Posted: 9/13/17 at 1:13pm
Kiss of Spiderwoman will turn 25 next year. Is it due for revival? Would love to see it back on Broadway. I thought it was a truly amazing show with top notch performers (Chita, Brent and Anthony) ... then the team with Vanessa Williams. Here is hoping.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 1:17pm
A reading done with A McDonald, Cummings and Pasquale a year or two ago. Hope they all do it soon.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 2:27pm
It's a really wonderful show, but is a hard sell commercially, and would need an A-list film or TV actor as Molina or the title character to even have a chance at making its money back.
Also, McDonald, Cumming, and Pasquale are all wrong for those roles in their own way - in addition to the fact that none of them are Latino.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 2:31pm
Yes, and Heather Headley, please. Get her another Tony.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 2:42pm
@Roundabout theatre company...... just sayin.
Also Heather Headley would be sensational, I agree with that 100%. I know that Titus Burgess has expressed interest in doing a Spiderwoman revival. Throw in Pasquale as well and that's quite a strong mix of performers.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 2:58pm
Vanessa Williams, H McGillin and B Mitchell are all non Latino yet it proved effective. M Conchita Alonso was Aurora but Williams was far superior. In my opinion only. Heather Headly a big yes!
Posted: 9/13/17 at 5:52pm
There would probably be a lot of flack if they cast non Latin actors. I mean if regional theatres in Massachusetts are getting called out when they don't cast Latins in Evita...
Posted: 9/13/17 at 6:01pm
A0326T said: "Vanessa Williams, H McGillin and B Mitchell are all non Latino yet it proved effective. M Conchita Alonso was Aurora but Williams was far superior. In my opinion only. Heather Headly a big yes!"
I don't think you quite understand. In 2017 when people claim someone's skin colour is not to the exact RGB specifications that the role requires or doesn't have some distant tenuous connection to an ancestor with the same heritage as a character they aren't saying they won't be able to do the role - they are saying that it is culturally offensive, racist, oppressive, disgusting, a hate crime and economically unsusitable because it would result in the opening of too many safe spaces to escape the patriarchy, racist and capitalist societies that cause these awful casting decisions. Check your privilege and you'll understand.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 6:09pm
I know she's not Latinx, but I would ALSO love to see Heather Headley as Aurora. I'd also love to see Naya Rivera, who has a following but would probably need another star to really help carry the show.
Posted: 9/13/17 at 9:55pm
I only saw the musical once and despised it. (Wikipedia seems to think Molina conjures Aurora wholly from his imagination, so she could be any race.)
But in the novel, Aurora is not Latina, IIRC. Molina is describing an actress he saw in a Nazi melodrama.
Posted: 9/14/17 at 2:18pm
"I don't think you quite understand. In 2017 when people claim someone's skin colour is not to the exact RGB specifications that the role requires or doesn't have some distant tenuous connection to an ancestor with the same heritage as a character they aren't saying they won't be able to do the role - they are saying that it is culturally offensive, racist, oppressive, disgusting, a hate crime and economically unsusitable because it would result in the opening of too many safe spaces to escape the patriarchy, racistand capitalist societies that cause these awful casting decisions. Check your privilege and you'll understand."
You're being sarcastic, right?
In any case, although...yes, Argentina is full of Europeans and is very "white," I think it's better to err on the side of inclusivity and have as many Latino actors in the cast as possible. Certainly in the very least Valentine and most of the prisoners are more dark-skinned, given the socioeconomics of the country.
Posted: 9/14/17 at 2:29pm
I would say that Javier Munoz would make a good Valentine if he wasn't such an a hole, so I'll stick with Steven Pasquale.
Updated On: 9/14/17 at 02:29 PM
Posted: 9/14/17 at 2:34pm
GeorgeandDot said: "I would say that Javier Munoz would make a good Valentine if wasn't such an a hole, so I'll stick with Steven Pasquale."
Who are you saying is an a-hole? Javier or the character of Valentine? Please elaborate. Thanks!
Posted: 9/14/17 at 2:46pm
I know she's not Latinx, but I would ALSO love to see Heather Headley as Aurora.
Not me. Personally, I've found her to be vocally unreliable and her acting only somewhat adequate.
If Kiss of the Spider Woman gets new staging and choreography, then I'd love to see it. I love the score and most of the book, but I really didn't care for the original staging. And personally, I'd love to see Bianca Marroquin as Aurora. She was brilliant as Roxie in the 2014 national tour of Chicago.
Posted: 9/14/17 at 2:58pm
GeorgeandDot said: "^The one with the Twitter account."
Yeah, seems like a real a-hole...
https://twitter.com/jmunozactor/status/907199654391140353
https://mobile.twitter.com/jmunozactor/status/908153801097523200
Posted: 9/14/17 at 3:27pm
Gaveston, why did you despise the original production?
Posted: 9/14/17 at 3:48pm
GeorgeandDot said: "^ A+++++ at cherry picking....."
I think I know what you're referring to and it's certainly your right to conclude that he's a-hole based on his behavior over a limited amount of time.
I come to a different conclusion: he stood up for someone he had formed a close friendship with, probably misguidedly, but when I factor in everything I know about him, he seems like a decent human being. I would like to think I'm not an a-hole, but people could certainly cherry pick moments from my life to make that argument. I suppose that's true for most of us. But we all make judgments about who is an a-hole and who isn't, as is our right.
Also, if we are going to say anyone who takes an unpopular stand or says offensive things cannot perform in a Broadway show, the lights of all those glorious theatres would remain dark until infinity. Just google "LuPone controversy" or "Ebersole controversy," etc...
We all have the right to see shows based on a number of factors including who performs in them. In fact, I was on the fence regarding seeing War Paint when in NYC in November partially because I find Ms. LuPone's off-stage demeanor off-putting. Ultimately, I decided not to see it based more on finding six shows I would rather see plus the lukewarm reviews for her current show. She's still a master talent and hopefully I'll see her one day (despite her saying this is likely her last show) in a show I'm more enthusiastic about. I saw Kelsey Grammer in La Cage. He was great even though I haven't always been a fan of some of his personal comments.
If we can agree that Javier overreacted in his responses on Twitter, can we also use some discretion in how we react to our perception of performers' personal behaviors so we also do not overreact?
I do hope to see Javier in Hamilton one day. I was lucky enough to see the OBC two years ago and sadly I couldn't fit it into my packed schedule this next trip (not too mention those ticket prices...whew).
Anyway, best wishes...thanks for reading (presumably) my reply...I wish you many happy theater-going experiences in your future. What was your most recent favorite musical/play experience?
Updated On: 9/14/17 at 03:48 PM
Posted: 9/14/17 at 3:54pm
^I have problem with the way he treats his fans. I don't know what else he did. Which friend? I don't hope for him not to have success, but I don't dreamcast him in things because he's not one of my favorite performers. I'd rather see Pasquale get the part because at least he doesn't bully his teenage fans.
Anways, someone please revive Spiderwoman it's been too long.
Posted: 9/14/17 at 4:01pm
Posted: 9/14/17 at 4:12pm
GeorgeandDot said: "^I have problem with the way he treats his fans. I don't know what else he did. Which friend? I don't hope for him not to have success, but I don't dreamcast him in things because he's not one of my favorite performers. I'd rather see Pasquale get the part because at least he doesn't bully his teenage fans.
Anways, someone please revive Spiderwoman it's been too long."
Wow. Wasn't aware of any bullying behavior other than perceptions to how he defended his initial comment(s) Was this in relation to TGC?
I do agree. I'd love to see a Spiderwoman revival. I've only seen the movie (once) back on videotape I believe when it was released (God, I'm old).
I saw Pasquale last year in Robber Bridegroom last year. He was great.
https://m.facebook.com/photos/edit/10209350050976097/
Updated On: 9/14/17 at 04:12 PM
Posted: 9/14/17 at 4:42pm
Also, if we are going to say anyone who takes an unpopular stand or says offensive things cannot perform in a Broadway show, the lights of all those glorious theatres would remain dark until infinity. Just google "LuPone controversy" or "Ebersole controversy," etc...
Bizarre examples. LuPone was only "controversial" to those who really didn't like her in the first place and blasted her for being "unprofessional" (personally, I applauded her for it). Ebersole has remained batsh*t crazy since 9/11 and tweets conspiracy theories. As a performer, she's fine, but I don't think she's that remarkable, much less irreplaceable (and how she won a Tony for 42nd Street will always be a mystery to me).
