John Owen Jones is new Valjean

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 12:06pm

I was feeling this was going to happen all along. I am truly excited about this production again. Anyone heading back to see Jones and the new cast after the current one leaves?

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 12:21pm

Exciting casting! He and Alfie Boe are such an upgrade from Ramin.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 3:11pm

I just laughed about the fact he is once again closing a Broadway revival company of Les Mis

Updated On: 12/2/15 at 03:11 PM

[asmith0307]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 3:11pm

Updated On: 12/2/15 at 03:11 PM

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 3:16pm

JOJ rocks completely

loved his phantom in london and would love to see is JVJ in NYC!

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 9:52pm

I plan to watch Les Miz again in May! So excited to see JOJ! And hopefully after the JVJ stint he will move over to the Majestic and take over as Phantom! One can hope

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 10:16pm

Elfuhbuh said: "Exciting casting! He and Alfie Boe are such an upgrade from Ramin.

 

"

Dis.A.Gree.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/2/15 at 10:19pm

asmith0307 said: "I just laughed about the fact he is once again closing a Broadway revival company of Les Mis"

 

Yeah, but at least this time he knows it before he's starting.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 10:28am

I quite enjoyed his more rugged, every-man portrayal of Jean Valjean in the last revival. He's less regal than most of the men I've seen play the role, and it works quite well. 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 11:00am

LizzieCurry said: "asmith0307 said: "I just laughed about the fact he is once again closing a Broadway revival company of Les Mis"

 

 

Yeah, but at least this time he knows it before he's starting."

True

[Dave19]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 3:36pm

Elfuhbuh said: "Exciting casting! He and Alfie Boe are such an upgrade from Ramin."

 

Exactly. 

 

Ramin has serious pitch problems. Everything he sings is so hysterical that 90% is above the actual note.

John Owen Jones is a master of the craft. His voice is like pure gold with all it's nuances and finesse, low-soft notes with relaxed vocal chords included.

Updated On: 12/3/15 at 03:36 PM

[felixleiter]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 3:54pm

+1 on Ramin and sharpness.  Enjoyed his acting but it seems that he gets a little worked up from time to time and pushes sharp.  I believe he has even talked about it in some interviews.  Interesting that this is something that people are willing to accept when there are people who manage to act and sing well at the same time-i.e. John Owen Jones.

[Dave19]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 6:12pm

I agree. I can't listen to it, it makes me feel very uncomfortable, it's just cringeworthy. It's like he is in a constant state of pushing too much, like he has no relax-mode on his vocal chords.

Almost hysterical, like a whining hyena.

It ruins the whole Phantom Royal Albert Hall dvd for me. There are whole scenes where not 1 note is on key.

Now, why do people accept it? I have no idea. Maybe a percentage of people does not hear tones? It must be something like that.

Updated On: 12/3/15 at 06:12 PM

[kec]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 6:17pm

LizzieCurry said: "asmith0307 said: "I just laughed about the fact he is once again closing a Broadway revival company of Les Mis"

 

 

 

Yeah, but at least this time he knows it before he's starting.

 

Oh, so true, Lizzie..

 

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 12/3/15 at 7:15pm

Dave19 said: "I agree. I can't listen to it, it makes me feel very uncomfortable, it's just cringeworthy. It's like he is in a constant state of pushing too much, like he has no relax-mode on his vocal chords.Almost hysterical, like a whining hyena. It ruins the whole Phantom Royal Albert Hall dvd for me. There are whole scenes where not 1 note is on key.Now, why do people accept it? I have no idea. Maybe a percentage of people does not hear tones? It must be something like that."

I think Ramin's mentioned once or twice that he never took formal singing lessons (or if he has, not a lot of them) and learns most of his songs through ear. A lot of people think that's impressive, but if you compare him to other singers who've played the same parts as him, his lack of education in that area really becomes glaringly obvious. His "belting" comes out as loud, barely controlled yelling, and when he tries to sing softly he sounds strained, usually to the point where he makes the character sound angry. (His MotN makes me cringe every time; it's like he wants to nail Christine roughly against a wall instead of make sweet love to her in that stupid boat bed.)

Updated On: 12/4/15 at 07:15 PM

[Dave19]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 6:24am

Elfuhbuh said: " His "belting" comes out as loud, barely controlled yelling, and when he tries to sing softy he sounds strained"

 

That's it, it sounds like uncontrolled "yelling" to me too. I have a feeling that people nowadays mistake that for good singing. As long as it is loud, straight and hard, no matter if it is on key. 

To me, singing is the opposite. It all starts as an extention from your speaking voice, he should listen to people like John Owen Jones, Lea Salonga, Karen Carpenter more. 

Updated On: 12/4/15 at 06:24 AM

[Odie2]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 8:36am

JOJ is like a minivan. Highly dependable gets you to where you need to go. He not flashy  and doesn't do anything particularly memorable. He won't fill the seats and he not a draw (like Alfie and Ramin) but people will be happy and he will satisfy the audience enough to tell the story  

To be honest I like Alfie for his singing voice but I think he lacks acting skills.  While Ramin lacks technique he makes up for it by connecting the audience to his character and would love to see him branch out to do plays. 

I also think JOJ needs  to do something besides phantom and Les Miserables. 

[Eurotrash]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 10:02am

Lucky NYC. When JOJ and Celinde Schoenmaker took over the London Phantom this Autumn my mum made me take her, and I wasn't looking forward to it, to be honest. But he was brilliant. His Valjean will make an interesting contrast with the magisterial and aloof portrayal of Alfie Boe - Ramin is fine, but can't compete with these two, I feel.  

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 10:20am

In my personal opinion, Alfie can't act, and in the case of Ramin, he's okay, but he also was benefiting from being a part of the original revival production and direction. John Owen-Jones will be a good happy medium, I feel.

[windbelle]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 4:33pm

Elfuhbuh said: "Dave19 said: "I agree. I can't listen to it, it makes me feel very uncomfortable, it's just cringeworthy. It's like he is in a constant state of pushing too much, like he has no relax-mode on his vocal chords.Almost hysterical, like a whining hyena. It ruins the whole Phantom Royal Albert Hall dvd for me. There are whole scenes where not 1 note is on key.Now, why do people accept it? I have no idea. Maybe a percentage of people does not hear tones? It must be something like that."

 

I think Ramin's mentioned once or twice that he never took formal singing lessons (or if he has, not a lot of them) and learns most of his songs through ear. A lot of people think that's impressive, but if you compare him to other singers who've played the same parts as him, his lack of education in that area really becomes glaringly obvious. His "belting" comes out as loud, barely controlled yelling, and when he tries to sing softy he sounds strained, usually to the point where he makes the character sound angry. (His MotN makes me cringe every time; it's like he wants to nail Christine roughly against a wall instead of make sweet love to her in that stupid boat bed.)

 

"

I remember JOJ said he never really took any singing lesson either, so it depends, I guess. The pitch problem might be more of a personal issue. But I would say JOJ really got SOME gift for singing if it's true.

[Dave19]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 6:51pm

I think John Owen Jones is one of the best masters of the craft in the world:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCPiAKDLjKY

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFXPoyB_Tn8

Updated On: 12/4/15 at 06:51 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 7:50pm

Randal Keith is also an untrained singer. I don't think you can necessarily say that no training is going to result in something unpleasant.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 10:18pm

Talented guy, this JOJ. But feels like a bit of everything old is new again. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 11:54pm

The first time JOJ did the show, half the cast wasn't born yet.

[kec]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 10:05pm

LizzieCurry said: "The first time JOJ did the show, half the cast wasn't born yet.

LOL.. that will make him feel old...