Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15- Page 3
Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#50re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:33pm
blaxx-
They brought Donna McKechnie, Robert LuPone and Sammy Williams back...but that hardly counts...
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winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#51re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:33pm
Blaxx,
There was never any stunt casting at all in the original. The whole point of the show ( until Lopez got cast) is that it is all a bunch of unknowns. If memory serves the show in its original form never went for high profile broadway stars either. I think that by casting Lopez it just destroyed the integrity of the show. That it is a whole bunch of unknowns.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
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blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#52re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:36pmSad...I'm watching it for the first time in a couple of weeks. Hope I enjoy it. Thanks for the responses.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#53re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:37pm
We have to remember...........Broadway, like anything else, is a business.....to make money. If the producers of the show can bring in a "name" to make more money, then, they are doing their job, and they are doing it very well.
We may not agree with their casting decision, but, it's a business decision....plain and simple.
Updated On: 3/4/08 at 08:37 PM
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#54re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:42pmI understand that. But, there are a whole slew of shows that played for a while without resorting to stunt casting.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#55re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:44pm
Not every show has the same producers. They are obviously very confident with their decision, and to honor his performance conflict of being out of the show for 3 weeks in mid May into June, as well.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#56re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:45pm
We may not agree with their casting decision, but, it's a business decision....plain and simple.
Agreed. But it's sad if the show had never needed of it before.
At least they're casting him in the role of someone who could have been famous or with more exposure than the characters auditioning.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#57re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 8:49pm
"Didn't he have some dance experience prior to Dancing With The Stars?"
He might have - he showed off some of his dancing on episodes of Saved by the Bell.
I don't understand why people are getting worked up over this, thinking this is some big joke. Zach spends most of his time offstage has minimal singing/dancing. If I am recalling correctly, Zach only sings in "One." Anyways, he didn't even begin playing the role yet, yet everyone seems pessimistic about it as if he doesn't have the slightest bit of talent. Did you see his audition? Give the guy a chance - the role is not extremely demanding; he might actually do a good job!
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
luvcaroline
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
#58re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:12pm
"At least they're casting him in the role of someone who could have been famous or with more exposure than the characters auditioning."
Blaxx, that was exactly what I was thinking. I think that I would be much more concerned about the integrity of the show being hurt if there was stunt casting of one of the dancer's roles.
#59re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:44pmI don't want to judge him before he takes on the role, but this is probably the worst, most desperate attempt at stunt casting I've seen, right up there with Melanie Griffiths as Roxie.
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#60re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 10:07pmOh sweet Jesus. What next? BRITNEY SPEARS AS DIANA MORALES?
"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop
#61re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:25pm
Zach is seen on stage for the opening number, and a bit towards the end after Music and The Mirror. Total on-stage time: 15-20 minutes.
Mario Lopez is an actor, after all. I'm sure he'd do an okay job talking off-stage.
#62re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 2:25amWho would have ever thought that the best seat to see the star of a show would be in the last row of the Orchestra?
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"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
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bwayguy22089
Broadway Star Joined: 12/16/06
#63re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 3:12amI dont mind this casting choice. Zach is barely on stage and Mario has a nice speaking voice. It's not like they threw him into the lead. I'm sure he'll be fine. I wish him the best of luck (aka break a leg)
#64re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 6:48amI guess I'll be ordering a ticket for "Chorus Line" then. I don't recall Zach doing any singing...except with the ending song "One." He does have charm and personality. Plus, he'll be a hit with many ladies AND gentlemen. I'm sure the critics are sharpening their knives in preparation for M.L.'s debut. from RC in Austin, Texas (Go Hillary!)
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
WestVillage
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/05
#65re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 9:27am
"the role is not extremely demanding" ...
how wrong you are. Just because he's not onstage for most of the show, it is an extremely demanding role to get right. He has to have command of the line. Not every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Mario) has the acting chops to play Zach. This is stunt casting, pure and simple, because the show is not selling well right now, and Mario will bump up tickets thru the summer.
To the person who said the Bennett estate must be ok with this ... John Breglio (producer of ACL) IS the Bennett estate.
#66re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 9:32am
"I wonder if Michael Bennett is rolling over in his grave."
Michael Bennett was a gay man. I'm sure after seeing Mario, "spinning" wouldn't be his first reaction.
#67re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 9:37am
UMMMM... NO. Just, no.
MAYBE- and it's a loooooong stretch of the imagination- as Paul or even better Al, but... Zach? .... *blinks and scratches head*
That said, I wish him well.
I love the show and am not quite sure what to make of this...
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
#68re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 10:23amUmm. Ok. Good luck Mario.
#69re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 10:26am
Didn't he have some dance experience prior to Dancing With The Stars?
Yes, he just didn't have ballroom training befoer Dancing With the Stars. Mario was a dancer before Saved By the Bell. From what I've read about him, sounds like he can probably dance the role of Zach. Not sure why people are in such an uproar about it. I certainly didn't hear any complaints when he starred in Breaking the Surface.
I loved Michael Barresse in Kiss Me Kate, but whan I saw Chorus Line, he pretty much phoned it in and spoke so quickly, I didn't catch half his dialogue. Personally, I'd go back to see Mario in the show.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#70re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 10:29am
I wish he'd do NAKED BOYS SINGING or A NAKED GUY and I will go see it! that's the only way you can drag me to see him... lol! 
J*
Updated On: 3/5/08 at 10:29 AM
#71re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 10:34am
REALLY disappointing. I liked the fact that the show is featuring so many new faces.
Fan of Saved by the Bell? YES.
Fan of this casting decision? NO.
"First up was Max who sang "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" [...] I haven't seen that big of a reaction to a stair descent since Audra left the attic in Ragtime." --Seth Rudetsky
#72re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 11:34am
Sad to see this actually happening, but in a way glad to see Berresse go. He always seemed to be bored. I would love to see EXTRA do some "behing-the-scenes" rehearsal videos.
As long a Lopez can go the choreography, I'll be happy. I just hope he does the opening number with everyone else instead of walking to the side of the stage(like Berresse currently does). Hopefully Lee, Avion & Co. will make sure to tell him their are no "stars" in the show and to not "stand-out".
I guess I'll be seeing the show again in April sometime.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Updated On: 3/5/08 at 11:34 AM
popular_elphie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/05
#73re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 11:41am
Mario Lopez?
Seriously?
#74re: Mario Lopez Joins A CHORUS LINE on April 15
Posted: 3/5/08 at 2:04pm
I just hope he does the opening number with everyone else instead of walking to the side of the stage(like Berresse currently does).
Sorry for the threadjack, but... are you serious? That's a bad sign. That's really disappointing.
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