Mary Poppins is....- Page 5

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:56pm

Who is Mrs. Banks going to be?

Also, I don't understand how they'll be making it lighter when supposedly CamMac promised P.L. Travers and her estate that he'd make sure it was kept true to the books. I'm not doubting they will, I'm just curious as to what may happen if anything was signed between CamMac and the Travers powers.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:45am

I think that's just chatter.
It will be very similar to London and the books.
Diffrent actors will of course make a difference.

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:00am

Let me preface this by saying I honestly mean no ill-will toward Ashley - she's actually pretty good freinds of one of my best friends, and based on that alone I wish her nothing but th ebest...

however...

I'm missing what the big deal is. I love her voice, but it's very....safe. I feel, listening to her like...she sounds great, but I can't listen to her and really feel what she's feeling - I'm not drawn into that like with other people. Does that make sense?

So I don't get what it is exactly that has her gaining this semi-following, even from back in On The Record.

I also have to say I disagree with whomever said "she's earned it!" Or rather, I took that to imply that she's earned it more than the others that were up for it...and as she's said herself, she started landing jobs right out of college - she didn't have to waitress and do all the grunge work to 'pay her dues' as they say in order to chase after her dream....so while I agree she's talented, I'd say she's prolly 'earned it' in terms of paying her dues and yay that it's finally paying off and she' smaking it, least of most of the female leads currently on broadway...

again, not trying to badmouth her or anything, or start an argument, I guess I'm just curios to hear what it is that makes her stand out ot so many people as this elite performer? I personally think she has some growing to do, but that she does have a lot of things going for her and a lot of potential...

just my two cents!

who else was up for the role?

Updated On: 4/22/06 at 01:00 AM

[Doogie]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:07am

yes, CPD, I'm ok. LOL. I feel better.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:15am

Ashley really impressed me at Broadway by The Year: 1956 at Town Hall. She played a range of characters, and did a decent job with the incredibly difficult "Glitter and Be Gay."

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:17am

Good questions Rkrisp!
She obviously didn't earn her "roles' waitng Tables, but some peopla are in the right place at the right time and they have the talent to back it up.
her Voice is incredible and has many shadings which are yet to be heard.
She has a Quality that engages people and the POPPINS People think she can pull this off.
They had a lot of Actresses drooling for this part and they chose her.
Let's see what happens.

Glad yer better Doogie
Updated On: 4/22/06 at 01:17 AM

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:50am

"How the hell did Disney pay for Toni Braxton, back in the day?"

She was actually pretty desperate for money at the time. She really needed something and it happened to pop up at just the right moment. They followed her in a TV special as she was getting ready to move to New York for rehearsals.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:57am

Oh wait! Is that when Toni went bankrupt or something (that was Toni; right?)

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:05am

Not sure, I just have the memory of the tv special, but it would make sense.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:13am

I haven't heard Ms. Brown yet, but I'm sure I get why so many people are so blah on her. I mean, it's certainly not the most "headline-making" announcement ever, but I'm guessing she inhabits what Disney wants in a leading lady. Disney seems to like making stars, building their own talent, and she is obviously building a following. Maybe I'll hate her when I see her in the show, but until then, more power to her.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:23am

Yep! I just checked. Toni did the show several months after filing bankrupt.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 9:52am

I remember that! Didn't her record company screw her out of a lot of money, or something?

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:19am

she earned originating a role since working for disney in other shows...where she maybe hasn't gotten the attention she will get on poppins. every actor pays their dues in some way. it doesn't have to be waiting on tables or temping. going to 200 auditions before landing something can be considered paying dues. SOME people ARE just in the right place at the right time and land something. look at katie clark. just because she hsn't paid her dues doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to be there.
there are a few other actresses starring in broadway shows right who i have seen people say "they earned it" and i can assure you THEY had things handed to them and didn't have to wait on tables either! its just the way the business is. it doesn't matter what you've already done..if you're the one for the job you get it now matter what.
i am happy that ashley is getting this opportunity...if EARNED is too harsh a word..then deserves might sit better.
and please lets not judge her performance BEFORE we see her! give her a chance. she just might have the darker/edgier side we haven't seen yet...go back and read all of the posts of people saying Kelli O'hara wasn't right for Babe and she proved all of you wrong. give ashley a chance. i am sure she is exactly what the producers/director was looking for or she wouldn't have been cast.

[CenterStage3]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:30am

I hear that the finals for Jane and Michael will be held in June. They have had a few rounds of callbacks. My daughter was advised not to audition until then. I also heard that they are seeing kids taller than the original height requirements for the role of Jane.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:59am

Disney gets damned if they stunt cast and
damned if they give a newcomer a chnace.
They have their faults like any other producers but what other producers are cleaning up Older broadway hoses at their own expense?
I agree about giving Ashley a chance and I wish her the best.
CenterStage; Final Michael and Jane calls are being held today as I type this.

[GretchaSketh]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:05pm

OOOOH!!! I wonder who is going to be Jane and Michael! I know a couple of kids who they really liked but the one that I was hoping would get it is too tall, even though they REALLY liked him:/

[algy]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:10pm

On a Mary P-related note - Laura Michelle Kelley (the OLC Mary) releases her first (pop) album in the UK on May 1 if anyone's interested:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EJ9KFS/qid=1145722214/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-5484457-5691841

[alphieboy]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:45pm

I called this all along.

Good for her! I have been a big fan of Ms. Brown every since "On the Record". I'm sure that she will do a fine job.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:03pm

Her voice sounds better suited to a Belle, Ariel, or Jasmine. But I guess the decision's been made.

[AshleyBrownFan123]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:06pm

KRISTIN CHENOWETH!!! She's not on Broadway, so Ashley Brown and Laura Benanti.

[AshleyBrownFan123]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:10pm

If Ashley is nominated for replacement at the Tonys...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:17pm

rKrispyt-

I disagree with you saying Ashley's voice is "safe." She is one of the few Belle's to belt almost all of "A Change in Me," so much so that they re-tooled it a little bit for her. I don't think that's safe.

[hahaha7]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:49pm

so yall are one hundred percent its ashley brown.....and where did you find this out!!!

[hahaha7]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 7:14pm

is that right???

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 7:45pm

Hm. I could totally see her doing this part. She seems nice enough. Congrats to her. I'm always so jealous of those people who get cast right out of college, ugh!