MTV behind the scenes: Fantasia in rehearsal

[hilltop]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 10:04pm

Videos: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1556711&vid=142388

Fantasia makes her Broadway debut as Celie tomorrow night. The critics may not get her--or the people on this board--but I have a feeling that audiences will love her.

Fantasia singing I'm Here on Oprah:
http://www.rickey.org/?p=2510


"Because Fantasia brings such an authentic voice to the role, [the show's] likely to be even more emotional than it was with LaChanze," said Scott Sanders, lead producer of "The Color Purple," referring to the veteran actress who won a Tony Award for creating the role. "I feel she was born to play this role."
LA Times

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 10:19pm

She was... born to play this role..?????

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 10:27pm

LaChanze was brilliant in this role and while I don't think Fantastia will be as good, I will still see her and form my own opinion.

[thejcm]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 10:31pm

Wow! I love the way she hit the end of "I'm Here" on an actual clear note, instead of the raspiness that we're used to hearing.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 10:35pm

I forgot how much I loved that song. It's so beautiful. I think she sings it fine and with definite emotion, but the problem is, singing like that 8x a week and twice a day is going to ruin her voice. I have a feeling she'll switch to a 6x a week schedule, or something. If not, then I applaud her.

[HumATune]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 10:40pm

Wow thank you vocal coach. She doesn’t sound nearly as raspy or squawky as she normally does. I’m glad she is learning to sing in a more Broadway style—and enunciation is good!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 11:01pm

Im not A Color Purple fan nor a Fantasia fan, but WOW that was better than LaChanze's version. Very well acted too.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 11:11pm

I can't stand her, but I give her credit. She's not looking so bad right about now.

[willact4food]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 11:14pm

I think she sounds great in these clips!
Maybe I judged her too quickly...

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 11:33pm

I feel like she is going to be very good.

[TooWicked]

Posted: 4/9/07 at 11:41pm

After the way I read her being ripped apart here before she even had one rehearsal, I started rooting for her. So I am happy for her and pleased that from those clips it looks like she just might do a great job.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 12:10am

While I wish the best for Fantasia (and am among the minority who actually foresee her being good in the part,) I don't think anyone will be able to top LaChanze as Celie. Having seen her in the role last summer after the Tony's, I can attest that it was truly one of the finest performances I've yet to witness on stage, and to top that is going to be an almost insurmountable hill to climb.

All LaChanze comparison's aside, I wish Fantasia all the best on her opening night.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 12:11am

What happened to LEGALLY CELIE?

She been washed out.

[goofy108]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 12:27am

haha.
no one can beat lachanze but i think fantasia might do well.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 10:13am

No one can beat LaChanze?! Has anyone here heard Jeanette do it. She sings rings around Lachanze.

With regards to Fantasia, She may sing well in these clips, but I'm more concerned about her creating an entire character. It's more than just this number. She's got to play 15-50's. The fact that there are producers saying this will be more emotional than the creator of the role is kind of foolish to me. Let's just hope the emotion everyone feels isn't anger and frustration,

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 10:50am

"No one can beat LaChanze?! Has anyone here heard Jeanette do it. She sings rings around Lachanze."

I hate to break it to you, but a performance is about much more than singing (not to mention the fact that LaChanze's vocals were first rate in any case.)

[siny]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 10:51am

I read that Fantasia did not audition for this role. Do the big stars normally skip the audition process ? Seems a bit risky to me.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 11:03am

Interesting somethingwicked, you didn't answer the question. But if you read the next paragraph, you'll realize that I'm well aware of what the role entails, thanks.
Frankly Kenita and Jeanette are both better in BOTH arenas.

Updated On: 4/10/07 at 11:03 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 11:12am

To answer your question, I have seen both Janette and Kenita in the role in addition to LaChanze.

While I found Janette to have a pleasent voice, I didn't think her acting was nearly as heartfelt or grounded in truth as LaChanze's was (though she was certainly good in the role,) and there was just a lack of spark from her at times.

I enjoyed Kenita much more, and found her performance to be a complete and fantastic one (though she read a bit young in the older scenes for the character.)

Updated On: 4/10/07 at 11:12 AM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 11:58am

When I saw LaChanze, whenever she had to hold a note, she sounded like she was losing her voice.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 12:14pm

LaChanze has always had that kind of quality, and it's something I've always loved. LaChanze, in my opinion, came pretty damn close to the work that Oprah Winfrey did in the film and it was stunning to watch.

Jeanette has a beautiful voice, but her acting wasn't as beautiful. I don't remember ever really being on Celie's side because, by the end of the show, she had started to annoy me.

Sadly have not seen Kenita in the role, who I think is a fabulosu performer. Would love to if she ever returns to the role.

I'm starting to feel I judged Fantasia too much, as it seems she is working extremely hard and really wants this. I'll get up one morning super early for it and go in with an open mind. Perhaps she'll be more impressive than expected.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 12:15pm

I think her "I'm Here" might actually get a standing ovation --

If she puts as much emotion into the song as she did on "Oprah", the audience is going to go nuts !

[Danielm]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 1:27pm

I loved LaChanze and I have great hope for Fantasia. I'm glad they are giving her the extra rehearsal time to work with her on the role rather than just shoving her out on the Broadway stage like they've done with some of the poor Hollywood saps over at Chicago.

[jess20882]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 1:40pm

i'm thinking about going to see the performance tonight, to catch fantasia's opening show. think that's a good idea, or should i wait to hear reviews...?

[jess20882]

Posted: 4/10/07 at 2:01pm

nevermind - just checked online and tonite's performance is SOLD OUT.