Fantasia Is The New Celie In Purple- Page 2

[LeadingDude]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:40pm

i'm going to be the odd ball and say that i think it could work. she has lived some of ciely's life and she most def. has the voice for the part. so i'm going to say good casting


(don't hate me)

[Broadway Dancer]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:42pm

Wow. I know it will help sell tickets, but ugh.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:42pm

hells yeah for 'tasia.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:42pm

The girl can't act.

[myManCape]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:44pm

You knew from day 1 that The Color Purple wasn’t going to run for 5 years. Adding Oprah’s name to it and a Tony for LaChanze certainly increased its lifespan. And now Fantasia will do the same.
500+ performances, a two year run, several Tony nominees and a returned investment will make this show a success.
Plus remember that the Chicago production and Tour are just starting, so the life of this show will continue well past the closing of the Broadway production.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:45pm

We know she can sing the role, however shrilly it might be. But the part of Celie requires some real acting chops because the character transforms from young to old by the end of the show. It's not like Chicago where the characters are a little easier to slide into. This show requires some serious thought and concentration on the actresses part.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:46pm

Hey, I've never even heard the woman sing and I couldn't pick her out of a police line-up. But I do know that she is an "American Idol winner" and this is the stuff pop-culture infused Americans live off of. I think it's very smart casting.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:46pm

Well...it'll definitley garner more ticket sales.

[Mrs.LinkLarkin2]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:48pm

DottieD'Luscia, I personally don't think Fantasia is going to flock people to the show. She does have one of the smaller fan bases of all the Idol winners. Regarding Simon's meaning when he says someone has a "Broadway voice," I don't think it's necessarily negative. I think it's true. There is a type of voice commonly heard in theater. He made these comments quite frequently when Clay was in the competition. His voice, although excellent in the studio, may be better fitted on the stage.

[admanrich]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:51pm

EW JUST EW.

Ugh I could never stand Fantasia's voice and I really don't feel like hearing her scream "I'm Here"


Not to mention she cannot act. If they want stunt casting, can we move away from the ex-American Idol people who want to hold onto their 15 minutes as long as they can? (With the exception of Jennifer Hudson, of course).
Updated On: 2/14/07 at 11:51 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:52pm

Mrs. Link, I totally agree with you regarding her ability to sell tickets (or lack thereof). Diana DeGarmo was fantastic in Hairspray, but I'm not too sure her presence contributed to an increase in sales. With Fantasia there might be an initial spike, but who knows how she'll do in the long run.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:54pm

Most of the "target audience" has already seen the show.
American Idol fan s have never heard of Alice Walker or the movie.
This seems desperate and not a good move if she is destroyed by Critics.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:55pm

Exactly. Stunt casting is very hit or miss. I mean, look at most of the Hairspray stunt casting, it last for maybe a week then dies down. I mean, I forgot Diana was even still in the show when she left a couple weeks ago. I doubt Fantasia is going to bring the show out of its slump for too long. They always get the American Idol people when they're coming down off their peak, rather than when they're on it.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:57pm

Well, duh. Why would they want to do Broadway when they're at their peak?

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:00am

So much for the judges' attitude that the "less talented" Idol competitors should try Broadway instead. I wonder what Simon will say about this news? Fantasia appearing on Broadway as a replacement performer less than three years after her big win speaks volumes about the state of her recording career. Her second album tanked really badly. I think it's hilarious that the two must pushed winners in Idol history (Fantasia and Ruben Studdard)are the two most struggling to forge a career in show biz. Maybe next year we'll see Ruben as Zach in A Chorus Line.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:02am

well they better get a bigger stool for Zach

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:03am

Wow. I remember when someone posted that they saw Fantasia at the show and was like, "I wonder if she is going to join the show?" and we all laughed. This will be interesting.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:03am

Wow. I remember when someone posted that they saw Fantasia at the show and was like, "I wonder if she is going to join the show?" and we all laughed. This will be interesting.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:04am

haha, ouch. Ruben is from Birmingham, AL which is where I go to school and my friends and I saw him at the grocery store at about 1 in the morning a couple weeks ago. So, yeah, I guess he's career ain't doing that well.

[Mrs.LinkLarkin2]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:17am

Diana was brillant in Hairspray, not to say people went just to see her of course. Constantine was, in my opinion, great in The Wedding Singer. I think that he drew in a lot of people too. They needed him to squeeke by for a few more months. Brel? Well, I don't get that show. I think it was doomed to begin with, but that's just me. So now let's see how Fantasia and Anthony turn out...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:21am

Brel? Well, I don't get that show. I think it was doomed to begin with, but that's just me.

Well, considering the fact that the current production is a REVIVAL, it wasn't as "doomed" as you think. Constantine was fantastic in this gorgeous production of JACQUES BREL.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 12:21 AM

[Mrs.LinkLarkin2]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:25am

I thought Constantine was terrific! I just didn't care for it.

[myManCape]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:25am

Add Idol cast offs Josh Strickland and Frenchie Davis who have both has success on Broadway. They are recognizable names and faces that people know from TV. They are also proven singers which makes it an easy match to Broadway. More people vote for the American Idol than the President of the United States, you bet your ass that they raise ticket sales.

[HumATune]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:36am

Well, she looks the part.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:57am

Josh is a Hottie and can Sang.
But sell tkts NO
If he was in a good show maybe.