Jessica Grove as Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables...

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:34am

I recently got to see Jessica Grove at the Lucille Lortell Theatre. She is enchanting. The next Julie Andrews. However, she's totally underutilized in the show. There weren't enough songs to show off her beautiful voice. I wish she was Anne. That would have been great. In any event, the kiddies seemed to like the show. As for me, I need to re-watch the TV series. Now those were wonderful memories!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:45am

How's the show? The music?

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:54am

At times confusing. Too much was cut to fit into 90 minutes. All Anne did was fight with Gilbert. Unfortunately, the music did not move me. I was waiting for Anne to sing out It's A Hard Knock Life. The best thing about the show was Miss Grove. I saw her in a recent reading with Heath Calvert at this theatre. She was a lead and wonderful and looked gorgeous.

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 12:54 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:57am

Thanks, P2!

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 9:06am

Jessica is wonderful! Someone write this girl a smash Broadway musical!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 9:40am

I saw this show and while I think Grove is talented, I don't think she's the next Julie Andrews. I think she's a bit too porcelain. She reminds me of a china doll. Possibly one day she could do Camelot, but she could never play the roughness of Eliza Doolittle or the whirling dervish of Maria Von Trapp.

The best thing about the show is seeing Heather MacRae, even though she's in a miniscule role.

The music is not that inspiring, not memorable. One or two songs fit well into the show, but most don't really heighten important moments as well as they could.

Unfortunately, Piper Goodeve plays Anne as an actress playing a child. Early on, in her attempt to communicate smartness, she over ennuciates every syllable. It gets annoying after thirty seconds.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:31pm

In a lazy, non-search-mode today (must be a Monday, cant stand being at work thing), but didnt Grove play Dorothy in a touring company of "Wizard of Oz"-? I think I saw it at MSG---

Excellent voice, if I remember ! Again, sorry about the non-search

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:37pm

I'd love to see Jessica as Diana Barry.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:43pm

"but didnt Grove play Dorothy in a touring company of "Wizard of Oz"-? I think I saw it at MSG---"

Yes she was Dorothy in the MSG production.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 1:05pm

Thanks, Gotham ! My memory isnt TOTALLY shot !!

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 3:32am

There is a lot more to Jessica than just a porcelain doll.

In Notre Dame de Paris she played Fleur-de-Lys and served as the Esmeralda alternate.

Eponine in Les Miz.

Dorothy Gael in the musical Was, where Dorothy is molested by Uncle Henry and ridiculed by her schoolmates.

The roles she is most known for (Dorothy in MSG Oz, Miss Dorothy in Millie, Polly in The Boyfriend, and now Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables) imprint the China Doll image in most peoples mind.
But much like Kelli O'Hara, I think Jessica can really shine in roles outside of the safe box when given the opportunity.

For anyone interested, she will be playing Laurie in Oklahoma opposite Matt Bogart at Pittsburgh's CLO this summer.
Updated On: 4/24/07 at 03:32 AM

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 10:40am

jessica seems like another vanilla actress. Kerry Butler, Jen Gambatese, Ashley Brown, Jessica Grove'. All these women are interchangeable and until they do something against their "type" i don't see casting people or audiences seeing them any differently.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:52pm

Jessica and Jenn are far from interchangeable actresses!

My first exposure to jessica was seeing her as Dorothy in the MSG "Oz'. To this day, she IS Dorothy to me and I am planning on treking downtown to see Green Gables simply for her. As a gay man, I may get reamed for this (no pun intended), but Jessica surpassed Judy for me.

She was a FIERCE Eponine!

I may have to grab the boyfriend and road trip to P-town for a weekend this summer.......

Jess needs a leading role on Broadway NOW. It is always a crime when talent like hers goes so unnoticed.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:50pm

She was simply enchanting in The Alchemists reading and her voice was in the finest form. I love her auburn hair.

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 8:54pm

a leading role? really? you think she needs a show to show all of her versitility...which I don't believe exists. Look at resume's of these girls. they are all the same. Belle, Maria in west side, Laurey in oklahoma, ..I mean come on.
Ebersole is an actress. Donna murphy is Love musik is an actress. These women can hold your attention and the stage cause they have incredible depth.
Ms Gambatese and ms. Grove' don't have depth as they play the same roles..over and over..diversify the resume people or you are pigeon holed for your career.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 9:06pm

I think actors today are happy to get work. Do you really think they are independently wealthy where they can "hold out" for that great role of a lifetime? This is not the movies, it's Broadway!

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 9:21pm

This musical film features the multi-talented Jessica as anything BUT 'vanilla'.

(WARNING: strong language)
"Free Fall"

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:09pm

Off Topic, but does anyone have any more information on 'Was'?

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:15pm

What info are you looking for?

You can check out her website for photos and clips...
http://jessicagrove.com

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:36pm

i think people do all the time. I know many who get offers and turn them down cause they wanna do something to try to make a career out of it.
so to your answer..yes..I do think they find other jobs to suppplement or save money from the lucrative tours they go on so as to wait for a good offer.