Esparza in Night Music?
Esparza in Night Music?
Ed_Mottershead
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#1Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 8:39amIn today's Post, Riedel speculated that Raul Esparza could be playing the male lead in Night Music revival. IMO, that's super casting, given the added bonus of Angela Lansbury (who, per Rediel, still hasn't signed on officially) and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Any reactions to this?
BroadwayEd
#2re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 8:45am
This was thrown around before but thought to be false for a reason I cannot remember..but I suppose if it's recent news, then..
But LOL it would be HILARIOUS if we're 'promised' Lansbury, Zeta-Zones and Esparza, and end up without any of them. Could this be the biggest casting letdown ever?
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"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#2re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 8:48amBut should it work out...what beautiful night music.
#3re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 8:55amWow, I would be thrilled if this turns out to be true!!
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#4re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:04amI'd MUCH rather someone else. Can we please have Boyd Gaines?
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
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musicalbluemirror
Stand-by Joined: 3/16/09
#5re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:17amI would love to see raul do night music but brian once u said Boyd, I could actually see that being great!
#6re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:19amIf you read the article a little more closely, you'll note that Reidel states that the casting of Esparza is from fan favorites writing in to him - it's not rumored otherwise - just wishful thinking from fans.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:21amPlease know that Boyd Gaines has vocal limitations. He's a great guy and a terrific actor, but I don't know if he could sing this role.
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#8re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:27am
"If you read the article a little more closely, you'll note that Reidel states that the casting of Esparza is from fan favorites writing in to him - it's not rumored otherwise - just wishful thinking from fans."
Oh, then it MUST be true! :)
Personally, I hope it isn't. I don't like Esparza for Frederik.
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#9re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:29amAs FrontRowCenter2 explained, the article says that the hunt is on for the role of Fredrick, and that Riedel simply received suggestions from people. He didn't say that Esparza is necessarily rumored to actually play the part, he only said that he received the most votes from readers.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#10re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:46amIf I were them, I'd still be looking for a movie star.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
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#11re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:57am
"If I were them, I'd still be looking for a movie star."
Well, Kevin Kline can sing, but I don't know if his voice can carry this role.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
#12re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:20amIf Esparza is cast, I will seriously consider not going. I can't listen to his vibrato.
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#13re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:21amListen to On the 20th Century or The Pirates of Penzance. Kline can definitely handle Frederik. I would actually love the idea of Kline as Frederik, more than any of the Broadway names mentioned. But with that in mind, I'm ready to be let down.
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lovesclassics
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#14re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:25am
Kevin Spacey can sing. 'Course, he's probably too old for this production. Big name, though. And I think he has the right qualities for Fredrik.
Beyond the Sea
Perfectly Marvelous
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/16/06
#15re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:31amI love me some Raul Esparza, anyone who knows me knows that. But I don't know...I can't imagine him in A Little Night Music.
"I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes and dreamer of improbable dreams." - Doctor Who
"Yes, the brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over, men recognize that the human race has been harshly treated but it has moved forward." - Les Miserables
#16re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:45amI agree that they should pursue a film star (though someone reputable of course). I love the idea of Kevin Kline as Fredrick, but I imagine they'll consider him too old for the role.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#17re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:47amI'm so sick of all this speculation! I just want to know who is it and when it's starting already, ha!
#18re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:50am
Do any of you know the score to A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC? Frederick is not a heavy vocal role and does not require a powerhouse voice. Jeremy Irons is certainly not a singer and yet he was a sublime Frederick at NYCO a few years ago.
The heavy singing duties in the show rest on Anne, Carl Magnus, Petra, and the Liebeslieders. Henrik needs a very strong voice, but he only sings in "Later" and a bit in "A Weekend in the Country."
All anyone else needs to sing this score is a sense of musicality and an ability to count. And, of course, an innate understanding of their material and character.
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Updated On: 8/28/09 at 10:50 AM
#19re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:54am
Kevin Spacey can sing. 'Course, he's probably too old for this production.
Fredrik is mid/late 40s in Nunn's production - isn't that about normal? It was only really Desiree and Charlotte (and possibly Fredrika) that were notably younger than usual in the London production, not the whole cast.
Perfectly Marvelous
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/16/06
#20re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:56amAdmittingly, I know ALNM not as well as other Sondheim scores, but even so I can't really imagine Esparza in the show.
"I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes and dreamer of improbable dreams." - Doctor Who
"Yes, the brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over, men recognize that the human race has been harshly treated but it has moved forward." - Les Miserables
#21re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:57amI think my general reaction to this thread can be summed up as, "arrrrgggggh." On so many levels.
TalkinLoud
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/09
#22re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 11:13amI'm not an Esparza fan, but I think he'd actually be very good for the role.
#23re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 11:22am
pats luvtheEmcee
I know *exactly* how you feel. 
To add some substance to this post, though, I think if Lansbury and Zeta-Jones really end up in the cast then they may not need another big name star.
#24re: Esparza in Night Music?
Posted: 8/28/09 at 11:26amOK, so if they go with a 'name', I'd want it to be Kevin Kline. If they go with a Broadway person, I'd want either Boyd Gaines or Brent Barrett.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
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