Jackie Burns - IF/THEN- Page 3

[Broadwaydreaming]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 11:43am

Idina's voice is one of a kind. Her "I Stand" album isn't something I'd normally listen to, but the reason why I do is because of her voice. Something about it is very intriguing. Idina has a definite X factor. On the flip side, Jackie is also very talented and has a pleasantly powerful voice. Looking forward to hearing more from her in the future.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 11:56am

I first commented on the clone aspect of the Burns performance (full disclosure: noting it only from three clips, though of full numbers). Isn't this a great tribute to Burns? That she is slavishly trying to give the audience who stay something close to Menzel's performance? I've heard people cavil and carp over her near mimicry; yet it's her job to fill in the top of the ticket and deliver a version of the show that is in every way consistent with the authors' intentions and the star's polished work. I salute Burns for doing what a good understudy must do: satisfy 1000 disappointed people. I'd say, this is a master class in fulfilling contractual and artistic demands. Brava.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 12:04pm

This thread is exactly why some people don't like Idina Menzel. Many of her "fans" are creepy.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 12:14pm

If anyone is interested, Jackie shared on Twitter that she will be covering Idina's vacation Sept 30, Oct 1 and 2.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 12:43pm

"This thread is exactly why some people don't like Idina Menzel. Many of her "fans" are creepy."

Is judging the merits of a performer based on fan activity over which that person has no control so much more mature and fair? (I have a feeling you have no idea what "creepy" even looks like. You should check out Twitter and other social venues more often.)

I do find it ironic that the more hardcore "fanzels" don't realize they're inadvertently hurting Menzel's theater street cred just by existing. That's unfortunate for Menzel.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 12:50pm

Fair? No, absolutely not. But it happens. You should have been around when she got injured at the end of her run in Wicked...the posts from supposed "fans" turned a lot of people on the boards off of Menzel. Of course none of it was Menzel's fault, but that didn't really matter.

[Broadwaydreaming]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 1:03pm

Please define "creepy fans" further... I think you mean those who act as if they know her? "creepy fans" come with stardom, unfortunately. Though I do believe there are celebrities that have far crazier followings. I'm a big fan of Idina, but personally don't care to discuss her personal life.

Jackie will leave If/Then stronger. One of my friends who went with me to see If/Then was unaware Anthony was out and was insanely pissed she didn't get to see him. Her whole excitement dropped. Imagine a whole bunch of Fanzels like that?? Performing against a negative energy from the start? She does a great job.

[TFMH18]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 3:30pm

While I agree that some "Fanzels" are absolutely bonkers (a quick Twitter search will suffice to prove), I don't think Idina's "street cred" is exactly a concern. She is, after all, anchoring a musical that would have closed long ago if virtually anyone else was starring. I think it's also important to remember that majority of Idina's absurdly crazy fans are probably quite young, in their teens for sure. And for them, Idina really is an important presence in their lives-- even though in reality it is a totally abstract one. Fanzel behavior is certainly annoying and yes, borderline creepy, but think back to when you were 14 and idolized someone whom you'd never met. Now imagine if there had been Twitter-- yikes!

[NeverSoShy]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 4:49pm

I agree with Auggie27 that Jackie's doing her job perfectly by making her performance as close to Idina's as possible in an attempt to try to satisfy many (likely) unsatisfied audience members who had booked to see the show in order to see Idina perform.

I do like the differences in their voices though; Jackie's voice has a very sweet quality where Idina has her 'rawness'. Both lovely voices to listen to and I hope very much to one day have the pleasure of seeing Jackie perform live. If I had the opportunity to see If/Then again I would definitely try to catch Jackie in the role (as much as I loved Idina's performance).

[steven22]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 5:04pm

The dates that have Jackie confirmed are ok tdf. Just bought tickets for Oct. 2. Can't wait.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:06am

Saw the show tonight. Only understudy was Stephanie Klemons on for Anne. She did a decent job. There's not much to do with that role.

I REALLY enjoyed Holbrook as Lucas. He was less grating than Rapp, and I found him more believable in all aspects of the character.

Idina was great tonight. There were times where she sounded a little sick, but she still nailed the vocals. There was only one note that she took down. She is still giving a committed and powerful performance. The audience was wild for her.

I must say that I enjoyed the show much more on a second viewing. It is not a perfect show, and I think that it attempts to do too much. But the score is excellent, and I am glad that it was honored with a Tony nomination. Tom Kitt has a great future.

Also, is Jenn Colella really an understudy for Elizabeth? I don't see anything in the playbill.

Updated On: 9/10/14 at 12:06 AM

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:25am

Re: Jenn Colella as an Elizabeth understudy. Like ljay said, it's not listed in any press pieces or promotional pieces. Is she really an understudy, is it a bww pipe dream, or was it something said to someone personally by Ms. Colella? I truly can't remember.

Let's just say she is. For fun or whatever. 2nd understudies rarely, if ever go on. Is there any time the producers would say to move a principal to the lead, throw on an understudy, and see what happens? (I have mad understudy respect, but I don't want what I wrote above to be morphed into another silly understudies deserve to go on debate.). If Jenn really is a cover, the only way I could see her performing was if Idina some suffered a massive injury onstage, while Jackie simultaneously did the same thing in her dressing room.

Updated On: 9/10/14 at 12:25 AM

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:47am

Jenn is indeed the second cover for the role of Elizabeth. She has chosen not to include this in the playbill, but in the case that she were to go on, it would surely be noted by the understudy board and a slip in the playbill.

Jenn could also go on in the event that either Menzel or Burns is on vacation and the other is sick.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 1:02am

I would be very interested in seeing Jenn in the role.

[TFMH18]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:23am

I love Jenn and think she is supernaturally talented but I find her to be ill suited for the part in just about every way.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 9:18am

But that's why it would be so interesting to see her in the role.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 9:54am

If I was going to see someone other than Menzel, I would want it to be Colella. Despite the adoration from the kiddies, Burns is by all accounts impersonating Menzel, and that just doesn't interest me.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 10:08am

^ I 100% agree. Judging from the clips on youtube, Burns tries replicating Idina's exact mannerisms and even some facial expressions. Sure, she was likely directed this way, but a performer as original as Colella certainly would not fully imitate another performer's interpretation.

Updated On: 9/10/14 at 10:08 AM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:48am

Jackie sounds great, but yes in those clips if you mute them it looks like Idina's exact performance. I would LOVE to see Jenn Colella tackle the score. She would sound phenomenal!

[Pootie2]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:07pm

I really can't wrap my head around Colella being Elizabeth; for one, the role was designed entirely around Menzel, so Burns' chameleon-like performance makes the most sense, especially given the primary draw is Menzel's performance. I'm not sure IF/THEN is at the...show maturity where there's much room for creative interpretations (like in revivals), if that makes any sense. That being said, I'm sure Colella's performance would be very interesting artistically, but I wonder if they'd just cancel a given show. These casting decisions were made early, I'd expect, before the mixed reviews and greater stress on Menzel for holding the show together.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:29pm

Speaking of Menzel's role as the sole reason this production remains open...

I honestly don't remember when she was cast. Was it before or after "Frozen Mania"? Because as popular as she may have been, Menzel's name did not command the type of attention it gets post-Frozen.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:37pm

Hadn't she been involved with the show for a while pre-Frozen?

[steven22]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:42pm

I'm almost certain Idina has been involved in If/then from the beginning. I remember hearing she was a part of the initial workshop or reading when it was called IF

[aimeecurameng]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:57pm

Throwing in my two cents, I flew to New York for an annual theater trip with the intention of seeing Idina in If/Then. I had missed her in the original Wicked cast by two days and I'm a fan of her studio work as well as her Broadway presence. Unfortunately, I went that one week in May where she took ill for a few days and Jackie was on to cover for her. It was unexpected. It was extremely disappointing, but I had loved Jackie from Hair and Wicked and I flew across the country to be there. I couldn't not see it. I appreciated the replica performance Jackie gave because I did want to see Idina in the role, but Jackie's nearly identical. For those of us who were left (a lot of rows cleared out in the Orchestra), nearly everyone left talking about how wonderful Jackie had been, and I think really appreciate her for her.

And Idina's involvement was definitely pre-Frozen. She took Learn to Live Without on the road with her during her stage shows and there was a thread on here about her in the same rehearsal room as the Next to Normal team.

[broadwayboy972]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 6:13pm

Anthony Rapp just confirmed on Twitter that he will be back 9/16.