Leona Lewis OFFICIALLY cast as Grizabella — Page 4

I'm not sure how selling 20 million records qualifies Lewis as a flash in the pan or a has been. Because we in the USA aren't familiar with her? Just like we weren't familiar with Elaine Paige, Vanessa Redgrave, Ian McKellan, Richard Burton, Cynthia Erivo and so on? Shall we give her a chance? And exactly which Broadway divas do you think would take that role? Patti? Bernadette? Audra? Idina? I doubt it.

JM226 said: "thats not how being a 'one-hit wonder' works. it is is in reference to how many of your songs chart in the billboard top 40. that being said, she DID have at least two tracks chart in the top 40 so that characterization by the other poster was inaccurate to begin with "

You're correct, I misspoke. Having a single in the top 40 does qualify it as a hit, and she had one hit number 11 after Bleedin' Love.

BroadwayConcierge said: "How has Ms. Lewis' attendance been since the show opened? I feel like I see the Broadway understudies Twitter reporting very often that Jessica Hendy is scheduled on for Grizabella. Wondering if that's just me.



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She was on tonight. I actually didn't think she was too terrible, but then again I was expecting the worst based on what some had said.

If she cannot commit to regularly performing 8 times a week, she should get an alternate (a la Brightman). However, having finally seen School of Rock last night, I must say that Brightman IS the show. He's onstage for virtually every scene and involved in most of the musical numbers for 2 and a half hours. Miss Lewis' most arduous moment is doing her makeup, and she's onstage for less than 15 minutes. This behavior would be unacceptable were she not d-list celebrity. My heart goes out to her, but perhaps she is simply not cut out for theatre.

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Intermission right now. She just butchered Memory... WOW..."

The song is at the end of act 2, but ok.

Sally Durant Plummer said: "This behavior would be unacceptable were she not d-list celebrity. My heart goes out to her, but perhaps she is simply not cut out for theatre."

I find this a little silly. So to recap, people on here make fun of the casting choice, saying Leona Lewis is not a draw and won't sell tickets. Then they delight in her mediocre reviews, which is fine. Then people act upset that she's missed a few shows, as if it's a big disappointment that she's out of the show.

In reality, she and every other actor on Broadway are allowed sick days and personal days.

Others in the company have missed as many or more performances. I don't find it alarming in any way.

I love everything I've heard and seen about Cats, but honestly Leona Lewis's performance, even if it's as bad as people say, probably won't bother me. To be fair, that's probably because I don't consider "Memory" the highlight of the show while it seems that's what it is to most people - I can't stand most slow songs in general, so for me the highlight of the show is Magical Mr. Mistofflees, and the upbeat shows in general is what I enjoy. Since I don't like Memory in the first place it probably won't matter how well or bad it's being sung. As long as the upbeat numbers are done well, I'll still enjoy the show.

@Dancingthrulife2 - I get that. And I can appreciate the meaning of the song. That doesn't change the fact that I can't get into enjoying it - I'm autistic and have attention span problems, so it's just the type of song that tends to fail to catch my attention. I fully acknowledge that my lack of appreciation for it is entirely a me thing rather than anything to do with it, but it still doesn't change my own perspective of the show.

And I'm fine with Cats as just an enjoyable night out, but I do enjoy hearing the stories of all the different Cats, and do agree with you on the main meaning of it in seeing differnet types of people, as with the original poems. Again, I can appreciate the deeper meanings of the show, but at the same time I'm also able to enjoy the show on the more base levels as well, and even if I can appreciate something doesn't mean I'll always be able to enjoy it.

trpguyy said: "Others in the company have missed as many or more performances. I don't find it alarming in any way.



Others in the company also do a significant amount of dancing, so it's to be expected they would be nursing injuries and whatnot. Miss Lewis doesn't dance, and is onstage for about 12 minutes.

Grizabella, though an immensely nuanced role to pull off well, does diddly-squat physically compared to the rest of the company. The proportion of absences shouldn't even be close.

I would honestly be absolutely fine if she left this production. carrying a contract like hers is a waste of money when they can put Jessica Hendy in that role and she would be just as good if not better then Leona.

Another thing is that the rake is quite extreme, I did not expect it. It just makes the jellicle ball even more beautiful then it already is!

Oak2 said: ""Another thing is that the rake is quite extreme, I did not expect it. It just makes the jellicle ball even more beautiful then it already is"

What does this mean? I am not being sarcastic, I genuinely don't know what the "rake" means in this case. I"m glad if it improves the show, though.



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It's referring to the angle at which the stage is tilted toward the audience.