Is Laura B really out of Wedding Singer?- Page 2

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 6:42pm

For a moment I thought this was about Laura Bell Bundy!
How do you think she'd do in this part?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 6:46pm

Laura Benanti is amazing. As a singer, she's my role model. It was her beautiful singing in Nine that really convinced me to start singing legit stuff, and I've discovered my inner soprano. I recently sang Much More for a competitive audition, and I got in to what I applied for!

*ends tangent*

Posted: 2/7/06 at 7:49pm

personally, i would love to have seen Celia Keenan Bolger in that role. JMO...

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 7:54pm

Why? Have you been dreaming of seeing Celia do it for millions of years or did you just randomly pluck Celia Keenan Bolger out of your mind because you're fond of her, it's fun to be persnickety, and somebody else already randomly suggested it?

Celia obviously has a great career ahead of her and Laura is amazingly talented, let's just be happy for everyone :P

Posted: 2/7/06 at 8:01pm

oh no..i love laura benanti and think she is gorgeous and very talented..i happen to know her, so i am thrilled she is starring in the show..please! i am not in love with celia or anything...i just think she is quirky and would be cute in the role. it wasn't a random thought. i personally know and have worked with the composer for wedding singer, matt sklar...i trust he has the person he wanted for the role...period. but this is a forum where people should feel free to express thoughts and opinions without being harrassed. so back off...=) warm fuzzies...*wink

[CK2]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 8:20pm

She had a great song in "Nine" which she performed wonderfully. But her role was not as big as Antonio's or Mary Stuart Masterson's.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 9:20pm

I have seen Laura in many things:
Swing and another(Second stage(I can't remember the name)The show at MTC was really bad. But she stood out. She has a gorgeous voice. I would see anything she starred in. Her performance in Swing blew me away.
I can't wait to see her In The Wedding Singer.
They are lucky to have her.
Updated On: 2/7/06 at 09:20 PM

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 10:06pm

*amused* Who said you shouldn't be harrassed when you express an opinion? That's usually what happens when you express opinions. People challenge them! After all, half the fun of an online message board is getting outraged at other people's stupid opinions. Warm fuzzies and winks right back at'cha in spades, aces.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 10:18pm

I enjoyed her the most in The Sound of Music. I missed her in Swing (saw Sarah Jane Nelson), and am probably the only person on the planet who wasn't impressed with her Cinderella (I much preferred the spunkier Erin Dilly). I didn't see her in Nine (I believe I saw Elena Shaddow). That being said, she doesn't fit my preconceptions of what this role entails (based on how it's written in the film), but if they're revising the role to suit her talents, perhaps it will work out.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 9:45am

I have to agree that those who didnt care for her Claudia. I saw her towards the end of her run of Nine and she seemed to want to be somewhere else. I found her accent strange (as was everyone's but MSM, who deserved the Tony) and I had no idea what she was feeling, if anything, during her number.

I dont deny that she is a good performer and has a very good voice, but that performance turned me right off. She was out when I saw ITW and her understudy was wonderful.

I have to agree that, tho she isnt Drew Barrymore, there is no reason that she cant play the part in TWS...and to perpetuate a rumor seems strange to me. I think I'll rely on Jamie McG until I read otherwise.

[Myth8r]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:47am

Laura is an amazing talent but i'd rather see Maddigan in that role. IOt suits her better.....But the TONY peopel love her and that counts for a lot more then who might be better suited for a role.

[broadway86]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:04pm

Oh yeah. She was the best of the 5 leads in NINE.

Whoa, I totally disagree. That distinction would go to Mary Stuart Masterson. But, I do think Benanti is very talented.

[Doogie]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:13pm

well, my problem with Masterson is that I never thought she was PLAIN enough. Sang it fine, but a bit too much spark and fire for a brow beaten wife who's husband has dozens of mistresses.

Krakowski was GORGEOUS to watch, and I cried when Banderas tore up that piece of paper each of the 7 times I saw her.

Chita was a lot of fun.

but Laura was, imho, just LUMINOUS. I will never forget her Unusual Way as long as I live. (I do wish I had seen her understudy at least once though, because she is INSANELY talented)

All that said, I saw this production 9 times and it is probably the single best thing I think I may have ever seen on broadway.

And as far as Laura not feeling anything during her number, I actually think that kind of helps. Claudia is really the only one strong enough to realize and understand how Guido manipulates these women, and I thought the emotional detachment that Laura had in that role was very moving.
Updated On: 2/8/06 at 03:13 PM

[9Contini]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:59pm

I just saw THE WEDDING SINGER last night. Laura B is so beautiful and excellent in it. But Musical Julia is less well-defined than Movie Julia. Drew Barrymore's Julia was more vulnerable and quirky (e.g. her liking of European pop such as Bowie and Nena isn't referenced in the musical.) Musical Julia is a tad too bland; if any last-minute rewriting is done they need to give her a more distinct personality.

Stephen Lynch is terrific, very likable in the Sandler role. It was cool to see Rita Gardner, FANTASTICKS' original Luisa, as Lynch's grandmother although there were a few too many "hip and groovy granny" jokes.

Very tuneful score. I liked it better than HAIRSPRAY's. The book is essentially faithful to the film. I disliked a change in which two cartoony college nerds are used at the Bar Mitzvah instead of the more chaming scene in the movie with the shy 12-year old boy. A convoluted scene in Las Vegas has some funny moments, but lacks the swiftness of the movie's airplane scene. And why do some of the Vegas characters travel to New Jersey for the final scene? Again it's a cartoony effect.

Otherwise a sound adaptation. But will the predictablity of the plot help or hinder its success? THE WEDDING SINGER is not an astonishingly inventive show, but I hope it succeeds. It's a sweet crowd-pleaser.

[aracaphillip]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:42pm

Hey everyone-

I'm a representive of the show, THE WEDDING SINGER and just wanted to take a moment to officially address this: the rumor is completely unfounded and not at all true. Laura Benanti is NOT leaving the show.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:46pm

I love Laura.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:49pm

Ditto, Quibbler.

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 12:05pm

Ok I have read many post and reviews about the wedding singer and this subject of Laura. I have not seen the show, so I can not comment myself but I feel that it is strange that so many comments about her being miscast from audience members to critics (all whom seem to love her work in general) and so much effort going forth to make her not miscast in the role. I think it shows the production team has faith in her...but the fact of the matter MAY BE they need to have a plan b here. It is like they are putting all their eggs in her basket when they may have to say..she is lovely but you know what we may have to move along with this if we plan on it working. Now I am not sure they do this but can they throw in Tina Maddigan for one night to see if the problems lie with the writing of the character or in the casting itself??

[Demitri2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 12:26pm

Yea they can do it. Perfect example....when Lainie Kazan was starring in "SeeSaw" out of town, they secretly were rehearsing Michele Lee during the afternoon. Not pleasant, not honest but who said show business was fair?

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 3:03pm

well then for the sake of seeing if they need to be reworking or recasting they should just try it. I understand no one wants to be that person but I mean this is a broadway show it is show business. BUT I guess they could make more money with a flop then a hit in true producer style.