Celia Keenan-Bolger and Light on the Piazza

[pndmnd]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:38pm

So, I was wondering (just wondering--not complaining, not giving a yay or a nay either way, so please don't jump on me) why Celia Keenan-Bolger didn't do the Broadway production of Light on the Piazza? Had she already accepted Spelling Bee, or had the producers wanted Kelli O'Hara instead?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:40pm

A birdie told me that she had severe vocal problems, and was replaced.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:41pm

But she was fine for Spelling Bee?

[Plum]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 9:01pm

I vaguely remember hearing that she didn't have conventional "leading lady" looks, so she was replaced.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 9:14pm

My guess: Too young. Clara is supposed to be 26 and Ms. Keenan-Bolger still could pass for her teens in a large house.

[hannahshule]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 9:18pm

I've read that she'll be in the Summer of '42 benefit on May 23rd, anybody know who she plays?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:08am

The vocal duties are much more demanding in Piazza than Bee.

She actually worked well as Clara, because you thought she was a kid and then found out how old she was later in the show, and it sorta worked.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:15am

Kyle saw her in the production. Where are you, Kyle?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:45am

I thought she was great when I saw her in the Seattle run. She is equally great in Bee.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:52am

She's wonderful in Spelling Bee. Can't speak for Piazza but I saw her in '42 here in NYC. It's a small role, three girls play sort of love interests for the boys and serve as little between-scene song seques a la the Andrews Sisters.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 11:10am

Yeah it was def a vocal thing. Celia is very talented but it was a hint out of her range. I liked her in the role, but Kelli's voice lives up there. Celia's tessitura is a bit lower.