KRISTIN CHENOWITH

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:40pm

I don't know Kristen Chenoweth from a hole in the wall. I've read about her, have seen THE MUSIC MAN and heard her CD.

From what I gather her career seems to go in many different directions. Her singing voice does reveal great warmth, intelligence and keen musical insight. I've read that she was going to study opera, and from what I've heard, I think that she might have taken the wrong path.

The voice reveals a vibrant, medium sized soprano, and it is too bad that she did not deceide to go into opera. She would have been a first class Mozart and Strauss soprano and a wonderful lieder singer.

But, what do I know. Broadway has her. But, the musical world might have embraced her more opnely. Who knows?

Miriam

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 12:40 PM

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:43pm

Don't judge Wicked from what you hear on this board. See it for yourself then decide.

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:53pm

I'm not judging her from what I've read on the board. Merely from MUSIC MAN and her recording.

Miriam

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:55pm

she's got a helluva belt as well (hear the revival recording of CHARLIE BROWN) and is a great comic actress; though she'd be more than adequate for opera, those librettos would not let her acting talents come to the fore. Now a good revival of G&S (like PIRATES was back in the day) would show her off beautifully...

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 1:35pm

It's funny. I was just about to start a new thread asking this very question. How/why is it that there is such a fan frenzy, adoration *thing* with Chenoweth, when she really does deserve the moniker, "Queen of the bombs"?Where does it come from? She's never been in a hit and her series was unwatchable. I'm honestly asking the question out of curiosity, nothing else. I like Kristin but I think she'd deserve the demi-God status and the, "Kristin should be cast in every role ever" thing more, if she actually had hits. I don't know what'll happen with Wicked but so far, so *bad*.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 2:18pm

Kristin is still an odd duck, Al. With the exception of THE MUSIC MAN, She's been limited to mostly sexless (not a romantic leading lady) soubrette roles. She's great in WICKED, but much of it is her crowd-pleasing Kracked Kewpie Doll persona she might as well patent. She has an angular face that needs to be photographed carefully (and the MUSIC MAN did her no favors in that). Yet she's almost TOO varied, with an operatic soprano and fey quality in the vein of Bea Lillie. Like Nathan Lane, she's the right star in alive in the wrong decade. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, she'd have roles lined up for her every other season. She's harder to 'place' today, and I think comes off best in her one-woman concerts where she reveals a great warmth and rapport with live audiences. Forty years ago, we might have envisioned a MY NAME IS KRISTIN or COLOR ME KRISTIN television special.

I think she should RUN from the proposed 'Alice in Wonderland' opera idea, and give some serious thought to starring in a first class revival of MY FAIR LADY or SOUTH PACIFIC.

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 02:18 PM

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 2:26pm

I don't think the 'Queen of the Bombs' thing is fair simply because I don't think any of her shows have been set to succeed or fail *because* of her. 'Wicked' is really the closest she is to being put in a position where she's expected to draw tickets and interest and, since almost all the reviews are point out her performance as the best part of the show, it seems she's carrying the ball creatively, whether or not that turns into box office is yet to be seen. But I don't think any show has bombed because of her, nor do I think she's seriously been put in a position where her casting was expected to sell tickets. SImilarly, I wouldn't call Norm Lewis any sort of 'King of the Bombs' simply because I don't think he's ever been expected to personally elevate a show to a success with his presence. When performers do more new works than revivals, they're more inclined to end up in a few stinkers along the way.

[Dude]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 6:56pm

just because she had not been in a financially successful theater show or tv show we can't like her?

gawd al...no wonder you don't have many friends

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 9:30am

Gee Dude, you talk alot of crap for someone who just started posting. How exactly do you *know* I "don't have many friends"? Have you hacked in to my pm inbox? Then again, if you had done that, you'd have to dislodge your foot back out from in your throat. Re-read my post dude and then put your reading *comprehension* hat on. It was a casual observation, not a condemnation. I was not the author of the "Queen of the bombs" title. Also, I never said you shouldn't like her. Again, I suggest you re-read the post more discerningly. Updated On: 11/1/03 at 09:30 AM

[orion59]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 10:57am

It's true that her tv was unwatchable and the Broadway shows she ahs done were bombs..so far, I haven't see wicked yet so i can't comment on that. However, she does have talent. She has a good voice and an endearing stage presence and I think that's what we, fans of hers, respond to.

Given the right role in the right show, she would likely prove her star quality much more than she ahs ahd an opportunity to do so far. Maybe Wicked is that show and role.

Posted: 11/1/03 at 12:19pm

she is one of my favorite performers, her and Rebecca Luker were the best choices for Marian in the Music Man. Kristen Chenoweth i think is gunna be up 4 best actress. ive heard many reviews

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 12:58pm

I love Kristin Chenoweth! She is such an accomplished actress. I know she is primarily known for her work in musical theatre, but because of her classical background, I would be very interested to see her performing in a classical opera! Oh yeah....I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WICKED!!!!

Bye!

Phantom05

[Dude]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 3:10pm

kristen has proven herself even if her vehicles have not been up to her standards.

she's a nice, sweet talented lady.

too bad we can't say the same for al.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 4:34pm

Oh dude, you poor dear. This is not the board to "Gay bash" OR have poor posting *skills*. I have a feeling you won't be here long.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 7:36pm

Miriam,

I had the pleasure of seeing Kristin a few years ago in the Encores! production of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER. The girl has incredible stage presence and her somewhat loopy speaking voice was a perfect fit for the role of Daisy Gamble. She sang the hell out of the score and had the audience eating out of the proverbial palm of her hand. Too bad that production was never recorded.

As far as her opera penchant is concerned, she's doing several benefit performances of Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE at Lincoln Center this spring. Certainly the role of Cunegunde will indicate whether she has operatic "chops" or not. On a personal note: I can't wait to hear her negotiate her way through "Glitter and Be Gay".

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 11:50am

Master brought up a critical point: The gifted Chenoweth hasn't played a role with any sexuality. Look no further than the current vehicle: Glinda is the "pretty" one who basically plays 2nd fiddle to the darkly passionate Ephelba. I won't spoil the show, but hey, which witch is the one who morps into a vibrant, sexually available woman? After WICKED, as Master points out, "Alice in Wonderland" might be career strategy mistake. A 34 year old woman playing a little girl could be too precious by half. (By the way -- no one has proposed this, but wouldn't it be interesting if Kristin played Ephelba for a couple of weeks? She'd have to throw out the patented soubrette Master nails, and go to a very different place.)

All of this reminds us -- the biz types people, and then they tend not to stray too far from that type. Kristen may prove to be a far deeper, more versatile performer, and likely will. But she has to find parts that stretch her. To those who argue that her voice traps her -- well, she might've been a sexy young Mimi in the B'way BOHEME.

Updated On: 11/2/03 at 11:50 AM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 12:05pm

She would have made a GREAT Mimi, Auggie!

Thank you for your nice comments. She CAN play sexy. In her scene with Matthew Broderick on the bridge in In THE MUSIC MAN, she flashed him a firey look that indicated that she wanted to rip that gold-braided jacket off and ram her toungue down his throat. More, Kris, More! :)

Dolly, I saw Kristin's "American Songbook" concert (she was a knockout with her hair long, blonde and curled and in a form-fitting, sparkling silver-blue gown) where she performed "Glitter..". She devoured it like a hungry kid treats a hot-fudge sundae.

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 12:25pm

the title "Queen of the bombs " is a little harsh isnt it? Was YAGMCB a "bomb"? it wasnt exactly a hit but i wouldnt call it a bomb either.
She should have been born a few decades earlier...

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 1:50pm

Dollypop,

I have seen her in concert twice in DC and she did "Glitter and be Gay" both times (at the end!!). She handles it quite well and both times received an ethsusiastic response from the audience.