Laura Osnes to Sail into SOUTH PACIFIC Replacing Kelli O'Hara Mar. 10- Page 2

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:28pm

I doubt that her name is going to sell many tickets to this (do you really think the teen girls are going to go running to South Pacific???). So, she must have given a HELL of an audition that really blew them away. I'm kind of excited to see this, because it's interesting casting. I expected something much more traditional from Lincoln Center. Kudos to them for thinking outside the box.

As for Laura, I thought she was about the only redeeming quality from that horrendous production of Grease.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:29pm

Kelli will probably do what Victoria Clark did in PIAZZA and have an alternate.

[jennyish]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:33pm

. . . what? This is . . . weird. I'll reserve judgement.

Kind of reminds me of when Katie Clarke replaced Kelli in LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, except without the reality show business.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:34pm

O'Hara will not have a matinee alternate.

The only reason Victoria Clark performed six shows a week toward the end of the run of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA was because Lincoln Center asked her to extend her contract to cover the closing of the show and that was her sole condition in agreeing to do so.

O'Hara, on the other hand, voluntarily expressed interest in returning to the production before a search for her replacement even began. She'll have no such conditions upon coming back in October.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:34pm

I was able to see this cast of South Pacific and Laura has some big shoes to fill. I may have to go back and see her in this. I am a big Kelli O Hara fan and thought she was wonderful in this production but this could be a very nice role for Laura. As people have said time will tell.

Hopefully people will start to judge Laura on sheer talent and whether she is right for parts and not because she was on a reality show. I don't think this is "stunt casting." It is possible Laura had the best audition and won the role...just like any other actor in NY who is auditioning for parts.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:38pm

"Kello"?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:40pm

I was judging her on talent and whether she is right for parts.

She's a dime-a-dozen soprano.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:42pm

Why is she a dime a dozen soprano? Not being a smart ass, I am just curious why you think that.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:45pm

Charleston, you got me, this time. I still find it pathetic that you examine all my posts.


Are we really considering this stunt casting? I mean yes, she won a reality show but she is also a good performer from what I hear. Also, it's not as if she was part of a T.V series, it was just a reality show. When someone from American Idol joins a show they don't make that big of a deal, except for Fantasia and Ace, Tamyra didn't get that much attention.

I think she is just a good performer who deserved the role, I doubt they are plastering posters outside the theatre say "Now starring 'Grease: You're The One That I Want!' winner Laura Osnes, now I am prepared to eat my words. But honestly, not everyone knows that show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:45pm

Because she sounds like every other Broadway chorus girl. There's no distinguishing factor there beyond her getting a better go of it because she won the TV show.

Now, I don't care that she won the TV show; good for her. But she's exactly like all the other ones out there - there's nothing special about her and, from what I recall about GREASE (which is very little), she's not a very good actress.

Prove me wrong, Laura. Prove me wrong.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:46pm

I am very excited for her. I think she'll be great. She has such a beautiful voice. Just because the Grease revival wasn't the greatest doesn't mean Laura should be regarded as a bad performer or should be given a low level of respect. Good for her for taking on this role

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:47pm

Wounds, LCT has far too much class to do that.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:48pm

My first reaction was: WHAT?!

But, upon further thought, and reading the board, I think LCT/Sher know what they're doing. I didn't see Grease, so I can't judge her fairly. Heck, I didn't even watch the reality show, I just feel it's weird to cast someone from a reality show.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:52pm

Are you f'ing kidding me?

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:53pm

Yankee, I hear what you are saying.

I saw her in Grease and there were soooooo many things wrong with that show, we could be here all day. I think she was very green but for a Broadway debut not bad, IMO. And it's not like Sandy is a really deep role to play.

It will be interesting to see what she does with the layers in this role. I hope she does well but we shall see!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 5:53pm

Sorry I didn't reply to this sooner. I was too busy vomiting.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:03pm

Oh lord.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:03pm

I hope they feed her a sandwich or two prior to her March debut. I saw her in Grease and she was so skinny! I wanted to take her off stage and feed her.

That being said, she is an interesting choice. Very young looking for her age, but there is supposed to be a rather drastic age difference if I am remembering correctly (I did the show in my HS days). I find her voice pleasant and she has that girl-next-door quality that works wells for South Pacific. And there were so many things far worse about the Grease revival then her performance. So many...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:05pm

Who honestly thinks this show even needs stunt casting? And besides, if they did, they would have sought out a real name. Laura isn't big enough to be considered stunt casting; a handful of people will go see the show for her, but I can't imagine it being a substantial amount. They surely won't be in droves.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:14pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126261.html

Updated On: 2/12/09 at 06:14 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:18pm

I wonder if she'll also permanently replace Kelli next year. O'Hara said in some interview she is coming back in October "until the end of the year" because she wanted to leave at the same time as Paolo Szot.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:20pm

Well, SOUTH PACIFIC just started up with discount codes after having sold only at full price after their raves post-Opening, so who knows how the show will do from now through December. It might close by then.

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:39pm

I wouldn't be surprised if Osnes ends up playing the role in the national tour.

I don't think stunt-casting is the appropriate word for this. She's not a big enough name. My guess is she gave an amazing audition...I'm excited to hear reviews! Good for her!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 6:40pm

I just saw a South Pacific commercial, first time I've ever seen one... and Laura does look a lot younger than Kelli.

[bluesoprano]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 7:24pm

This is an interesting casting choice, as everyone has stated. But Bartlet Sher does cast the best in his shows and obviously he saw something in Laura. Although she does have big shoes to fill, it will be nice to see what see brings to the part.