Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi Walker

[joeybiltmore1]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 9:56pm

I'm sure this has been covered here, but could anyone clue me in as to why these two didn't get a chance to reprise their Broadway roles like most of the rest of the original principals in Rent? I'm sure Rosario and Tracie are capable replacements, but is either one really THAT much of a name? It seems to me the SHOW itself is all the star the film needs. Anyone?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 9:58pm

All I am going to say is SEARCH.

But think age and babie.

Plus star factor was an issue, I'm sure.

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:19pm

Rosario has a big enough fan base but that wasn't the only reason she was chosen. I'm sure if Rosario wasn't cast in the role of "Mimi" someone else OTHER THAN Daphne Rubin-Vega would have been cast.

Rosario is a great choice, not ONLY because she is recognizable BUT also take this into consideration: (a) she can sing, her mother is a voice teacher, you don't think this girl grew up with music around the house? (b) she's Latina (c) she grew up in the East Village. She was born for the role.

Daphne, although a great talent probably photographs older than what is required for her character.
Updated On: 8/5/05 at 10:19 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:23pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard that both were offered their respective parts and they both declined.

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:26pm

No they weren't. Rosario was the first one cast actually. Before anyone else.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:30pm

I stand corrected then. Daphne, though very attractive still, has not aged well.

[Gothrockboheme]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:34pm

Apparently you haven't seen Daphne up close. She still looks amazing and has PERFECT skin. She will be missed greatly in this movie...but I am interested in seeing Rosario's take on the character.

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:46pm

I love Daphne more than the next fella, trust me on this. I've been following Daphne before she was even in "RENT". She was part of a latin freestyle group known as "Pajama Party" and they scored some minor dance hits back in the early '90s.

This has been discussed ad nauseaum on this and other message boards but the fact is that she doesn't look her character's age. I don't think she looked her character's age when she first did the role. Stage is another medium, in the movies the obvious would become apparent on a 20 foot screen. This has no bearing on her talent or her beauty. I wish it would have been the entire OBC, it wasn't meant to be.

Gladly we'll have her again for the 10th Anniversary in April.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:49pm

Apparently you haven't seen Daphne up close. She still looks amazing and has PERFECT skin.

Actually, I have. I stand by my statement.

Posted: 8/5/05 at 11:25pm

in a movie, you kinda have to cast the main ones with definite ages first so that the rest of the people look comparable for what age they are assumed to be- Mimi is the only one who is given an age in the show- the rest are older, but thier age isnt specific.

[MusicRox]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 12:12am

Any reasons for Fredi Walker?

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:02am

I've always thought Fredi just wasn't interested in the project. She's moved on with her life.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:05am

No.

I think, for Fredi, it was another age thing.

[MusicRox]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:10am

Oh well, Tracie Thoms is amazing! I just really hate that we haven't had a chance of hearing Rosario's voice. They should have sung "Light My Candle" on the Today Show!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:13am

There's a thing going around with Rosario singing....Goodbye Love (?).... I think....

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:17am

Without You.

[MusicRox]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:20am

Have you heard it? How does she sound?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:21am

Oh, right.

I knew it was one of those.

Shes sounds amazing.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:33am

Singing Without You, she sounds nothing like the loudmouth she presents herself to be in so many interviews - which is a good thing imo.

[MusicRox]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:58am

Yay! I just found it! She sounds pretty good even though the track is of bad quality. Oh well, it's boot leg... I think it's her voice that will add the sincerity a lot of people are worried about not being there.

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 5:44am

Evelyn Nesbit, where do you get off calling Rosario Dawson a loud mouth? You're a jerk.
Updated On: 8/6/05 at 05:44 AM

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:00pm

Yes, a jerk gone half-deaf by the yelling beauty. :)

[loganp37]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:08pm

I think Tracie Thoms looks and sounds great for the role.

The only thing is, and this is slightly my opinion, but all of the women I have either seen or seen pictures of playing Joanne are more overweight than Tracie is.

But I don't think it was an issue.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:28pm

Someone told me that Daphne was pregnent so she couldn't do it, and looked to old.