In The Heights Understudies

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:06am

I'm particularly curious about Vanessa's understudies Krysta Rodriguez and Janet Dacal. Has anyone seen them.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:07am

I've seen Krysta. Surprisingly, the character is much different when played by someone who is as short as her. She did well - nothing special or star-making.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:09am

Hmm, I did like Krysta a lot in Spring Awakening, but I was surprised when i heard she was understudying Nina and Vanessa, I didn't know she could belt

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:09am

Supposably Krysta has a better Nina and Carla. I am dying to see Nina Lafarga or Janet as Nina!

I just want Karen back as Vanessa

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:11am

Janet as NINA!?!?!? That sounds really interesting!

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:17am

She did Broadway n Bryant park last year for In Th Heights and she played Nina. YOUTUBE That SH*T!

[NityaC]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:20am

Here's my "I would love too see it, but it'll probably never happen" list:

- Karen back as Vanessa. She MADE Vanessa.
- Janet Dacal as Vanessa...I think that would be so sweet.
- Nina Lafarga as Nina...because I've never heard Nina -the person- sing and Nina -the character- is belting at every opportunity...
- Karen back as Vanessa. ...seriously. Movie or something. Anything.

But Janet HAS played Vanessa a few times I believe...she said so in an interview, but I haven't heard of any fans reporting about it. I'd love to hear about it though...I do believe she'd make a really great Vanessa.

I know nothing about Krysta as Vanessa but for a little clip...It was okay, but I wasn't too fond of the way she was with Usnavi... but that was the smallest clip and you can't judge anything from it, so yeah...

[Harper3]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:20am

I saw Krysta as Carla and she was really cute and quirky. Having not seen Janet DeCal I have noting to compare her to but her performance was solid.

I also saw Eliseo Roman as Kevin and was incredibly impressed by him - he stole the show from any of the other supporting characters - his portrayal was so real and raw.

There was also, obviously, an understudy for Piragua guy (since Eliseo was on as Sr. Rosario) and he was underwhelming. Couldn't hit the high notes and sounded like a high school performer, clearly nervous.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:26am

I just finished watching Janet's Nina, and it seemed a little lacking. I was kind of waiting for her to show some power and I didn't get any. Krysta as Carla seems like a perfect fit. Did anyone ever see Javier as the Pragua Guy

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:31am

I don't think he has ever gone on. Tony normally goes on when Eliseo is on as Kevin or is out.

After Karen left Janet and Krysta played the part of Vanessa. No one really has as much of a belt as Karen so singing wise she will always be at the top.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:33am

Well I gotta say... has anyone seen Marcy's belt!! This woman can belt it OUT!!

[JP2]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:37am

I've seen Krysta as Vanessa.. not all that special, but she did a decent job.

And, I know I am in the minority here but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Marcy Harriell's Vanessa. If I had to choose between her and Karen, I'd pick Marcy every time.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:41am

I have yet to see a clip of her as Vanessa, I've seen her in other stuff (and enjoyed it), but not Vanessa. How is (well, in a few hours "was") her chemistry with Lin

[JP2]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:44am

I thought she had great chemistry with Lin, Robin, Andrea, and Mandy.

[NityaC]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:54am

"If I had to choose between [Marcy] and Karen, I'd pick Marcy every time."

I saw Marcy Harriell when I went...and my GOD that woman is all kinds of amazing.

But for some reason, I CANNOT get over Karen's Vanessa. All I've seen are promo clips and the performances they do to promote the show, but her acting is just PERFECT EVERY TIME. She's sassy, but still shy, and whiny and childish, and frustrated/yearning, and dramatic and just impossibly perfect as Vanessa...I haven't been able to disassociate that personality from her character since.
Updated On: 2/15/09 at 10:54 AM

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 10:58am

Yeah... but Marcy has a more crisp belt. Did you SEE Karen on GMA, I love her to death but that entire performance was just a disaster.

[NityaC]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 11:07am

I have a feeling we're talking about slightly separate things:

Marcy's singing = incredible.
Karen's acting = incredible.

Yeah Karen sometimes misses hitting a note or two when she sings, but like I said: I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to her portrayal of Vanessa. Her acting is just gorgeous.

Marcy's singing is perfect everytime, but her version of Vanessa just didn't seem as complex as Karen's. It was like you could describe her as "Sassy." and that would be it.

I'll admit, Vanessa is a character I really pick apart though...Because we know so little about her, making her just a singing voice doesn't help at all. With Karen I could easily believe Vanessa had issues with her mother, a relationship with Usnavi, with Daniela, a friendship with Nina, a GREAT relationship with Sonny... It was just...great acting...*shrug*


EDIT: and by the way...These are just from various CLIPS!! I can't even IMAGINE the real deal! (hence, me wanting Karen play Vanessa again. =P) Updated On: 2/15/09 at 11:07 AM

[JP2]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 11:07am

"Crisp", haha. That was the word I was looking for. Marcy definitely has a more... developed voice.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 11:17am

Oh my Jesus! Has anyone seen her singing "Another Hundred People". It made me GASP

[NityaC]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 11:25am

...I am slightly addicted to it, yes...

[EnWashingtonHeights]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 5:30pm

Karen's Vanessa makes my life!

[steven22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 5:36pm

Karen was sick on GMA

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 7:30pm

That explains a lot actually. I do think she is really great, I just feel that her belt is not always rock solid as marcy's is.. but NityaC made (his/her) opinion very clear that Marcy doesn't act as well as Karen

[Dangerous Divine]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 7:45pm

I saw Janet as Vanessa. She was incredible. She plays the role very differently from Karen and Marcy (and I haven't seen Krysta). Janet's Vanessa is much sweeter than the other two. To me, Karen sings the part the best, but Marcy's acting is amazing (even though I don't like her take on the character as much and I think that she definitely doesn't have the chops to sing the role). Janet doesn't have quite the vocals of Karen or the acting chops of Marcy, but she is a solid Vanessa. She's not quite on par with Karen (although I think that it's partially a case of who I saw first), but she's far better than Marcy.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/15/09 at 7:52pm

I saw Marcy the other night and I was pretty underwhelmed. Was not really impressed by her singing or acting. But I do find the role to be kind of underdeveloped.