Posted: 8/22/18 at 11:42pm
I saw Frozen a couple weeks ago, but just recently saw a video of Laura Osnes singing For the First Time in Forever. While Patti was absolutely phenomenal, I can't help but wonder why Laura Osnes wasn't cast as Anna. She's younger than Murin, has the voice, the resume, and the fan base and seems altogether like a perfect candidate for the part. Thoughts?
Posted: 8/22/18 at 11:45pm
You're getting into a years-old conversation on these boards!
Though I completely agree. Laura Osnes would've been much more age-appropriate for Anna (and Betsy Wolfe would've been a perfect Elsa alongside her). I'll never really understand why they went with Murin and Levy.
Posted: 8/22/18 at 11:45pm
On paper she seems like a great choice, but I'm not sure Osnes is quirky enough for Anna.
Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:31am
To me Osnes is always fine. She's not like "Wow what a choice!" but she's fine. Bland, I guess. I think she'd be a fine Anna, but it seems they wanted someone SPUNKY and not sure she's that. I actually can see why they would go with Levy. She's got a dark quality to her that really suits the role.
Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:36am
Maybe she didn't audition for it? I also still think she's not even age-appropriate for it, even though she's younger than Patti.
Posted: 8/23/18 at 3:04am
Laura needs to break out of the ingenue mold and do something a little grittier than Frozen, IMO. I still think one of her best performances was in Bonnie and Clyde. That being said, I think she would have been great with the songs for Anna, but iffy for the book because of the aforementioned lack of quirkiness.
Posted: 8/23/18 at 3:07am
" I still think one of her best performances was in Bonnie and Clyde."
Yep, that part was a little grittier than her normal roles - lol
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:56am
Posted: 8/23/18 at 9:53am
BroadwayConcierge said: "Laura Osnes would've been much more age-appropriate for Anna (and Betsy Wolfe would've been a perfectElsa alongside her)."
AMEN!
Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:14am
Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:09am
"Osnes seems like a lovely person - why would you wish this awful show on her? She deserves a good show to star in..."
I saw her in "Bandstand" and loved her, too bad the show did not last. I thought it was pretty decent show and deservered to run longer than it did especially when you see some the the god awful shows opening lately.
Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:13am
I completely agree. It breaks my heart that the show couldn't last a little longer. It was not given a fair shake, IMHO. And Laura's performance was so surprising. I miss that show - so glad they made it into a Fathom event though.
Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:56am
(This might not be explained the best but hopefully people understand what I mean!) What I've noticed when Disney casts the leads in their musicals, they typically go with people who are not big-name established stars and/or don't have a mainstream following. While Caissie and Patti were both Broadway veterans they didn't really have mainstream followings or any major award recognition.
However, Laura Osnes does have a big following and has 2 Tony nominations. She's an established Broadway name. That might be why they didn't go for her?
Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:17pm
Posted: 8/24/18 at 11:07am
"I completely agree. It breaks my heart that the show couldn't last a little longer. It was not given a fair shake, IMHO. And Laura's performance was so surprising. I miss that show - so glad they made it into a Fathom event though. "
Yep, I went to see it when it was Fathom event and had wonderful time.
