Les Miz cast changes -- POST THEM HERE! — Page 3

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#51

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/18/07 at 9:50pm

Max doesn't need a wig because his hair already LOOKS like a wig!

Yeah, I saw the show again the other night and its just TIRED plus with the tiny orchestra it just really lacks the musical umph of the original.

#52

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/18/07 at 10:13pm

Yeah, the new orchestrations blow chunks. I've already bitched about this to heaven and back on musicals.net, but really, you can't have Les Miz with no string section. (The reorchestrations reduced it to essentially a string quartet, boo!) In March and April it was riding on a lot of strong supporting performances, but then everyone left and we're stuck with Les Miz Lite exposed for what it really is.

I don't think the reactions to Max, Mandy, and Ann would've been as vicious if they hadn't been following on Aaron, Celia, and Jenny. Mandy especially--Celia was brilliant, Megan McGinnis was and is brilliant, and Mandy just wasn't on that level. She wasn't really that much more annoying than all the assorted cute, poppy, spunky Eponines that have been through the show over the years, but coming on the heels of Celia... yeesh.

Last time I saw it, about a month ago, most of the holdovers from the original cast were just phoning in. Alex? Yawn. Adam and Ali? Cute, but a little worn out. Gary was having fun, but Gary's idea of "fun" as Thénardier just makes me want to poke my eyes out.

#53

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/18/07 at 10:15pm

I remember when the orchestra use to hit that first booming note of the score that it brought chills to my neck. When I saw the redeux I was like "you gotta be kidding me- WTF is that!?" It's really sad and yes the lack of strings is HORRIBLE.

#54

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/18/07 at 10:48pm

Too bad about Ben Davis. First he missed so many shows due to illness only to come back, actually perform then be replaced. What did he play all of 10 shows?

#55

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/18/07 at 10:53pm

does anyone know why mandy fruno left so abruptly?

Can, can I have it?

#56

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:01pm

does anyone know why mandy fruno left so abruptly?

Cameron Mackintosh saw her last Saturday and thought she was so awesome he pulled her right off the stage to be Eponine in the new Les Miz musical movie.

#57

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:17am

She was fired point blank and she was dreadfully awful.

Frankly this should have happened earlier on in the run when it was discovered that she had used vocal steroids during her initial audition.

It's sad actually, she probably had somewhat of a good voice once, but you can tell she has done irreversible damage to her cords.

Updated On: 6/19/07 at 12:17 AM

#58

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 1:01am

!

...

wow.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#59

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 1:25am

Is that really true? I hope you wouldn't post something like that unless you knew for CERTAIN.

BTW, can anyone CONFIRM that Bruno was "fired" by Macintosh along with Ben Davis, or was it because of her vocal health problems?

#60

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 7:57am

Yeah is there any proof that Mandy Bruno used vocal steroids during her audition because thats a pretty heavy charge to make otherwise.

Either way I think she was awful whether she didnt have that great a voice to begin with or did damage to her chords or whatever, she really needed to be replaced. Her acting was pretty horrible too

#61

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:15am

I wouldn't go forth making accusations about vocal steroids. It generates rumors. It may be true, it may not be, but unless there's proof, you shouldn't make that statement. Maybe she just had some really good audition days.

"...you can't have Les Miz with no string section..."

It's been reduced to a sting quartet? What?!

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#62

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:33am

Mmhm.

Flute/Piccolo/Alto Flute/Alto Recorder: Bob Bush
Oboe/English Horn: Laura Wallis
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Tenor Recorder: Jonathan Levine
Trumpet/Flugel: Tim Schadt
Bass Trombone/Tuba: Chris Olness
French Horns: Michael Atkinson, Sara Cyrus
Violin: Martin Agee
Viola: Debra Shufelt-Dine
Cello: Laura Bontrager
Bass: Dave Phillips
Mallets/Timpani/Percussion: Charles Descarfino
Keyboards: Paul Raiman, Annbritt duChateau

Updated On: 6/19/07 at 09:33 AM

#63

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 11:46am

i may be dumb and young... what do vocal steroids do? Obviously it ain't a magic pill to make you sing better or everyone on this board would be working..

#64

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 11:58am

I believe they are injections of steroids into your mouth or throat (?) that give you a temporarily stronger voice. You need to go to a doctor to get them.

#65

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 2:51pm

"No, my WTF was "Why would they bother bringing another bored but vocally excellent Valjean, all the way from the UK?"

Yeah. John Owen-Jones was really just really really really bad...as was the rest of the UK cast that I saw. His voice is good, but that shouldn't cut it for a role as vocally and mentally demanding as Valjean...how about some passion? Les Miz shouldn't settle for just adequate voices or acting.

#66

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 3:09pm

Wait, is Drew Sarich going to be understudying another role now?

https://z7.invisionfree.com/The_Devils_Den/index.php?showtopic=53&st=720

This is turning into Duisberg!

(And, given the individual in question, kind of makes sense.)

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#67

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 8:56pm

According to a post on another forum, Megan McGinnis may not be taking over on a full time basis after all:

"In all the sleepiness last night, I forgot to mention some bad news. Megan McGinnis is NOT the new Eponine. I know that's what was announced, but it seems that Cameron Macknitosh has already withdrawn the promotion from her. The man is clearly unbalanced, hiring and firing people faster than anyone can report.

As of right now, Eponine has not been recast. Perhaps, if CM finds that he can't recast the role as he would like, he will leave it to Megan, but his intention is to replace her if he can. Clearly, he's an idiot, not to mention highly unprofessional.

In addition to the actors who lost their jobs this week, it is sad to see that many people behind the scenes lost their jobs also. Apparently, he fired people left and right. I can only imagine what the morale at LM must be right now."

The person claimed to have gotten this info from McGinnis herself. Has anyone else heard from her in regards to the news?

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

#68

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:19pm

I think the show should have just ran the 6 months it was supposed to and ended.

I think it's continuing only because on October 8th, it'll surpass CATS and be the second longest running show.

#69

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:21pm

"I think it's continuing only because on October 8th, it'll surpass CATS and be the second longest running show."

Will they actually be able to say that since the show actually closed and this is a revival.

#70

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:22pm

But it wouldn't really surpass CATS considering that it's only a revival... and both are Cameron Mackintosh shows...

#71

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:22pm

This is the link to what somethingwicked posted:
http://tinyurl.com/2du46j

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#72

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:25pm

I think it's continuing only because on October 8th, it'll surpass CATS and be the second longest running show.

No it won't. Performances from the revival don't affect the tally of the original run. Which is why the Chicago revival is currently the 8th longest running show while the original is way way down the list.

"It's Phantom meets Hamlet... Phamlet!"

#73

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/19/07 at 11:49pm

Hmm...I wonder if Mandy Bruno did get fired. It wouldn't surprise me.

#74

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:38am

If that's true, that sucks about Megan McGinnis. I was hoping to see her in the role. What the heck is wrong with her?

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#75

re: Les Miz cast changes -- Post them here!

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:01am

First of all, "vocal steroids" are not a miracle drug that make those unable to sing do so .If one is on them during an audition, They still posessed the ability w/out them. Prednasone is a drug given to those with adema (swelling) of the vocal chords. All it does is take down swelling. It's not going to make you sing like a lark if you couldn't do so to begin with. I can assure you MANY of your favorites on Broadway, currently, have utilized them at one time or another. Cameron has dismissed many from shows on a whim, be it their look,voice, hair color,vocal type,etc. It happens.It's horrible, cruel, sometimes necessary and NEVER enjoyable to witness. An amazingly enormous ego wth ALOT of money and clout. Sadly, it appears he shows little respect for actors who were cast in his productions by casting directors he pays for, trying to make a living.

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