Does Reeve Carney like playing Spider-Man THAT much?

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:18am

It's been nearly 2 1/2 years since the show started previews and Reeve is still in the show. I think he's great in the role, but I'm just baffled that he's chosen to stay with it this long. If I'm not mistaken he's the only original main cast member to still be with the show. Can he not find other work, or does he just really like playing the role? I just figured he might get bored with the part after playing it 6 times a week for 2 years.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:28am

I didn't realize that he's been in it that long (nor that he was still in it). My guess is that he can't find any other work. What show could he possibly go in with that voice? Also I heard he's less than pleasant to be around so I doubt that helps.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:31am

Could it be a well paid role? I imagine it requires lots of training and skill, so he could be valuable to the production therefore able to command a decent price

[steven22]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:35am

The production has gone through a bunch of understudies as well for Spider-Man...I think they are on their 3rd for that role..and 3 standby as well (Matthew James Thomas, Matt Capalan was briefly, and now Jake Epstein)

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:38am

Is he really? When I met him at the stage door a couple years ago he was everything but unpleasant. He was very sweet to all of his fans and to my young sister who had just seen her first Broadway show.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:38am

Had that Jeff Buckley movie not fallen through he'd probably have left already.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:39am

^Yeah Lizzie, it's a shame that fell through. I was really looking forward to it.

[Patronus]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:39am

There is something to be said for getting a solid paycheck. It isn't like this kid is Michael Cerveris or the second coming of Jerry Orbach.

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:40am

I am sure he likes that check. Beats working at Burger King.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:43am

What the hell else is he gonna do? His rock band? The one U2 was gonna have open for them before Spider-Man killed their career?

[suestorm]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:43am

"I heard he was unpleasant."

I love when people just pull crap like this out of the sky. you can say that about anyone. I met him and Jenn Damiano in a restaurant and they were the coolest sweetest cutest couple ever.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:44am

@Patronus, I agree he's no Michael Cerveris or Jerry Orbach, but he does have a solid rock 'n roll voice. I think he'd be great in other shows with a rock sound (granted there aren't that many on Broadway right now). His band was also starting to get noticed right before they had to take a break because of his involvement with the show.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:46am

"he does have a solid rock 'n roll voice."

For a U2 tribute band.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:46am

"There is something to be said for getting a solid paycheck.

There's also a lot to be said for staying visible and creating new roles. After the first 6 months in one show, the industry really sort of forgets who you are. You have to keep moving on and doing new projects to keep your name out there as an A-list player.

Otherwise, you just become that Cat who stayed in the show for 27 years... (a career which many are content to have).

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:47am

You got me sue. I just didn't have anything better to say so I pulled that completely out of the sky.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:50am

@newintown: I guess he'll just go down in the books as one of those people. Along with Anthony Rapp, Carol Channing and Jennifer Holliday.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 10:56am

Anthony Rapp is hardly a star, except to Rentheads.

Carol Channing created two of the most famous roles ever on Broadway, had an enormously popular cabaret act for decades, appeared almost daily (it seemed) on television, and did several movies. Not comparable - she was all over the place.

Jennifer Holiday... well, you're sort of proving my point with that sad story.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 11:13am

I just asked him and he said that he is enjoying playing Spiderman very much.

So....case closed.

In all seriousness though, when I met him he was very sweet.

[evic]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:07pm

Sweet guy and very good in a terrible show. He and his agents are smart. Making good salary, adding to his pension and gaining international fans. Better to be starring on Broadway than doing your club act at Below 54 like Tony award winner Kazee.

[suestorm]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:13pm

""Better to be starring on Broadway than doing your club act at Below 54 like Tony award winner Kazee""


OUCH, CHEAP SHOt!! Kazee would still be in ONCE if he could

[Kad]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:16pm

Yeah, performing at one of the best cabaret venues, which regularly hosts Tony-award winners, Broadway legends, and beloved Broadway actors and actresses... REALLY hitting the skids.

It's 54 Below, for god's sake, not some hole in the wall.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:18pm

Yul Brenner was another one who stuck with a role for quite a while. Didn't hurt his career any.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:22pm

There are performers who put an indelible stamp on a role that eventually becomes iconic.

Has Reeve Carney done that? Ehh. The role is one that will be the draw, not the actor. Who cares who's playing Spider-Man? It's Spider-Man- that's who people care to see.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:29pm

Yul Brynner? He did the first run of The King and I for 3 years, during which he was frequently featured on TV variety shows. And then he did a lot of movies (as well as some less successful theatre roles). He may be the exception that proves the rule. I don't think that you can really compare the roles, either - King made Brynner an international star. The name "Reeve Carney" is still pretty obscure. The star of Spider-Man is the spectacle, not the people.

But if collecting a salary and "adding to his pension" are his priorities, then it's a fine choice. Several actors have acknowledged that they felt they made a career mistake staying too long with one show.

And re: appearing at 54 Below? It's a high-class joint, where your performance gets a notice in the Times, and industry folks can see you doing something other than that one (perhaps widely denigrated) thing you've done for years.

Updated On: 4/24/13 at 04:29 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 4:47pm

I saw this again last fall and he looked incredibly bored in the role. But what a sweet job. Why would he leave?