https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kendra-Kassebaum-Joe-Cassidy-to-Lead-NEXT-TO-NORMAL-at-Arizona-Theatre-Company-San-Jose-Repertory-Theatre-20120828
I am SOOOO excited about this!
Yay for A.J. Holmes!
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
I wish I could make it out to see this. I've worked with David, the director, when I lived in Kansas City on a production of Sherlock Holmes: the Final Adventure, as well as seeing his production of Pirates of Penzance that he also staged for the KC Rep and love his work (plus he's just a really nice guy to work with).
I had just been telling my Mother the other day that if anyone out here did this (since we didn't get the tour) it needed to be ATC. I loved their production of HAIR, and with Kendra I think this will be interesting.
I don't really see Kendra as Diana at all. No one else thinks that casting is off?
I don't quite see it either, but I'm hoping she'll surprise me.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
How so?
By singing on pitch? By acting? By not turning EVERY beat into horrobly forced comedy?
Um no. Mainly that she fits the role. Even the most talented of actresses may not do well in every role they tackle and are sometimes miscast. I love Kendra all I'm saying is I hope she does well
Chorus Member Joined: 8/19/11
I think Kendra will be incredible. Joe Cassidy was great as Dan way back when if was still Feeling Electric.
I wish I could see this!
Cassidy as been a part of FEELING ELECTRIC/NEXT TO NORMAL for years. When it was on bway, he filled in as DOC Fine/Madden u/s cover. I'm really surprised that Kendra is Diana. All I want is Julia Murney/ Lisa Brescia as Diana....
Updated On: 8/28/12 at 09:50 PM
Has anyone been able to make it out to see this? I'm wondering how Kassebaum has been doing with playing Diana.
I will be seeing it in October when it is in Phoenix. I am not familiar with the show at all, and I am going to keep it that way so I can be surprised when I see it
I can't wait to see this!! I already have my tickets to 2 different performances next month. Although I think Kendra as Diana is an interesting choice, i'm willing to go in with an open mind, with hope that she does it justice.
I'm not sure how this was in Phoenix. Although my Uncle took two months off from his job at Lincoln Center to do the sound. Kendra actually surprised me. I thought she was flawless in her performance. Cassidy was pretty rough the night that I was there. I really thought the cast was amazing, and the set was nicely done.
Having seen it on Broadway, I will say that there was less grit to the overall production that I imagine would be hard to garner regionally not having been through the whole development process.
I liked Ripley, and the understudy of hers I saw (can't remember the name), but I thought the understudy was actually better, and Kendra did more for me than Alice.
I consider this to be an amazing piece of work, and as the brother to a severely bipolar individual, I feel I'm able to relate to it all quite a bit.
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