Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Chip Zien going into Les Miz
#1Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:15pmHeard last night that Chip Zien (Into the Woods, Falsettos, A New Brain) is going to be filling in for a vacationing Gary Beach at Les Miz this summer! Great idea!
#2re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:24pmAnd he was great in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang too.
amalou
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/07
#2re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/15/07 at 6:35pm
Thank. God.
Gary Beach annoyed the hell out of me in this role. But since I've grown up watching the Into the Woods dvd, I should really try to see him.
"But I can tell you that Raoul, who was so handsome in "The Phantom," is now a drunken wreck."
desiree armfeldt
Broadway Star Joined: 1/8/07
#3re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/15/07 at 6:54pmYES! I love Chip Zien....I love Gary Beach too...but YAY! CHIP ZIEN!
desiree armfeldt
Broadway Star Joined: 1/8/07
#4re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/15/07 at 6:55pm
speaking of les mis cast changes....what is going on? are they replacing mandy bruno? harada?
#5re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:15pmWhen is Beach out of the show for? I'll be seeing Les Mis soon.
2008 European Tour
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#6re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 1:48am
I love Chip! Although I like Gary as a performer more.
Chip will be great!!!
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#7re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 2:34amWonderful! I love Chip, and I'm happy to see him on Broadway anytime.
"Why, I make more money than... than... than Calvin Coolidge! PUT TOGETHER!"
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
#8re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 10:26amGary's going to be out July and August
http://two-sails.blogspot.com/
being.jeremiah
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#9re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 10:29am
From Lea Salonga's blog, 15 June 2007 at 7:30pm:
"Over the next many days, there will be numerous cast changes and shuffles... one actor is going from his current track to another and being given an additional role to understudy, another actor is being given a brand new understudy position, three people are leaving this Sunday, two people are leaving next weekend, one is coming in as a replacement for another who's going on medical leave, and so on and so forth. That means a seemingly endless train of rehearsals and put-ins, costume alterations, and little to no sleep for the stage management and wardrobe departments who, I'm sure, are praying to STOP THE INSANITY.
So yes, our constant state of flux will remain, and I don't see an end in sight for this condition. As exciting as things can be when changes come, it's also nice when things finally settle in, and we can all enjoy some sameness for a good enough time.
At this moment I am not at liberty to make any public announcements of who's coming and going, but once I know, so will you. Please stay tuned."
#10re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 1:39pmHoly cow! There's going to be a new vacation swing, too, from what I understand. Don't know when, though.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#12re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 3:20pm
Did the announce that this show is open ended, or does it have a closing date, or are they just silently shuffling the status of this show so nobody complains?
I think that Antonijan is an impersonator for Antoonijan, a far more useful poster. Mods, might wanna check into that.
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#14re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 3:44pmWhat day in July exactly? I'm going in July 4th.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#15re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 3:57pm
I hope that the changes to the cast are all good. Chip Zien would be great!! My friend who's currently playing the foreman and has been understudying Javert recently got assigned to understudy Jean Valjean. I hope I get to see him next time I'm in the city.
Cheers,
Christopher
www.christopherviolett.com
#14re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 4:14pmOh, wow, Ben Crawford? They haven't had a double cover for Valjean/Javert in a loooong time. Pretty cool. :)
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
desiree armfeldt
Broadway Star Joined: 1/8/07
#15re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 6:42pmThat's exciting. I wonder who needs a "sick cover"? Mandy Bruno or Ben David.....or both?
Marianne
Stand-by Joined: 4/10/07
#16re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 6:56pm
Ben Crawford as... Valjean? Isn't he a bass-baritone? And, y'know, in his early twenties?
*scratches head*
#17re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 6:58pm
Alex Gemignani isn't exactly the oldest Valjean either. S'called acting. 
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#18re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 7:09pmHey, it can be done with the right makeup and stuff.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#19re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 7:11pmEveryone wants to be the next JOJ!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#20re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 9:35pm^But they can't quite get there.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#21re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 9:41pmI just got back from NYC -- saw the Les Mis matinée and loved it. Bruno and Harada weren't actually that bad -- nothing to write home about, but they didn't ruin it either (although for the first time I DID NOT cry during 'A Little Fall of Rain'). Gary Beach . . . well, that man makes my life.
I chose, and my world was shaken. So what?
The choice may have been mistaken. The choosing was not.
#22re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 10:53pm
Who else has doubled-covered Valjean & Javert on Broadway? (I know they do it in London and that Philip Hernandez played has played both but not as a double-cover.)
Honestly I'm not a fan of double-covers for roles which I feel should have as much vocal contrast as possible, but oh well. :)
#23re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 11:03pm
Yes Ben is in his early twenties. I'm pretty sure he can sing Valjean and I don't think that the powers above would put him as an understudy if they didn't feel that he could handle the role. I hope that he does well with the new understudy assigment; he's got a great beautiful voice!
Cheers,
Christopher
www.christopherviolett.com
Marianne
Stand-by Joined: 4/10/07
#24re: Chip Zien going into Les Miz
Posted: 6/16/07 at 11:23pm
Yes, well, the powers above also made Drew Sarich understudy Javert, and while he's quite good acting-wise, it's very obvious that he doesn't have some of Javert's low notes. He also looks really young no matter how much makeup they put on him. I'm afraid the same thing will happen with Ben. He does indeed have a beautiful voice, but it's a beautiful low baritone voice, and the Powers That Be haven't exactly shown flawless judgement in choosing the right ages and vocal ranges for the understudies so far.
(If they're making Ben the new Valjean cover, does that mean Jeff Kready or Victor Hawks is leaving?)
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