theater.

This is terrific casting and producing.

BRAVO!

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 8:08am

Probably irrelevant, but academic/English major instinct makes me want to say this:

In English, the standard spelling is "jabroni," as anyone who was in elementary middle school during the WWF boom will remember from T-shirts, folders and lunchboxes. Using "gibroni" is still acceptable because it's Italian, but there is at least one standard way to spell it.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 8:12am

I'm excited to see what he can do with the role. I remember being really impressed with his tenor range in the Assassins revival. He can act. He has stage presence. He can move. He can sing.

The big question mark for me is if he can get the edge in his voice to pull off the big rock moments. Hedwig needs a little gravel.

As for people saying it'll just be a star turn, what the heck do you think Hedwig is? It's mostly a series of monologues separated by songs about the title character. The onstage interactions with the bandmates are secondary to the story of Hedwig. Of course it's a star turn. It's also not the best known show, so of course they want to minimize risk by casting a star. At least they chose one who can sing, act, move well, and is passionate about theater.

[John Adams]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 8:20am

>> I don't have time to read all the posts, but I'm sure I speak for everyone on BroadwayWorld when I say [...]

huh?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 8:41am

(avoid reading back, PalJoey. avoid reading back!)

You certainly speak for me. Thrilling!

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:03am

As the great old song puts it, "But not for me."

Since when has everyone on this or any other theater board agreed on any given topic?

Irrespective of whether he can meet the demands of a high-octane performance eight times a week (is Hedwig now fortysomething??), I wonder whether Harris will be able to fill the theater enacting material that may not align with the tastes of his TV fans. We shall see.



Updated On: 6/18/13 at 09:03 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:17am

Oh John Adams, you've only had a momentary lapse of gibroniism. As soon as you see a clip of Harris/Hedwig and you say the six most gorgeous words in the American language: "You were right. I was wrong," all will be forgotten.

MOST of the rest of them, however, are certifiable gibronis through and through.

[IAMWHATIAM]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:36am

Put me in the "so excited about this" camp. I can't wait to see this again, and to see NPH tackle it. I think it's going to be a thrilling experience.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:40am

It's going to be great.

There will be a lot of crow served after it opens.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:45am

wow, this is nothing new but the amount of anger coming from the NPH supporters towards the others is amazing. (yes, amazing). It's like someone is threatening to kill your pet. Don't take it so personally folks!

And btw, Luther lures Hedwig, not the other way around. Remember the candy trail?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:48am

It's not anger, it's love.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:51am

I hate how you love.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:51am

Isn't "Jabroni" a song from The Music Man? I think Marcellus Washburn sings it.

And to me, Jane, it's the amount of anger coming from the NPH detractors that is so amazing.

EDIT: It isn't just like they "don't care for him," it's like he peed in their Cheerios or something.

Updated On: 6/18/13 at 09:51 AM

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:55am

Some of y'all are pretty naive...just because an actor has a "Skill set" or is "Great live" or was "Wonderful in Company and Assassins" doesn't mean they'll be great as Hedwig. I love NPH. I've always been a big fan of his...I loved him in Assassins! But, this casting is so far off the mark it's laughable. While I'm going to have to obviously hold my final judgements until after I see this...I'm afraid to predict that NPH is going to fall quite short of everyone's expectations. When you're not right for a role...you're just not right for a role. And I'm sorry Finding Namo, but your banter is very annoying. This is a Broadway message board...leave people alone whose opinions vary from your's. And I agree, this is a show that should definitely NOT come to Broadway. Worst idea ever.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:57am

BwayBuff2---NPH opinions aside ...

Why do you think this is a show that should never come to Broadway ("worst idea ever")?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:58am

My favorite post in all this debacle via NYadgal:

(avoid reading back, PalJoey. avoid reading back!)

As for my 7 and a half cents:

Color me excited over this!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:58am

<-------- Gibronis exit, pursued by a bear.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 10:47am

I don't really know enough about Hedwig to form an opinion as whether NPH is "right" or not. After hearing about Hedwig for so long, I'm just mighty excited to have the opportunity to see it for myself.

Question: looking on iTunes, there seems to be two different albums....I'm assuming one from the film and one from an off b'way production. Any advice on choosing one?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 10:47am

For me, the most compelling performances can be those that are against type. So, when I think of Hedwig, NPH is not the first name that comes to mind. For many roles, the first name that comes to mind is someone whose performance I can clearly envision, and while that performer still has the capability to go beyond my expectations, my anticipation is not piqued. So, I'm very much looking for to seeing what NPH can do with this.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 10:49am

The cast recording is more rock and roll than the movie version, which is more movie musical.

Don't overlook the Hedwig tribute album, "Wig in a Box."

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 10:55am

I'd get the off broadway version. And don't even listen to Wig in a Box until you're familiar with the show score.

I was disappointed with Wig in a Box, just sayin.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 11:01am

dramamama, I love both recordings, but if you only want one go with the OCR. It's a little more rough around the edges and "gritty." The movie soundtrack is perhaps a bit too polished and precise, but still is wonderful in its own right.

If you haven't seen the film you absolutely must.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 11:10am

"The movie soundtrack is perhaps a bit too polished and precise ..."

Which is doubly funny when you think about how Trask and Mitchell used to go on about RENT being too polished and precise!