Jere Shea

[C is for Company]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 12:26am

The Passion cast was so extremely talented, why did he just stop there? Marin and Donna are both extremely successful, yet although they are spectacular, their performances didnt completely overshadow his. I think all 3 were so particularly strong in this that its surprising he only did this show on broadway. Anybody know the reason?

[BwayLover]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 1:36am

I LOVE Jere Shea. I don't really know why he stopped acting...But I do know he got some so-so reviews for PASSION, claiming he was wooden. I, for one, loved him in the role.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 1:41am

Never saw it live, but I have the DVD. He's no Michael Cerveris... But, I still adore him greatly! He really is wonderful. I too have always wondered why he just dissapeared.

[fiatlux]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:08am

He's now a consultant in speech and presentation skills in business and politics as well as a lecturer and fundraiser. It maybe that is just more fulfilling.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 6:26am

I remember hearing somehwere that he teaches now. Can anyone confirm/deny?

[fiatlux]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 7:23am

He does (or did) lecture at Boston College.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 9:02pm

Hmm seems he ended up like Robert W. who is yet another sondheim alumni, more of a regular being in Into the woods and Sunday in the park with george. Oh well, sad waste of talent cause I for one liked him more than Michael Cerveris in passion

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 2:55pm

Robert WEstenberg still acts... he was in the First National Tour of The Full Monty....

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 3:06pm

I believe the main reason why Jere Shea's performance was not singled out in the reviews for Passion was because most critics were completely captivated by Donna Murphy's performance according to the research I have had to do on the show. From the DVD of the show I believe his performance was great and if he hadn't been good on stage then he probably wouldn't have been nominated for a Tony. I'm glad he's teaching, Robert Westenberg did so as well, I just wish they would have been my professors, oh well. Westenberg did continue acting though, perhaps Shea did as well, Broadway is not the only place a stage actor could make a living.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 3:45pm

Jere was such a hottie, to boot.

A consultant in speech and communication services in business? Wow that sounds dull.

[Isabella2]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:49pm

I agree with C is for company that Shea did a much better job than Cerveris in Passion. Cerveris is good for many roles but i don't thnk he was at his best in Passion. First, he doesn't really look the part and he was way too weird with his emotions. He supposed to be a man in the army, stiffened somwhat, not an anxious adolescent. I also didn't think Patti Lupone was at her best in Passion either, but that's only because I was used to the amazing ways of Donna Murphy so much that I couldn't accept it any other way. It's funny because i saw Patti Lupone in Passion first, loved it, and never got a chance to see it again till a month ago and now i don't apreciate it as much.

As for Jere Shea. He's amazing. There isn't exactly much you can do with Georgio compared to Fosca. He's the original and was perfect for it. I didn't like it when critics talked about how he wasn't good enough. I think he nailed everything. What more did they want?

I wish he'd return to do something else, i've only seen him in that role. What did he do before passion?

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 7:04pm

Loved Jere Shea in Passion. I mean what's not to love the man is gorgeous. I'd definitely see him in another show.

Come back to the theatre Jere....

(I thought Michael C. did a good job of capturing the part, but he just doesn't have the looks that would drive Fosca to her obession. I enjoyed his performance, also, though.)

[C is for Company]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 9:39pm

Oh wonderful, muuuucho feedback hah.
I saw the concert back in march on tv and then got into the original, buying the cd, getting the dvd. And it was just so amazing, Donna murphy gives one of the top 10 best performances Id ever seen an actress give. Like it just makes you feel that a part of you died with fosca after listening to her note to Georgio. Its so emotionally well done and it makes me sad she hasnt come back to broadway yet after WT.
I know Westenberg teaches at some college I believe, but it sucks cause him and Shea would be awesome onstage now cause a lot of people are just devoted to Sondheim and "his actors". Jere was perfect as Georgio and its a shame he was overshadowed by Murphy, but then again you could put Merman onstage and I still think everyone would love Donna the most. He seems to have gotten the short end of the stick

Updated On: 12/7/05 at 09:39 PM

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 9:48pm

Jere's very happy in Massachusetts with his family. He was in the out-of-town try out of High Society before it came to Broadway as I recall. I believe there was some drama there, but don't recall precisely. I haven't talked to him in quite a while, but last I knew, I believe he was doing real estate work in Boston.

His parents actually used to come to a regional theatre in Norwood, MA when I was performing there. They were always very sweet and talked to me a lot about Jere. He's a really charming man. I'm certain he's keeping his hand in where he needs to.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 11:38pm

"I'm certain he's keeping his hand in where he needs to. "

Wow.

[Isabella2]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 11:44pm

real estate?? awwwww, i'm happy for him if he's happy, but I guess I'm just a greedy fan who wants to see more of the people I admire.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 12:06am

Count me in as a greedy fan, too.... This man is just amazing and I wish he would come back so I could see him perform on stage for real!

I agree about both him being overshadowed by Donna's amazing, one of a kind performance (even though she show is supposed to be about how his character grows, everyone eneded up focusing on Fosca since Donna was so, so powerful) and Jere being better suited for the role than MC. Cerveris is great, but he really doesn't have the look of a man Fosca would be obsessed with or, for that matter, the look of a 19th century soldier...IMHO, of course. (I must say I saw him as Sweeney and he took my breath away - he really is amazing, but not for this). Shea, on the other hand.....was perfect. He had the look, he had the VOICE (omg I love his voice so much!) and you could really understand why someone would be so infatuated with this gorgeous man.

I wish Jere is reading this and knows how much love there is for him!!

Updated On: 12/8/05 at 12:06 AM

[DAME]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:37am

I am also a fan. You know... alot of people achieve success in their field and then see what it is all about and then decide it is not for them. Sort of like..been there, done that. Doing 8 shows a week is not all that glamorous and I commend the man for choosing a journey he is happy with.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 6:33am

So, who's coming house huntin' with me in Massachusetts?

[zelda]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 10:24am

I happen to be one the fortunate ones and got to see Passion several times including closing night which in and of it self was a true miracle. the show grew and got more brilliant as the months passed. In regard to Jere Shea, he was wonderful, giving and at no time was or did it seem as though donna overshadowed him. they were an amazing pair. personally he probably just got tired of the pressure and the auditioning etc. it would be nice to see him perform again, he was quite good and a great voice

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 11:56pm

I agree....I saw Passion and Jere Shea was amazing in the role. Anybody know what he's up to? Such a wonderful voice.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:11am

I do remember back when the show opened the people who criticized Passion were very critical of James Lapine (the way he directed his leading lady) and Donna Murphy because according to them, Donna Murphy's performance completely shifted the balance of the text. Yes, Murphy probably gave one of the top 5 most legendary performances of the 90s, but I believe Jere Shea did the best that can be done with the role of Giorgio. Sondheim's score and Lapine's book while brilliant, failed to show an effective transition for Shea's role. I thought he was great and I even liked him more than Cerveris. I wish he had done more Broadway shows because I found his turn as Giorgio quite impressive.
Updated On: 3/28/06 at 12:11 AM

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:20am

Completely agree...the 3 leads were quite good...Murphy deserved the Tony. But, Shea should be doing more shows. I'm surprised he hasn't done anything.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 1:38am

"A consultant in speech and communication services in business? Wow that sounds dull."

No more dull than the grindingly monotonous PASSION itself.


Allison Mackenzie
Peyton Place, New Hampshire

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 1:52am

It seems time to ask again: Hunter, what shows DO you like?