Katie Clarke in Light In The Piazza

[vivs678]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 11:39pm

Saw her tonight....
SHE WAS AMAZING!!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:15am

Saw her tonight as well.

I thought she was great - much more simple minded and child-like than O'Hara's performance, but I still prefer O'Hara, if only for her effortless voice. It seemed as it, at times, Clarke's voice would just stop working. All around great acting, though.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 6:31am

I thought she was horrible. As Munk said, Kelli O'Hara's delivery was effortless. Katie Clarke really has to work at most of her notes and her mannerisms, and it shows. She's definitely the show's weak link and should be replaced.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 6:57am

I disagree MEF, I think Katie is perfect in the role. Her voice is beautiful, and she brings a youthful exuberance to the role. She's amazing!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 8:09am

I really liked katie as Clara. While her voice isn't as strong as Kelli O'Hara's, she still has a beautiful, pure voice, and a great stage presence.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 9:01am

just out of wonder, can anyone else see her replacing megan hilty as glinda at some point in the future?

[timote316]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 9:14am

I agree with Munk 100%. At times, though, I did feel she was holding back her beautiful voice. A few times I found myself thinking, just let it go! I'd bet that as she gets more shows under her belt, she will only get better.

And jonart, I can see her as Glinda, but I'd rather not see her take the role - then I'd have to see Wicked again!

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 10:23am

Psht Katie Clarke made me like Clara... I feel that yes she is a retard but still young and innocent.... i felt like Kelli's protrayl was like "nahhhhh i'm a special that's all there is to me". Pluse i think Katie's voice fits Clara better the Kellis

[Benzy92]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 10:30am

i LOVED Katie's Clara.. and i totally agree w/ the glinda comment.. she'd be phenominal, she has that soprano/mixy part in her voice that is so perfect.

[vivs678]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 10:43am

I thought her voice was wonderful! I mean, yes, she did have to try to get some of those high notes out (especially right there at the beginning, she looked a little nervous), but I thought she had an absolutely beautiful voice despite all that.
I've never seen Kelli O'Hara in the role, but I thought Katie did it wonderfully. The scene where she gets lost on her way to meet Fabrizzio was really well done, as well all her scenes. She gave a lot to the character without overdoing it and I didn't at all think of Clara as "just a special child".

[twogaab2]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:14am

A lovely sweet performance. The audience reaction to the slap from Margaret was much more intense than it ever was with O'Hara.

Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:18am

jonart- I think Katie would make an excellent G(a)linda.

[children&art]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:25am

wow, i didnt know she was in "Piazza" - is she going to give up her anchor spot on "the Today Show"? will ann curry replace her?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:38am

I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Clarke play the role yet, but from what I've heard she captures a part of Clara that I found lacking in O'Hara. As a special educator, I work with people like Clara, and that innocence mixed with an unrestrained passion for life is one of the hallmarks that makes them such beautiful people. O'Hara played Clara more as a confused child, which worked, but I found it somewhat lacking. From all accounts, Clarke nails that, and for that reason alone I would love to see her.

Plus, as I've said before, that girl is SMOKIN'!

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:41am

I was underwhelmed with Katie's Clara. Her acting was fine. Definitly a different take on the character from Kelli's which is always nice to see. However, she lacked the upper-register the role demands. Instead of opening up and hitting the high notes allowing them space and fullness, she just strained her mix all the way up to the high notes, and they lost their brilliance. Also, the night I saw her, her voice literally started to go out during the end of the title song and especially during Clara's Interlude. It really made me appreciate Kelli O'Hara's talent.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:49am

Having seen Katie in the show twice now, I found she is entirely unsuited for the part vocally (the last time I saw her, she was breathing improperly the entire show). She has a voice that I immediately thought "She's perfect for Wicked", but it lacked the technical proficiency that the role calls for. However, I think she has some promise in the acting department, her performance is not Kelli's and she has some great moments, but I find she doesn't really have that vulnerable quality that made me sympathize with Clara when played by O'Hara. And Clarke does have to work much harder at the role than Kelli (who by her run's end had evolved a stunning and layered characterization).

However, between the three weeks I saw her perform, I felt she had improved a great deal. But vocally, she is just not cut out for the part. (I read in an interview that her call-back had the entire creative team except Adam Guettel on hand).

And I notice that Vicki slaps Katie harder than she slapped Kelli.

(By the way, Vicki continues to astound me with her vivid character work. I saw the show on Valentine's Day and she played Margaret with a bit of an edge that night and I loved it).

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:59am

Kelli O'Hara is an amazing actress/singer, Katie had big shoes to fill. Did anyone see Jennifer Huges as Clara? Was she a stronger performer and deserved the role as much as Katie, who actually had less experience than Jennifer?

PS=No more Glinda comments! you guys seem like you're joking.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:24pm

Psht Katie Clarke made me like Clara... I feel that yes she is a retard but still young and innocent....

Yea, because gettick kicked in the head by a pony means that you're retarted. You're so smart.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:26pm

Wasn't there a huge search and a long wait for this casting? Wasn't there a huge thread about all the girls that were considered? I have not yet seen Katie Clarke but I am hoping to return to the show before it closes. I wasn't too keen on someone right out of college playing the part anyway but I will still try to keep an open mind. I will be dissapointed however if the singing isn't up to standard. Guettel's music is stunningly beautiful and needs a certain type of singer. I would be sad to see that a "look" was considered over the "voice". Anyway...I can't wait to go back and will try to keep an open mind.

The thing I liked so much about Kelli's interpretation was that you were never really quite sure what was wrong with her and I thought that that underlying frustration within her made the story that much more heartbreaking. She is supposed to be a girl trapped in a 26 year old's body and with a 26 years old's life experiences (although extremely sheltered experiences). I was never quite sure if Clara's problems were actually from her being kicked in the head or from her mother's smothering and I really liked that uncertainty....a flat out youthful interpretation seems a little boring to me. Updated On: 2/17/06 at 12:26 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 2:48pm

Oh Munk that was so witty. That wasn't the point and i know i phrased it wronge but still. The point is Katie's acting was far better then Kelli's. I also feel that Kelli's voice (yes it is amazing) doesn't suit Clara. I feel that Katie's voice adds to the charecter while Kelli's took you out of the world of the play to be like oh she has an amazing voice.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:13pm

To me, everything about Katie Clark's performance seemed forced. I would love to see Megan McGinnis play Clara. I think she'd be wonderful.

[topher]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:59pm

"I thought she was horrible. As Munk said, Kelli O'Hara's delivery was effortless. Katie Clarke really has to work at most of her notes and her mannerisms, and it shows. She's definitely the show's weak link and should be replaced."

Damn. Rough.

I saw and enjoyed both, but in different ways. Katie ended up being my preference, it just seemed to give Clara's role more personality, something that seemed slightly lacking, not due to either of the actresses but due to the role itself.

Also, effortless does come easier when you have performed the show as many times as Kelli.
Updated On: 2/17/06 at 03:59 PM

[YankeesFan175]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 4:11pm

i havent seen her, but from what ive read, i think she just needs time to adjust. kelli herself said that for a long time during previews "i had no idea what the heck i was doing."

give her a little while longer. yes i know its been a couple months, but shes very young (just out of college, right?) going straight to broadway must be nerve wracking and intense. and its really hard to follow someone like kelli o'hara and be just as good. kelli was much more experienced when she stepped into the role, and shes been at it longer. i think shell get better soon.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 4:13pm

MEF- I have to disagree with you about Megan McGinnis as Clara. I think, that while she could handle the part acting, vocally, she would be weak. Her upper register always seems forced to me, and that is not quality Clara should have.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 4:18pm

Don't forget that Kelli was with the show through much of its development as well. She spent months watching Celia and taking mental notes, I'm sure. Then she dated Adam and got a real inside track into his vision of the character before finally stepping into the role. She got about as much rehearsal time before the show opened as Katie has had since landing the part. I'm sure Katie will grow into it as well.