Jenn Damiano Spider-Man

Someone on twitter claims that they have an "inside source" who told them Jenn Damiano will play Mary-Jane in Spiderman on B'way. This twitter user is always reliable, but does anybody have more info on this? Thoughts? Any ideas on who the new Natalie will be?

If that's true, Meghann Fahy better be the new Natalie.

Any ideas on who the new Natalie will be?

Jen is leaving at the end of the summer. I have no idea if it's to do Spiderman, but Meghann is taking over.

Evan Rachel Wood to Jennifer Damiano? DOWNGRADE.

Not really. Damiano is a much better actress and singer. She might not have the name recognition Wood does, but I'd say she's more suited to this than her.

Updated On: 5/18/10 at 11:12 PM

Damiano gives a well-rounded, stunningly-sung and carefully developed performance in NEXT TO NORMAL. I went in expecting to dislike her since I tend to dislike whiney/angsty teenage characters and the actors who play them, but Damiano made Natalie so much more than that, and you could never catch her "acting." I'd love to see her as Mary Jane.
And anyone who saw Evan Rachel Wood in TRUE BLOOD can't say that Damiano is a real downgrade. I think Wood is hit-or-miss, but seeing her try so hard to "act" on TRUE BLOOD was kinda annoying, it didn't work at all.

---

I've heard numerous reviews from people who say she seems to be getting bored with n2n. I think her moving on will be a win win for everyone if that is the case. Having one of the characters seeming bored on stage would be very detrimental to the emotional story of n2n. I think she is otherwise extremely talented so I hope she does well in Spiderman. However, Taymor just said today that the show will need to be a hit to recoup production costs (duh). I would bet a lot of money on the fact that it will turn out to be a disastrous flop, but thats just my opinion :)

---

How do you know if this is an upgrade or downgrade if you haven't seen either in the role yet?

---

Ugh...Jenn NEVER smiles....that bothers me.

Jennifer Damiano always gives me the idea that she hates musical theatre...I don't know what it is. Maybe just the way she talks about it.

Yes, I agree that Jenn has gotten bored with the role. I've seen it multiple times over a span of months and her performance is always exactly the same.

adamgreer - how you know all of this stuff?! I trust you because you've been right in the past, but I'm just curious as to how you know all this info.

I can imagine she'd be bored with N2N...but can't say if its affected her performance. She's been playing that part for a few years (since its off b'way time).

Good for her -- if it comes to fruition, but her name isn't going to do much to attract a huge audience. (She has fans, certainly, but i think its limited.)

---

Good for her -- if it comes to fruition, but her name isn't going to do much to attract a huge audience. (She has fans, certainly, but i think its limited.)

I'm sure they're aware (if the rumor is even true, and if this thing even actually opens) that casting Jen Damiano is not going to set the box office on fire.

"I have to agree but this didn't start during N2N. I think Jennifer Damiano is a talented girl but I don't think she's a happy one. When she was in Spring Awakening she always had a sullen, sour look on her face (at least the times that I saw the show when she was in it). She just never seemed happy to be there, or grateful for the opportunity she had been given."

I think Jenn loves acting and being on stage. As far as looks on her face during performances, after all, she has mainly starred in shows about broodings teens, so it might have been her acting choices. Way to read into her "lack of gratefulness"-are you kidding me? The girl is a professional.

If anything she has been soured or made "unhappy" by being in two shows that have psychotic, stalking nut job fans. I think she needs to do a production of My Fair Lady or something and detox from all the intense energy from needy and sad fans.

---