Cavenaugh Offered the Role of Tony in WSS- Page 3

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:10am

Not to be THAT kind of person...but as the person who leaked out this information first, weeks ago...I've gotta say...

I told you so! haha

The casting came down to Matt Cavenaugh and Matt Shingledecker.

And yes...I've heard the Lea Michele rumor as well.

I'm not too fond of Cavenaugh as Tony...hmmm...we'll see.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:13am

Lea Michele is too young opposite Cavenaugh. And seriously, I would be upset if they couldn't get a latin Maria in 2008.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:15am

The problem isn't whether Cavenaugh can play a teenager or not, of course he can, there is nothing wrong with his casting as Tony in the traditional sense. But I think many of us feel a little played by Arthur Laurents' big mouth and his proclaiming that he would finally cast teenagers to play teenagers in the show. It's more about the principle than anything else.
Now, if Lea Michele ends up playing Maria then I'd be genuinely annoyed.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:15am

I think Matt Cavenaugh looks like he'd been in a gang more than Richard Beymer did.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:22am

Debbie Allen was 30 when she played Anita on Broadway.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:22am

Ray....I totally agree with you about the proclamations and principle.

I'm not sure how I feel about the possibility of Lea Michele. Putting aside the actual Latina factor (which I agree with), I was NOT terribly impressed with her acting in Spring Awakening...but most of the reviews from Les Mis from the Bowl have been quite good, so I am, well, LESS opposed to it.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:25am

I'm sorry, but people on this thread are clearly saying that Matt Cavanaugh is "too old," not that Arthur Laurents "deceived" them. That's all I'm responding to.

(BTW, Max Von Essen is 31. )

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 3:02am

I want to hear gorgeous voices singing Bernstein's score. If there are teenagers who can do that 8 times a week at a Broadway level of legit singing, then I'm all for it. But, most of the time, that isn't possible. Most of the time, it just isn't biologically possible.

[BrianS]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 3:22am

"Lea Michele will be playing Maria. I stand by that."

I wouldn't put too much stock in that sentence. They were calling girls in well after TDH started that rumor. If they were set on her back then, why would they be seeing so many other people?

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 4:26am

That's too bad for Matt Shingledecker. He would have been a great Tony.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 4:30am

Matt Cavenaugh is 30. He looks and IS too old for this role. Arthur Laurents was apparently just running his mouth.

If there are teenagers who can do that 8 times a week at a Broadway level of legit singing, then I'm all for it. But, most of the time, that isn't possible. Most of the time, it just isn't biologically possible.

Maybe not teenagers, but I know plenty of men in their very early twenties who could sing the role magificently on a Broadway scedule AND read as age appropriate.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 5:48am

Mmm and now just another reason to excited about the WSS revival

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 7:54am

Since when are there stories on Playbill about offers going out when nothing has been signed or confirmed?

Cavenaugh must have some press agent. He's also risking the ire of the producers by planting this story.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:11am

They couldn't find someone who was any closer to the right age?

Will they change the lyrics?
"A Man like that, who kill your brother,
Forget that man and find another"

How sad.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:19am

Arthur Laurents: "...Every member of both gangs was always a potential killer even then. Now they actually will be..."

Should I still be skeered?

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:24am

Maybe the "new take" on the show will be that instead of getting shot, Tony is arrested for sleeping with an underage girl and for being a 30 year old guy who hangs around and plays with teenage boys.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:25am

Oh FFS, they have been casting people in their late 20s and early 30s to play younger roles since theatre began

Give it a rest people

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:34am

Lea Michele was in final callbacks with two other ladies. None of them got the role. They are holding more open auditions on Monday for Maria and Rosalia.

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:36am

Well we still don't technically know if he's going to perform the role or not because the article states that he was offered the role but it doesn't have confirmation on that nor do we know if he accepted it (not that I don't think he will...I mean that would be dumb to pass up this opportunity). I'm just waiting for the full official casting announcement before I make any judgments.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:48am

The literal police are out in force on this one. A performer's actual age means nothing if he or she reads younger onstage. For the crime of being 30, some of you are carrying on like Matt Cavenaugh is ready to be shipped to the glue factory. If he can act, sing and dance the role, I think he'll be a fine choice.

[dutch46mill2]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:53am

With Godspell being postponed or canceled I wonder if Degarmo will audition for Maria since she played it 4 years ago before she did Hairspray and Brooklyn.She's an old lady of 21 but if age appropriate has gone to the wayside I think she could still play a 17 year old.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:20am

"Tveit was in the FINAL round of callbacks. it was between him, Matt, and another man. douchebag."

On behalf of the rest of us here, I want to know why you are changing your story. That is NOT what you said, even claiming to have e-mails/PMs from Tveit confirming that he was Tony. And you even tried to go against Marc Shaiman's word, and the whole thing got out of hand.

Folks, this is why people get weary of those who claim to have inside information from a "realiable source."

[WestVillage]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:22am

Both Matt and Max Von Esson, regardless of their actual ages, look too old to play Tony. They both read in their 30s. Both are very talented men, but neither one of them looks like a teenager ... well, maybe from the last row of the second balcony, but not from 2nd row orchestra.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:26am

While very attractive - he does NOT look like a teenager.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:29am

I have never seen Cavenaugh perform - is he tall or on the shorter side? I was thinking if he is shorter, sometimes the way they do his hair or whatever, they can somehow give him that "younger" look.