Karen Olivo Breakthrough Performance

[CSonBroadway]

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?

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:16pm

I would say that Anita is definitely the role that made her a star but she got recognition as Vanessa in 'In The Heights'.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:18pm

I'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.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:19pm

I think she's a fantastic performer with a beautiful voice but I would hardly say she's a "star" yet.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:23pm

What does make a Broadway "star" though?

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:24pm

I 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.

[Jordan Catalano]

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.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:29pm

She might not be a "star" yet, but she won a Tony. She is a star in the making.

[Leia947]

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.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:40pm

I'd be interested to see how she follows West Side Story.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:40pm

She 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?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:52pm

Mister 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.

[Mister Matt]

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?

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:33pm

I guess it just depends. I think after she leaves West Side we will see what happens for her.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:39pm

I expect she could follow Ramirez', Jeter's and other'ssss footsteps and find a good tv gig.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:41pm

Well does anyone think she might be remembered since she is the first Anita to win a Tony?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 4:48pm

or Scott Wise.

Mister Matt, I had read about Gretha's stroke on ATC.

[bethnor]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 5:08pm

i think all of them fall into the category "thrilled to be working."

[ljay889]

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]

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.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 3:50am

I 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.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 3:50am

I 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.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 7:29am

Yes.

She won the Tony. She is a star.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 8:06am

I 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.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:00am

If they were to revive Anything Goes in the next 5-10 years, could she play Reno Sweeney?