Carmen Ghia - Brooks Ashmanskas

[LaurenB]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 8:36pm

I *finally* got to see The Producers and thought that Brooks Ashmanskas as Carmen Ghia was a hoot! My question...

Did anyone see both the original actor (name escapes me at the moment) and Brooks, and how did their performances compare?

Also, similar question about the Roger DeBris role. I thought that Jonathan Freeman was fantastic. Who played it originally, and did anyone see both performances?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 8:45pm

Yes, I saw both...GARY BEACH (la cage) was the original Roger.

Roger Bart was the original Carmen. I saw those two twice, and the new set once.

Roger is just....amazing. But Brooks was good too. I also saw it on Hunter's last day, so they were all very crazy.

And Gary BEach is a lot better.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 1:57am

yes brooks is hillarious as carmen. id like to attend a performance to see him understudy as Leo Bloom. Id love to see his interpretation.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 3:14am

he has such an amazing voice, too bad he doesnt get to showcase it too much.

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 10:09am

I've gotten the chance to see Roger, Brad Musgrove and Brooks. Roger is by far my favorite Carmen, but Brad and Brooks are both hilarious in the role.

When I went to see it the first time with Roger as Leo and Brooks as Carmen, Roger was mimicking Brooks' antics (even going so far as to do the mouth popping noise and prancing around stage).

I've also seen both Gary and Johnathan and loved both. Gary *is* Roger DeBris to me, but Johnathan gave an outstanding performance. Plus it's fun to see "Jafar" in drag.

~Jessica

[worrell4077]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:40pm

I've only seen Brad and Brooks, and although both were hysterical in the role, me, my mom, and my sister prefer Brad to Brooks(Brad does the arm a whole lot funnier than Brooks does). I've seen both Gary and Johnathan as Roger and I prefer Gary over Johnathan because Gary is Roger DeBris.

A little side note, Is Brad coming back to The Producers with Gary? All the articles about Gary coming back mention Brad as Carmen Ghia, not Brooks.
________________________________________________________________
"Sometimes weird stuff happens. Someone has to deal with it, and Who Ya Gonna Call?"
-Ghostbusters II