Cavenaugh Offered the Role of Tony in WSS- Page 5

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:20pm

and Lea Michele will be there. and will be cast.... as Maria.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:20pm

I hope they're going to see the girl who sang "Tonight" at the Variations on Shakespeare. Sara Michelle Valencia. She was adorable and sang the heck out of that song.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:28pm

Hmm sarcasm, and yet a stupid statement since if that was true this thread wouldn't be so bitchy about his age would it?

Well, first off, you were like the fourteenth person to make a comment of that type. Second of all, it would be a non-issue if all the pre-stuff from Laurents wasn't about how "different" this production was going to be.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:45pm

and Lea Michele will be there. and will be cast.... as Maria.

TDH, I'm sure you can understand why people are a bit skeptical of your prognostications, after the Aaron Tveit fiasco, no?

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:46pm

The callback came down to Matt Cavenaugh and Matt Shingledecker. I was sort of hoping that Shingledecker would get it...

I can't WAIT to see who they cast as the firey Anita!

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:57pm

I can't WAIT to see who they cast as the firey Anita!

I'm rooting for Karen Olivo!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 12:58pm

I think Shingledecker would have been a better choice, too.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 1:17pm

It's amusing that some of you are still complaining about the age issue. A few of us posted here three months ago that Laurents had abandoned the idea of casting teenagers because he couldn't find the talent. Once that was out of the picture, he obviously went with the best talent he could find. As I posted in May, the final four were three very well-known Broadway actors and one lesser known Broadway actor. None were teens, Shingledecker being the youngest. It was ultimately decided that, due to other casting, he was too young for the role of Tony.

The individuals who insisted in May that they were still having open calls for the role, (if I'm remembering correctly, there was even someone here who was claiming to have gone in on a callback and was adamant that they were going for 'total unknowns'!), are remarkably silent today. Those four who were in final callbacks were the same four for the entire process until the final determination was made in early July.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 1:46pm

Diana Degarmo for Maria!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 1:52pm

I don't think anyone expected teenagers to be cast. But, surely, they could have gone with someone in their 20's.

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:12pm

"Age appropriate" or not, I don't think Matt is too old for the role. I think he'll be terrific, loved him in Grey Gardens and A Catered Affair.

As for Maria, what about Krysta Rodriguez. I saw her go on about a month ago as Nina in ITH. Does she have the soprano chops to do it??
Updated On: 8/13/08 at 02:12 PM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 3:19pm

Well, Adam, as I said, what it came down to was the peripheral casting decisions and how the final Tony candidates looked with the surrounding cast. I, too, would have enjoyed seeing Matt Shingledecker book this job, as he is tremendously talented, but am happy that he will get the chance to showcase his talents in the SA tour, in addition to the added experience.

[jennyish]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 7:03pm

Blechh. I don't care for Matt Cavanaugh at all.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:33pm

Maybe they wanted dancers who could do more choreography other than jumping up and down and touching themselves.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 1:58am

Jennyish, he probably doesn't care for you either, my dear.

[regnad kcin]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:25pm

I was chatting with my dad and he bought up how it'd make sense for Tony to be older than the rest of the Jets - he helped found them and sort of "grew out" of them. And hey, if he can pass he can pass as the age. Do even know for sure they are supposed to be teens? I also think it's ok for Tony NOT to be tough...he's cleaned up and reformed.

For the record, I always pictured Anita quite a few years older than Maria. An aunt-older sister type.
Updated On: 8/14/08 at 11:25 PM

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:31pm

For the record, I always pictured Anita quite a few years older than Maria. An aunt-older sister type.


Andrea Burns

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:43pm

If Maria is what, 16, then Bernardo probably wouldn't be more than 20 or 21. I wouldn't think Anita was much, if any, older than that. I would guess that's what Tony's age would top out at, too.

Was statutory rape not an issue in the 50s?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:50pm

I never thought Maria would be that young. 18 is the youngest I'd ever considered her, but could see her being as old as 20 with Anita being as old as 24.

I think Riff and Tony are the same age...but could totally buy them being older than many of the other jets.

I ALWAYS assumed they were past HS age...since there is no mention of school during the story. After all the girls have jobs, as does Tony.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:54pm

hasn't Laurents or Sondheim (or the script itself) stated that she's to be between 16 - 18?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 12:02am

Well, doesn't it take place in the summer? That could be why Maria isn't in school.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 2:42am

Well, hell, people don't really sing and dance in real life. Maybe we should cut that in the great desire for realism--no, no, NATURALISM.

:P

It was also 1950--a different time regarding age issues.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 9:38am

I wonder if he'll still use that same Hyannis Port accent he's been using for everything lately. *rolls eyes*

And, hey, if we're going for a little bit older than they're supposed to be, let's get Laura Benanti as Maria.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 9:56am

I worked on this show a few years ago: I don't remember the script specifically stating ages...but since it was being done by HS kids, it wouldn't have paid THAT much attention....since even our doc was going to be 18 at the oldest!


Here is the description from Scene 3:

Anita, A Puerto Rican girl with loose hair and a slightly flashy "American" dress, is finishing remaking what was a white communion dress into a party dress for an extremely lovely, extremely young girl: Maria. Anita is knowing, sexual, sharp. Maria is an excited, enthusiastic, obedient CHILD mixed with the temper, stubborn strength and awareness of a woman.

Hm. Intersting.

The description in the libretto for Tony is much less descriptive, but nonetheless interesting:

On a small ladder, a good looking, sandy-haired BOY is painting a vertical sign....


Again. Hm. I will work on re-thinking my thoughts.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 10:26am

So Cavenaugh has been offered the role. Has he accepted it?