Manuel Exits The Times They Are A-Changin'; Standby Lisa Brescia Assumes Role

[ChildofDestiny]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:31pm

Oh my! Poor Caren! Though I did really like Lisa in Aida...
Broadway.com Story

[Katecab99]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:34pm

Oooh, anyone know why?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:35pm

Did she really leave the cast...or is this just a tweak being made during the creative process of previews?

This seems fishy to me.

Updated On: 10/3/06 at 03:35 PM

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:36pm

Wait--how old is Brescia? Is she Arden's LOVE INTEREST??

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:41pm

AAAAAAAAAAND NOW I'm going to see this.

LOVE Lisa.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:42pm

Holy crapola.

Nice Rare Playbills now.


Manuel is the 2nd Cleo to be canned (In talking to her, it didn't seem like she was unhappy) from this show. Is it a saving grace? Updated On: 10/3/06 at 03:42 PM

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:45pm

Yay! I am so happy for Lisa! She is so talented!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:49pm

Whatever actually happened, I'm thrilled for Lisa, because she doesn't get nearly the amount of attention she deserves. She is so talented. And honestly, I'm looking forward to seeing her far more than I was to seeing CLM.

That's not a particularly flattering photo of her, and while she is older than Michael, she really doesn't her age at all.

[mabel]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:50pm

Wow! I'm trying to think of the last time someone was replaced in previews (who generally seemed to be getting pretty negative feedback)? I can think of a few people who never quite made it to previews, being replaced kind of late in the game. Surely there are many such cases, but my mind is blanking at the moment. Jasmine Guy in The Violet Hour springs to mind. Anyone else, off-hand?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 3:52pm

Off hand, there are very few.

I know Robert Morse left the company of Wicked, but he wasn't let go.

Ron Orbach left the out of town company of The Producers after he hurt his leg....Brad Oscar was elevated.

Chris Kattan was fired from The Frogs. Updated On: 10/3/06 at 03:52 PM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:04pm

THere is no saving grace for this show.

[mabel]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:06pm

Ah, I think Kattan was on par with what I was thinking of. Not that CLM was let go for having questionable drug-related issues ( ), but as far as someone making it a little way through the preview process in a pretty substantial role, not working out, and being replaced.

[prayerforaduck]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:28pm

Lisa is one of my two favorite women on Broadway (hence the avatar) - I'm so excited for her.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:35pm

The role is a real rough one, IMO. Most of the singing for this character comes in some strange parts of the story, and trying to match the lyrics of the songs to the context of the scene is a challenge for even the best actress. So I'm not suprised that yet another actress had parted with the role.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:47pm

I think twyla should just do it... one night only at least.

[BJC899]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:51pm

I LOVEEE LISA!

So happy for her to have this opportunity.

[commasplice]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 4:51pm

I am so happy for Lisa! She's such a wonderful performer.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:22pm

i wonder if they did it to give what pithy publicity they could to their crapical?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:39pm

Yankee- I thought that Jenn quit to do High Fidelity? I didn't think she was fired (she was great!)

Does anybody know if Caren quit or if she was fired?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:42pm

Judging by what everyone that had seen the show has said about Caren's performance and by the abruptness of this, I am guessing she was let go..

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 6:33pm

yeah, i bet poor Caren was fired

[greenifyed]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:26pm

Lisa Brescia FOR THE WIN.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:04pm

Already saw Manuel in the role and as you all know, I hated her in it AND I hated the show. However, I will likely see it again this weekend to see Lisa Brescia's take...I love that woman!

[ruprecht]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:05pm

I think it's safe to say she was "let go" as was Colella. I think Lisa Brescia will be an improvement (can't possibly be any worse) but my only "fear" is, she looks a bit old for the baby faced Arden.

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:07pm

I think that Lisa is going to be amazing, as she always is!
I don't think that she looks too "old" at all, she handled the role Amneris beautifully! Now I will have to see the show, to see her in it!