Matthew Hydzik Named West Side Story's New Tony; Cavenaugh Exits Dec. 13- Page 2

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:26pm

You know it all!

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:29pm

PENN STATE MUSICAL THEATRE REPRESENT!!! so happy for matt =D

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:59pm

C'mon Pal Joey, we know this revival is not about singing Bernstein's Legendary score or dancing Robbin's Groundbreaking choreography.

ljay, not dancing the h*ll out of Anita was one thing, but missing a lot of shows right after the TONY's and not doing promos implies that all is not well for Miss Olivo at the Palcae, and it may not be her fault.
Several cast members are leaving perhaps having to do to the toxic feeling (and I don't mean the asbestos)with this production.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/3/09 at 12:17am

In Karen's defense, I believe it was Samiex who said that the promo for the parade was filmed during her scheduled vacation. Therefor, they had Natalie Cortez do it.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 12/3/09 at 11:17am

I saw Matthew Hydzik while Cavenaugh was out, and I was very unimpressed. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he just had no charisma whatsoever. He blended into the background. The chemistry between him and Josefina was nonexistent, and on his big, long note in "Maria" he put in this weird pop-lick thing and he almost looked as though he expected the audience to applaud mid-song, a la American Idol.

I'm shocked they're moving him up to the full-time Tony. I'm sure he'll grow into the role as he plays it more, but jeesh.

I guess it's hard to find someone who is young, hot, who can act, handle the difficult vocals and be butch enough to be believable as a former gang leader. Tall order, indeed.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/3/09 at 5:58pm

^The audience actually applauded mid-song when I saw Matt C!

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 12/3/09 at 6:25pm

Okay, Christine in Phantom or Eva in Evita I get needing a cover once or twice a week. But Tony in West Side Story? Next thing you know they'll need to have a twice a week cover for Dr. Dillamond in Wicked.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 11:40am

Jeremy Jordan posted yesterday on his fan page that he is actually going to be performing Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees now (not Saturdays).

He's still doing 2 shows a week, but it's interesting he's doing Sundays, not Saturdays.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 10:20pm

as per the facebook page; Haley Carlucci will be on as Maria while Josefina's on vacation from Dec. 14-22 and will then play Maria every Tuesday night.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=212121351400&ref=nf

So, Haley Carlucci will be Maria on Tuesday's only, & Jeremy Jordan will be Tony every Wednesday night & Sunday matinee. Very weird. What's next, Natalie Cortez will play Anita on Thursday nights & Saturday matinees with Mike Cannon playing Riff on Friday nights??

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 10:31pm

I'm singing Kiddo on Thursdays.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 10:36pm

^I'll buy a premium ticket!

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 1:56am

I was wondering whether this has been done before too, where the male lead needed an alternate. I'm aware of Christine in PHANTOM and Kim in MISS SAIGON as two examples where one actress performs 6 out of the 8 shows a week. But I can't remember the situation where the male lead needed an alternate. I would think that with the proper technique, the person cast as Tony should be able to do all performances. But that's a different issue altogether...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 2:13am

Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys -- all companies. (Las Vegas splits the role 4 and 4, though.)

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 2:17am

Since when? When I saw the original cast, I don't recall John Lloyd Young splitting the role... Guess they had to for JERSEY BOYS when JLY's voice started to fall apart...

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 2:19am

There are also two actors who alternate in the title role of Fela!, but from what I've heard Fela almost never leaves the stage.

And I think they started having a matinee alternate for Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys pretty well into the run, but don't quote me on that.

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 3:40pm

Doesn't Josefina get Tuesday nights off now too? I wonder if Karen Olivo negotiated something of the sorts in her extension.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 4:04pm

Since when? When I saw the original cast, I don't recall John Lloyd Young splitting the role... Guess they had to for JERSEY BOYS when JLY's voice started to fall apart...

That's pretty much what happened. Ever since then there have been two Frankies.

When Michael Longoria became the alternate Frankie, he also played Joey in the 6 other performances -- but Travis Cloer took all the other parts of his track. Travis played Joey when Michael was Frankie.

[Meteora]

Posted: 12/20/09 at 9:58am

We saw the show last night. Hydzik was fine. Nothing spectacular, but capable. He didn't take you out of the show, at any rate. On the other hand, we LOVED Haley Carlucci, who was in for Josefina. We thought she did a great acting job and had a beautiful voice. Very glad we had the opportunity to see her.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/20/09 at 10:44am

Frankly, Hydzik really can't be WORSE than the oh-so-boring performance of Cavenaugh.


And now MARIA is playing a less than full week? Oy.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 12/20/09 at 6:09pm

Forgive me for not know but who is playing who and on what days and times?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/20/09 at 6:11pm

Forgive me for not know but who is playing who and on what days and times?

Haley Carlucci plays Maria on Tuesday evenings. Josefina does all other performances.

Jeremy Jordan plays Tony on Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees. Matt Hydzik does all other performances.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:25am

Is this lotto still a madhouse?

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:05pm

I'm curious about the lottery as well...has anyone been lately? I'm tempted to revisit this show now that Cody Green AND Cavenaugh have left the show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:09pm

Has anyone seen Jeremy Jordan as Tony yet? I'm very curious to hear reviews!

[stee]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:23pm

I won the lottery this weekend - Saturday matinee. To be honest, I would have expected a lot more people playing.. but it seemed like 50% of the people who showed up got tickets. A lot of tickets pulled where the winner said they didn't need'em cuz their friend already won. Anyway, I wasn't complaining - I ended up getting a pair right in the middle.

This is my 3rd time seeing West Side Story - and I was excited to see Matthew Hydzik as the new Tony, and also got to see Haley as Maria and an understudy for Bernardo, along with the other subsequent understudies affected by the changes.

Matthew as Tony: I've seen Matt Cavanaugh the other two times I've gone and haven't been impressed, except for his dashing good looks. I never believed the all-too-pretty-boy Cavanaugh as a 'tough' guy who could lead the Jets. I always wondered what the understudy would be like, or who I would cast in the role because I was never fully impressed. Well, I take it back. Hydzyk is serviceable in the role but really lacks charisma and star quality. His voice is fine, his acting ... well, I didn't really feel much of that...and I felt like there was just something underwhelming about his presence. Tony's not the most exciting role but I actually now think Cavanaugh did a good job, had a lovely voice, and you actually cared about him. While Cavanaugh almost felt too "musical theater performance," atleast he was giving you something. Hydzyk.. not so much. Also, didn't mind seeing Cavanaugh shirtless. Hydzyk on the other hand could use a few pushups and crunches, no offense.

Haley as Maria: Was pleasantly surprised by Haley. I enjoyed her singing much more than Josefina, who I also like in the role.. but there's something stronger about Haley's voice - or maybe it's less "head-toney." I'm not a musical theater major so I don't even know if that made sense. Anyway, her Maria was charming, less feisty than Josefina's (in a good way), and you rooted for her. But NO chemistry between her and Hydzyk. And her acting in the second act was great, but I really missed Josefina's vulnerability ... I guess sometimes it takes seeing an understudy to fully appreciate the role and to point out the nuances of a performance.

Karen as Anita: I love Karen in this role. I don't mind that she isn't a dancer, because her acting on stage is so emotional and she REALLY commands the stage .. (esp with Hydzyk and Carlucci on). I saw Karen my first time and Natalie Cortez the second, and I know people really liked Natalie in the role but there's just this energy in Karen's performance... really heated when she needs to be, and incredibly vulnerable and soft in the second act. loved her.

Okay... I just got tired of typing. But the rest of the cast was great, and I think the show is still holding up well. Would love to see the alternate Tony in the role in the future. Or maybe someone altogether new. I'm surprised there isn't another option for Tony that is more exciting...

Updated On: 12/21/09 at 12:23 PM