Corbin Bleu heads for 'Heights' !?!- Page 2

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:04am

Add me to the list that doesn't understand this casting at all. Benny or Sonny I could understand. But I can't see him as Usnavi at all. Oh well.

gypsymal56: I thought the exact same thing!

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:08am

terrible decision.

Shame on them.. seriously.

[purtynpynk]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:17am

yeah, this definitely doesn't sound like the right casting for this role. Hm.....

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:38am

Major stunt casting. I know the show's grosses have been incosistent lately, but I cannot picture him as Usnavi at all.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:40am

Shame on the casting directors. Talent aside, he isn't right for the role ETHNICALLY. It is a show that deals with ethnicity, so why would it be okay to just overlook that aspect? No no no. Just... no. However, I can't judge him on his talent because I haven't actually seen enough of his work to judge.

[Craww]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:49am

LOL, CHAD DANFORTH. (Oh my god, I know that. I'm killing myself now.)

It's kind of how they cast Mimis. "Light or medium brown, that's good enough".

Now that I'd mention it, he might be better as Mimi.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 1:56am

Is Bleu even going to be a major enough box office draw? He's not like Zac Efron, who has managed to cross out of HSM into major motion pictures. His fame is exclusive to HSM, and how many of those kids are going to be begging to see In the Heights?

[rwu2010]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 2:34am

Corbin Bleu in January? Hold up just a minute
I think In The Heights just pushed it to the limit
Lin, you created the great role of Usnavi
Sendin it off to the talented Javi
But now you let the Disney boy in on your show?
Even if he can sing, can he really hold the flow?
He's out of his league with all the Puerto Ricans
No way he can pass for an off the boat Dominican
I'll see it a 4th time for the music and the dance
But this time I won't want to get inside Usnavi's pants
Lin, I hope you approved of this casting decision
Cuz In the Heights should remain as all that you envision

[Azuah.]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 2:56am

I don't think much can be said about Corbin not being Hispanic..seeing as I'm sure Kyle beltran isn't either..

But I'm still not understanding this at all. Updated On: 12/9/09 at 02:56 AM

[Azuah.]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 2:56am

[Craww]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 4:20am

Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Bet On It' parody was slavish perfection, so I wouldn't be shocked if he's a closet HSM fanatic and loves this idea.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 4:33am

I'd be shocked to find out that Lin didn't have a large say in the decisions.

My initial reactions were "Whaaaa?" along with "a desperate attempt at stunt casting", but it does have me thinking. Bleu may indeed be able to "pass" ethnically (gosh, what an awful expression) and musically and phyisically I'm sure he has the goods. My doubts are whether he is 'right' and whether he has "it" for the stage -- stamina- and presence- wise. I will admit: a few years ago, he was part of a concert I took my pre teen daughter to, and he was damn entertaining.

I'd be curious to see what he does with the role....and bringing my kids to see him MIGHT just get me back in the theater to see it a second time. (Maybe.)

[Lin-Manuel Miranda]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 4:46am

In response to rwu2010, since he took the time to rhyme his concerns:

First of all, thank you for taking the time
to write a message in full sentences, much less make it rhyme.
You'd be amazed at all the horrid punctuation I see
e.g. "I-L-Y, ROTFL, OK G2G."
Now as for Corbin Bleu, chalk it up to ambition.
The dude came in and straight SMASHED his audition.
But can he "hold the flow?" Well, I know the part, I did it.
We'd NEVER cast someone unless they proved that they could spit it.
When he came in the room, I ain't think that he would get it.
He won us over, pa. You can tell the haters I said it.

Now THIS is sensitive, and I'm hesitant to begin again
But I'm a Puerto Rican-Mexican; I PLAYED Dominican.
And everyone's from everywhere, we are reppin' so many things
Andrea's Venezuelan and Jewish, Karen's like twenty things
So yes, I see your point, but ethnicity's just a factor
They've gotta play the part: in the end, dude is an ACTOR.

Javi is amazing. Jon Rua is too.
Michael Balderrama makes the drama ring true.
They're big footsteps; I wrote a really big shoe.
This one is Lin-approved: Mr. Corbin Bleu.

Thanks for your message. And thanks for seeing the show 3 times.

Siempre,

Lin-Manuel Miranda

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 4:56am

Sweet. ^

And thanks for chiming in!

[Craww]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:43am

Hah! Brilliant.

I watched the Alexander Hamilton video literally two minutes ago, so it was way too easy to imagine how the flow of that post would sound.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:46am

Haha, nice!

Well I didn't see this coming at all, but I know I'll be seeing it again with him and hopefully before to see Javier before he leaves. Hope this stunt-casting isn't a bad sign.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:24am

OMIGOD OMIGOD WAS THAT REALLY LIN-MANUEL

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:36am

Maybe it was Orfeh again.

[Craww]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:58am

Maybe it was Orfeh again.

He didn't threaten to sue anyone, so probably not. (Though he might have a good libel case against someone who called him a closet High School Musical fanatic.)

[Weez]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 8:03am

Wait, wait, a hip-hop concept album about Alexander Hamilton? Well, and WHY NOT?! XD

[Craww]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 8:31am

I think it's the Best Idea Ever. But I'm a legit Hamilton obsessive, sooo.

(We should just skip straight to the stuntcasting for Alexander Hamilton: The Musical! That'd be the perfect Broadway debut role for Lucas Grabeel.)

[wendilin622]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:32am

I was planning on going back to see it in a few weeks with my mother, who wants to see it for the first time. Frankly, Corbin Bleu has very little draw for me and my mother so that won't be the thing GETTING us to the theatre but we certainly won't be NOT going because of him. (to be honest, I had to google him to make sure I was thinking of the right kid). I still think its a wonderful show and I'm excited for my momma to see it

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:52am

In the Heights was one show I never thought would go this route of casting celebs, or some-what celebs in this case. Very dissapointed

[zepka102]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:57am

I'm still trying to process this.


I keep thinking, "maybe he'll pull a Diana Degarmo." Remember how we thought she would be a trainwreck in Hairspray? I was so impressed with her and she ended up being one of my 2 favorite Penny's.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:04am

As Stewie Griffin once said, "What the hell is this?"