J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16 — Page 3

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#51

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:12pm

I actually think Brian D'Arcy James would make me go back to the show. I'd love to see him and Alice Ripley together, I bet the show is even more electric with the two of them playing off of each other.
Adam Pascal can't really act so I don't think he'd do well in this show, Rapp would be completely miscast.

"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"

#52

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:30pm

rayandallthatjazz86- I was kind of thinking that too, that Pascal may not have the acting chops for it. But he has the voice. I think he'd either be a trainwreck or incredible. There's not any rumors of him doing it though, just tossing out the idea. I agree with adamgreer that back when that interview took place of course he wouln't admit to wanting to go back to playing Dan right in the middle of his show.

#53

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:38pm

Brian D'Arcy James would get my butt into that theatre. I'd absolutely love to see him in the role.

~Steven

#54

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:39pm

I still firmly believe that had BDJ stayed with N2N instead of going to Shrek, N2N would have won best musical. He's simply a better actor than J. Robert Spencer, and with the extra out of town tryouts his chemistry and performance could have developed a lot more. But he was sensational even off-broadway. Really hope he comes back.

#55

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:42pm

I definitely think he would have had a better shot at that Tony in Next to Normal than in Shrek.

~Steven

#56

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:43pm

I think Bobby is much better suited to the role than Brian. He really brought Dan to life and went places with him that Brian never did. Still, I would be very pleased if Brian returned.

#57

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:46pm

I love them both in the role. The thing with James' Dan is that, at the time, Dan was written as a much more stoic, passive character. They really addressed that issue between 2nd Stage and Arena (returning I've Been to the show, for one). That's why I think James often came across as being sort of wooden. I'd love to see him in the current incarnation of the show.

#58

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:48pm

Just to hear his voice on those songs would be thrilling. He's got some great chops, he does.

~Steven

#59

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:48pm

A few weeks ago, so it obviously may have changed between then and now, Brian said in a conversation that he planned on taking the summer off to spend time with his family and that he didn't have any projects (other than concerts) coming up in the near future. Whether this is still true or not, I have no idea.

That said, I'd love to see him in the role and would gladly go back to the show if he decided playing Dan again would be worth it.

#60

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:53pm

The bottom line is that like Adam Greer said, the role was really changed (For the better) after Brian left. But if you listen to his version of Light or Light in the Dark its really ****ing incredible. At this point I'd be vastly disappointed with anyone other than BDJ. Even those Rent adults who couldn't balance the singing and acting imo.

#61

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:56pm

I think Bobby is much better suited to the role than Brian. He really brought Dan to life and went places with him that Brian never did. Still, I would be very pleased if Brian returned.

Well it's hard to fully grasp Brian's performance when you've never seen him live, so it's hard to compare.

IMO, Bobby is adequate, but Brian was better and would've done wonders with what the role is now. His acting was far more effective and I just prefer his voice over Bobby's. I can't even imagine how his performance would've grown and gotten even better had he stayed. adamgreer made a great point regarding how this character has developed over time. I've Been was a terrific (re)addition. I would kill to hear Brian's rendition. I'd run back to the show if Brian joins.

#62

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:59pm

Brian would be great in the role. He has got a great voice. Is Bobby really going on tour with the show like was rumored?

#63

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:59pm

"Thank you. The interview that people often refer to as being the reason he won't come back was done right around when the show opened, while he was in Shrek. What did people expect him to say? "Damn, I wish I wasn't in this mess of a show, having to wear prosthetics and a fat suit every night. I really should have stayed in next to normal. I made a terrible decision." Of course not. He said exactly what oyu would expect him to say at the time."

I don't think Brian regrets being part of "Shrek." He won a Drama Desk Award as wellas an Outer Critics Circle Award. He was also nominated for his second Tony Award. Usually the shows that he does on Broadway last for a very short amount of time like "Sweet Smeell of Success" and "The Lieutenant of Inishmore." He also barely got to star in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Despite the fact that "Shrek" wasn't a hit he got to play the role for over a year and got two theatre awards for it.

#64

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:59pm

I've Been was a terrific (re)addition. I would kill to hear Brian's rendition. I'd run back to the show if Brian joins.

This is one of the main reasons I'd want Brian back, to be honest. Count me in as one of the people who vastly prefers his voice and acting over Bobby's as well, but to hear Brian doing 'I've Been' would be enough reason alone for me to see the show again.

#65

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 8:38pm

I don't think Brian regrets being part of "Shrek." He won a Drama Desk Award as wellas an Outer Critics Circle Award. He was also nominated for his second Tony Award. Usually the shows that he does on Broadway last for a very short amount of time like "Sweet Smeell of Success" and "The Lieutenant of Inishmore." He also barely got to star in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Despite the fact that "Shrek" wasn't a hit he got to play the role for over a year and got two theatre awards for it.

He'll never admit it, but I'm sure he does. No one could have expected n2n to have the kind of success on Broadway that it has had, and he probably made what he thought was a very sound financial decision. The artistic merits of the two shows aren't even debatable, and at this point, neither is the financial aspect.

As for the awards, James still would have won the OCC and Drama Desk Awards that year, just for a different show. He still would have received the Tony nomination, again, just for a different show. Frankly, he might well have won.

#66

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 8:43pm

I prefer Brian's singing and Bobby's acting. Since acting is much more important to me, I prefer Bobby. But it's not a completely accurate comparison fair comparison because the role is different now than it was at 2nd Stage.

#67

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:17pm

I have seen a "video" of the show from when it was Off-Broadway and if BDJ were casted, would he over power Alice's voice or overall performance?

#68

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:20pm

^ It's *cast

#69

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:20pm

Hopefully the announcement will come soon.

#70

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:25pm

ljay889 - Oh!!! That makes more sense. Thanks.

#71

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:30pm

I have seen a "video" of the show from when it was Off-Broadway and if BDJ were casted, would he over power Alice's voice or overall performance?

No. It certainly didn't at 2nd Stage, where despite strong reviews for James, the show was clearly still about Ripley's electrifying performance.

#72

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/21/10 at 11:24pm

A friend of mine was at the performance the day Next to Normal was honored with the Pulitzer Prize. Anthony Rapp was there, but I guess that could be just because he's a part of the show's history.

#73

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/22/10 at 1:15am

I shouldn't say this but Brian is replacing Bobby and Bobby is going on tour

i also so know whos playing Diana, Gabe and the doctors on tour but i think i've said to much already...

[believe]

#74

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/22/10 at 1:26am

Do you feel special?

#75

J. Robert Spencer to Play Final Performance in NEXT TO NORMAL May 16

Posted: 4/22/10 at 1:28am

^ Lol.

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