Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
#1Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:01pm
I don't know if this is a stupid question, but is Karen Olivo's current performance as Anita considered her "a star is born" performance?
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#2re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:16pmI would say that Anita is definitely the role that made her a star but she got recognition as Vanessa in 'In The Heights'.
"It's about the Benjamins, not the Bernsteins."-CapnHook
#2re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:18pmI'd say 'no'. It's a supporting role, although a strong one, and she made her name in In The Heights. In other words, she wasn't an unknown. First recent example to come to mind was Sutton Foster in Millie.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
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#3re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:19pmI think she's a fantastic performer with a beautiful voice but I would hardly say she's a "star" yet.
#4re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:23pmWhat does make a Broadway "star" though?
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#5re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:24pmI disagree, I think once you win a Tony it puts them in a different league. Would I put her in the same sentence as Patti LuPone, no. Karen Olivo is well on her way.
"It's about the Benjamins, not the Bernsteins."-CapnHook
#6re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:25pm
"What does make a Broadway "star" though?"
When Karen stops in the middle of "America" to tell an old lady in the 5th row to stop making so much FVCKING noise with that candy wrapper and to turn off her damn respirator", she will then, and only then be a Broadway star.
#7re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:29pmShe might not be a "star" yet, but she won a Tony. She is a star in the making.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
Leia947
Broadway Star Joined: 6/17/09
#8re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:33pm
I saw her understudy as Mimi in Rent years ago and thought she had star power then. Hell, I've seen Rent more times than I can remember and I remembered who she was. Can't say that for any other Mimi I saw other than Loraine Velez.
Karen was pretty much the only good thing about WSS when I saw it. She was amazing.
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"Even I think that's hot, and I'm a straight guy. If I ever become gay he is the reason." - Drunk Chita Rivera on Gavin Creel
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#9re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:40pmI'd be interested to see how she follows West Side Story.
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#10re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:40pmShe won a Tony for a featured role, which means she's been noticed, but time will tell if she goes on to achieve stardom. Chenoweth has only won a featured Tony, but it was the catapult to her fame (and yes, she's very well-recognized now). On the other hand, what happened to Gretha Boston, Daisy Eagan, Randy Graff, Debbie Shapiro, Ann Duquesnay, Lillias White, etc. Of those, the only "star is born" moment would have been Daisy Eagan (who truly was the star of the show), but she's been struggling ever since. Lillias definitely became a flavor-of-the-week performer for her turn in The Life, but never really took hold in any significant way. Randy and Debbie work pretty steadily in regional and concert productions, though both are worthy of a Broadway vehicle. As for Gretha, does anyone remember her at all?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#11re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:52pmMister Matt, I believe Gretha Boston suffered a stroke a year or two ago, but I don't know how she's doing. I was just thinking about her the other day.
Hey Dottie!
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#12re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:23pm
I didn't even realize Gretha was also nominated for It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues. Blues and Show Boat were her only two Broadway shows. I couldn't find anything regarding her stroke, but I do hope she is doing well. It's just odd to know how a Tony could turn one person into a star and yet for another, have little to no impact on their career whatsoever.
Scott Waara, anyone?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#13re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:33pmI guess it just depends. I think after she leaves West Side we will see what happens for her.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#14re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:39pmI expect she could follow Ramirez', Jeter's and other'ssss footsteps and find a good tv gig.
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#15re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:41pmWell does anyone think she might be remembered since she is the first Anita to win a Tony?
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#16re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:48pm
or Scott Wise.
Mister Matt, I had read about Gretha's stroke on ATC.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
bethnor
Broadway Star Joined: 10/15/08
#17re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 5:08pmi think all of them fall into the category "thrilled to be working."
#18re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:13pm
Not yet.
A featured Tony does not usually make one a star. What she follows this with is important.
Updated On: 7/9/09 at 10:13 PM
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#19re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:49pm
Maybe "breakthrough" for missing the most performances after winning a TONY.
I know we all get sick, but her absentees have been record breaking.
I think she should get a lot of work as an actress and singer, but why is she getting a pass for missing when Donna Murphy and Bernadette Peters missed less shows than Olivo?
Ijay, how many shows has Karen missed since winning the TONY?
I know you watch the boards.
#20re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/10/09 at 3:50amI think her next move after leaving WSS will be critical to her success. I think there are tons of roles out there for her to do but I'd like to see her originate another role myself.
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
#21re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/10/09 at 3:50amI think her next move after leaving WSS will be critical to her success. I think there are tons of roles out there for her to do but I'd like to see her originate another role myself.
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
#22re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/10/09 at 7:29am
Yes.
She won the Tony. She is a star.
#23re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/10/09 at 8:06amI find it difficult to respond because the thread title refers to a 'breakthrough performance'. When I read that, my initial thought was 'yes'. However, the first post tries to equate it to 'a star is born'. In that context, my response would be 'no'. For me, the 'star is born' would require someone to come from relative obscurity to above-the-title billing in one role (see: Foster, Sutton). I don't think Olivo's story quite meets that criterion.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
#24re: Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance
Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:00amIf they were to revive Anything Goes in the next 5-10 years, could she play Reno Sweeney?
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