DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

#1

DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:05am

After seeing this show three times, once with Norbert (who was nothing short of amazing) and twice with his understudy Jason Gillman - it stuns me that his understudy did not get the role when Norbert left. I may be alone on this but I was very very impressed by his understudy, so much that when I found out the 2nd time that Norbert wasn't in, I wasn't completely destroyed. So does anyone know if Gillman was even offered the role?

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I made a list of all your faults, it was quite detailed and lengthy too and when I read it through I missed you. Your like a classic Eagles song, you just cant help but sing along even though it sometimes gets annoying too. I just know I want to be wherever I can wake and see you there next to me. **High Fidelity** Love is what I do **The Wedding Singer** Xanadu - Best NEW Musical of the Season!

#2

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:39am

Jason was fantastic, and I was kind of surprised that they didn't choose him for Norbert's replacement. I still think Brian d'Arcy James will be just as fantastic.

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http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda "And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

#3

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:47am

I'm surprised his understudy isn't doing it---he was fantastic!

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"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

#4

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:08pm

Jason is very good in the role but the producers wanted a well known Broadway person to take over the role. I am sure Jason realized that and is confortable with the decision. Good luck Brian.

#5

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:11pm

Brian has just as much talent and experience as Norbert.

He has a killer voice, and in ways I find his voice better than Noberts.

#6

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:18pm

I'm not saying anything against Brian, just expressing my surprise...

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"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

#7

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:46pm

my main point was I went to go see Norbert my 2nd and 3rd time, and this replacement was really witty and was very good in the role. I was surprised that he did not get picked up for the role on a full time basis, its a shame that just because he was not known that he was not considered for the role. Everyone has got to start somewhere. Although, my only comment with him was he needs to gain some weight for the role, just a little and maybe a midnight shadow to look the role. But I agree with all of you that Brian is very very talented.

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I made a list of all your faults, it was quite detailed and lengthy too and when I read it through I missed you. Your like a classic Eagles song, you just cant help but sing along even though it sometimes gets annoying too. I just know I want to be wherever I can wake and see you there next to me. **High Fidelity** Love is what I do **The Wedding Singer** Xanadu - Best NEW Musical of the Season!

#8

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:48pm

I also have heard that the understudy is great...any news if he's staying on after Brian leaves?

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RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~

#9

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:17pm

I doubt DRS is going to last past d'Arcy James. It played to 90% for Norbert's last week, but the numbers would significantly drop out when he was out for pre-planned amounts of time. I can only imagine what they'll be without him. And even with Norbert, post-Lithgow it averaged in the high 70's, low 80's and even ocasionally dipped into the 60's.

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Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 01:17 PM

#10

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:40pm

I, too, am wondering what's up with not letting Jason take over full time. I saw him and enjoyed his take on Freddy as much as Norbert's- in a different way, of course

That said, I think Brian will be great in the role.

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"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES--- "THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS

#11

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:51pm

I don't think it's so much that Brian is "known"--a bit more to the Broadway community than Jason, but his name wouldn't affect sales, but he did the very first workshop as Freddy. Apparently he was very good, so it makes sense that they would bring him in to replace Norbert.

Jason was great, but if you really want to talk about an understudy who should have taken over...Joe Cassidy! He was so great, had the little tummy(I agree about Jason needing to gain a bit of a tummy), and like was said about Brian, I think he had a better voice than Norbert. An excellent high range--I loved the high note he reached in DRN.

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"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

#12

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:23pm

SomethingWicked, If you really think Norbert was the only one selling the show, there is a problem.

#13

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:26pm

No where did I say Norbert was the only person selling tickets. I did say he was the main draw after John left, and I stand by that.

You can't honestly say the general public was going to see anyone other than Butz. With the OBC, the draw was obviously Lithgow (hence the HUGE drop offs when he would be out,) but after him, Norbert was most deffinetly the person people were coming to see.

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Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 02:26 PM

#14

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:28pm

As for me, I went to see the show because I really loved both Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz in The Last 5 Years. Thats why I bought my tickets during the Previews. I personally was eager to see SHERIE RENE SCOTT. I mean the show was insane when I first saw it, Lithgow was awesome, and Sara G was amazing in Oklahoma.

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I made a list of all your faults, it was quite detailed and lengthy too and when I read it through I missed you. Your like a classic Eagles song, you just cant help but sing along even though it sometimes gets annoying too. I just know I want to be wherever I can wake and see you there next to me. **High Fidelity** Love is what I do **The Wedding Singer** Xanadu - Best NEW Musical of the Season!

#15

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:29pm

does Sherie bring people in? Probably not more than Norbert but you would think some...

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RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~

#16

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:30pm

I mean people that are not "musical theater people." Most of the people in the show aren't known for much outside of Broadway, but since Butz was the Tony-winner, he was drawing people in post-Lithgow.

Obviously fans of musical theater knew alot of the performers, and different fans went to see different people. I am not saying performers like Sherie and Jonathan and Sara weren't box office draws. What I'm saying is that Norbert was by far the biggest attraction to see the show after John had left.

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Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 02:30 PM

#17

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:38pm

Gotta disagree somethingwicked. In another thread, many of us have agreed that currently the biggest and probably only "name draw" in DRS is Lucie Arnaz. Non-theatre fans know her; not Norbert.

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"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

#18

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:10pm

Butz definitely wasn't a draw for the show...

#19

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:12pm

Yes, I agree. Luci Arnaz really is the main ticket draw at the moment, even when Norbert was still there. Thank goodness she does such a great job!

#20

re: DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:13pm

I love D'Arcy James.

I'd still like to see Wayne Brady or Dan Fogler in the role, however slim those chances may be.