Light in the Piazza Pre-BroadwayOut of Town- Page 2

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 4:00pm

I LOVED what I saw in this video. I could tell that Celia doesn't have as accomplished a voice as Kelli, but she's quite good and I'm sure she was amazing as Clara. To me, it was quite interesting that Celia was associated with 2 of the hottest shows on broadway that season -- no matter what went down, that seems to be to be the best of both worlds.

I sort of like the more simple look of the piece in Seattle and enjoyed seeing the violinist on stage during the show. I can see that working well for the piece, too. Nevertheless, I adored the modifications that were made for Broadway. Now, Steven Pasquale has a KILLER voice!!! Too bad he didn't make it to Broadway!

Updated On: 7/12/06 at 04:00 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 4:22pm

I was kind of confused when the review mentioned an Irish priest.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 4:27pm

I believe that must've come in with the old song 'Margaret',which is the song that includes lyrics to The Beauty Is(Reprise) which they show in the video.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 4:38pm

I'm sorry but Celia sounds much better in those clips, than Katie Clark sounded in the role. I guess I'd have to hear Celia sing all the songs to really judge it though.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 5:03pm

While hands down she didn't have the soprano that Kelli O'Hara has (who does?) she sounded beautiful! I don't know how Katie Clarke sounds except from the PBS version and while I personally thought she was great I know that many said she was having a vocally off night. I thought that there were only a few places that her voice kind of irked me. But Celia sounded very good so I really would be dissapointed if the vocal issue was what took her out of the show. I thought she acted the role perfectly with the right amount innocence and you could really feel that it was her first time in love.

[kyle.]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 1:32am

Katie's vocals are VERY similar to Celia's. After seeing the PBS broadcast I was VERY underwhelmed with Katie. One might even say disappointed.

Then I had the pleasure of seeing her on Patti's last evening as Margaret, and again 2 days later on the last Friday evening performance.

I was stunned by her.

Her vocals soared and her acting was the best I have seen from any Clara. Yes, that's right. Any Clara.

(Sorry I haven't been more active with this thread. I'm in Chicago for school orientation and I haven't been able to get online much)
Updated On: 7/13/06 at 01:32 AM

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 2:02am

yeah I wish I could have seen Katie live rather than just on PBS although I loved her acting on PBS and wasn't that dissapointed by her voice. I thought her Clara was dead on.

[chernjam]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 8:01am

ljay889 - never heard that explanation about Chicago playing in Newark as a way of promoting the Broadway production. Interesting.

I'm thinking though that if Light is doing a full national tour that Newark could be an add on. Does anyone know for sure if all the dates listed so far are it or are they considering adding more later?

I can really kick myself that I didn't get to Lincoln Center in time.

Jim

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 9:09am

As a comment about the Seattle set:

Patti Cohenour and I were discussing various parts of the progress of Piazza, and how the set had evolved. This isn't a direct comment, but she said how she loved the sets in the Broadway production so much more and how there was something in the Seattle set that reminded her of a skateboarding half-pipe or something to that extent. She expressed her thankfulness for the redesign to what magnificent and gorgeous sets Piazza had on Broadway. =)

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 9:10am

Ugh... double post. =(

But anyway, forgot to add that I love that Kelli was Franca?! And Glenn was Guiseppe... the whole cast seemed really interesting. =) Updated On: 7/13/06 at 09:10 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:00pm

Sorry to bump an old thread, but if people are curious to hear the Seattle cast, I stumbled across this NPR interiew that has discussion about the show and hs clips from that cast (specifically, the original ending to "The Beauty Is" is interesting).

NPR interview Updated On: 8/8/06 at 10:00 PM

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:03pm

Thanks!

[chernjam]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:09pm

WOW - thanks so much! I really have been looking for clips of Steve Pasquale's singing in The Light in the Piazza (ever since I saw this on TV and found out about Pasquale's involvement)

[Amneris]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:31pm

glenn seven was my teacher at cap :) that guy is awesome. he had 2 people in class do a scene from piazza.. they did lets walk and glenn practically did the entire scene lol.

[Days of Inspiration]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 5:00pm

"Reading that review makes me wonder why Celia was not brought to Broadway."

You should listen to Kelli's Downstage Center interview. She explains this decision in it.

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 5:33pm

Yeah that Kelli interview was very insightful as to what went down although I'm guessing we'll never know the whole story. I just was dissapointed because yeah Celia looked and acted younger than Kelli's but she certainly didn't play it any younger or look younger than Katie Clarke did. I realize there isn't much point in this because the show is done but she really should have played it on Broadway.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 6:16pm

Dose someone have a link to Kelli's downstage interview?

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 6:18pm

http://www.americantheaterwing.com/downstagecenter/detail/kelli_ohara

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 7:39pm

Don't get me wrong but,In a way we should I'm glad Celia didn't bring it to Broadway. Celia had done Clara in Piazza and Johanna in Sweeney. I think if Celia had brought Piazza to broadway people would think of her as the ingenue type. I think doing Spelling Bee really showed her range as an actress and a singer. Doing Spelling Bee really showed the versatility she has as a performer.

EDIT: Celia got nominated for a TONY and Spelling Bee is still running. I think that her not doing Piazza worked for the better.

Updated On: 8/9/06 at 07:39 PM

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 11:32pm

bump

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 11:50pm

I wish they would have at least asked her to come in once Kelli left although I know that others won't agree with me on that. No and I mean she is still good friends with a lot of the cast. I just wished that NYCers could have seen her performance. But I certainly loved Kelli and Katie so I'm content :)

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:00am

I would give my left arm to see Celia as Clara. My right arm too. Heck, I'd just about give anything.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:15am

I guess there were no hard feelings because, she contstantly praises Kelli and Victoria.