Natascia Diaz Front Page... Why?- Page 5

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 6:25am

What I got from Tyce in the documentary is exactly what everybody else did holding the auditions.

He's an extremely skilled dancer (which doesn't necessarily mean "good') whose arrogance is choking him. He ended up flailing around at the final callback as if he were Godzilla doing the opening combination. He did everything Zach tells Cassie NOT to do. He didn't pull it in, he "popped the head," he danced like he was the "big star" and the only person on the stage. And his attitude on and offstage was insufferable. I wouldn't cast him in anything until he changes. Performers like that are not worth the trouble. We're not talking "difficult to work with." We're talking "get therapy now." He would disrupt the entire rehearsal process for everyone else involved, because he would need so much attention and coddling. I'm surprised he made it as far as the final callback, truthfully. All it would take was one interview for me to show him the door.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 6:27am

"Husk mentioned something--isn't it awfully difficult to stage a fairly major production of this show and get permission to NOT do the original choreography?"

No, it's not difficult at all. I was in an early Equity (non-tour) production that didn't use the original choreography. (I wish we had, though!) The cast included Becky Ann Baker and Marin Mazzie.

Updated On: 8/10/11 at 06:27 AM

Posted: 8/10/11 at 6:31am

Interesting. The Longest Line makes some points about requiring to use the orgiinal staging, the members they send out to various companies, etc--but the book does contradict itself a number of times. Of course I tend to be a choreography snob, but I'm not sure I'd want to see a Chorus Line without the Bennett routines (OK< I guess I have with the movie, but...) I do think Diaz' Music and the Mirror (and obviously she is doing what she was told to do and I doubt had much to do with the choreography) does count as watered down though--clearly it's meant to evoke elements of the Bennett original, and clear steps, it's just all simplified with no understanding of why the moves were originally used.

I think you're spot on about Tyce--I guess now he's persuing more of a career in choreography any way.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 6:34am

You may be required to license the choreography, but you're not required to use it. That's the same with Fiddler and West Side Story.

It's to ensure that this essential part of the show gets royalties as well. It's more about paying the core creative talent than it is about "making you" use it in your production.

And since the rights to ACL were released back in 1985 (when we did it first), there have been countless regional pro and amateur productions of this show without the original choreography. Same thing with WSS and Fiddler. I agree with you that I would rather see the original, since it's such an integral part of these shows.

And most producers who license it will use it, or at least part of it, because they paid for it.

EDIT: There are other shows that have add-on licensing requirements. When you license "Little Shop of Horrors," it automatically comes with the blueprints for the plant(s). ... but you don't have to use them. You still pay for them, regardless.

Updated On: 8/10/11 at 06:34 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:03am

B12B-
I'm sorry I misunderstood you, and I certainly wasn't trying to be condescending. My apologies that you took it as such.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:13am

Apology accepted, Husk. I know how passionate you are about this show, and I know how much time and careful consideration you have given it.

I truly admire that!

It's a good example of the reason we're all here, or should be here, IMO.

(I hope that didn't come off as patronizing, because I mean it!)

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:25am

B12B- I had no idea Mazzie was a strong enough dancer to be in ACL! Who did she play?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:37am

Equity summer stock in Michigan. The Barn Theatre. This was nearly 30 years ago, but Marin was a better dancer than most people might think. Just like it took a while for NY audience to see the comic side of her (she was always good at it) until Kiss Me, Kate.

She was not a full-on "dancer." But she was most definitely a "singer who moved very well." And she did really well in the show. She played Diana (if you can believe that.) She didn't look Puerto Rican at all, but she sang the hell out of "What I Did For Love" and "Nothing." (Ah, summer stock!) Becky Ann Baker (Becky Gelke back then) started as a singer/dancer in the original Best Little Whorehouse. She was a very good dancer then (still not her strongest point). She was our Cassie (if you can believe it). And both of them were powerhouse actors. Doug LaBreque was also in the show as Don. He went on to play both the Phantom and Raoul on the road (first actor to do that in Webber's version), did Hal Prince's Show Boat on Broadway, and toured as Marius in Les Mis as well. He was an excellent dancer, and could have easily done the original ACL choreography. One of the true triple-threats I have known.

"But that was many years ago ... I doubt if anyone would know."

Updated On: 8/10/11 at 08:37 AM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 9:32am

That sounds wonderful! I've always wanted to see ACL with people who can really sing and act as opposed to really dance.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:53pm

I would love to see Natascia have a turn as either Roxie Hart or Velma Kelly in "Chicago." from RC in Austin, Texas

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 3:42am

I remember listening to the cassette (!) of A Chorus Line and not getting it.

I also remember watching "Every Little Step" and thinking Diaz was acting and D'Amboise just...WAS. No affect, no pretense. And this from someone who has very little dance talent and no horse in the race.

And sad to see Andy Blankenbuehler get cut via index card. But I guess that turned out okay...

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 11:10am

"Okay, enough.

Who says it's being mistaken for the "real deal?" I said it was "watered down" which means it's NOT the real deal. You're the second person to misunderstand what I mean by that. Husk was the first.

Real Bennett choreography = Real Bennett choreography

Watered down = NOT real Bennett choreography, but something that looks like a "wannabe." There are a few steps that emulate what he did. The rest is something else altogether. So it's "watered down." There. Got it?

Simplified Bennett = NOT real Bennett choreography, but something that looks like a "wannabe." There are a few steps that emulate what he did. The rest is something else altogether. So it's "simplified." There. Got it?

End of lesson in comprehension."

My comprehension skills are fine. It's my habit of skimming long threads that could use some work. :S

I was actually agreeing with you in that what is on the video is a simplified version of the original choreography.

My skimming of certain posts led to the impression people were trying to correct you, saying what's on that video is the true Bennett choreography and not a variant when, in fact, they were saying it IS a variant and thought you were suggesting it was so close to the 'real deal', it probably is and only seems "off" due to Ms. Diaz lack of strength in the dancing dept.

I actually misunderstood THEM, and so I take back what I said about "people mistaking it for the 'real deal'" since it was the opposite.

At any rate, how's the weather?

[sallydurant]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 11:48am

From this, once again, we can see that this girl can do it all! Thank goodness for the research tool known as youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFf4NMOSuDM&NR=1


and this article summing up 2010 in the city -

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/theater/26roundup.html

Seems to be doing fine to me and totally front page worthy! Updated On: 8/11/11 at 11:48 AM

[feltnothing]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 3:44pm

Long time (like 5 years) lurker...I saw the documentary and I saw Jessica Lee Goldyn at the Stages St Louis. She was AMAZING. The cast of that show was amazing in general, but she was definitely a stand out. She still looked young for the part, but she came across as mature and seasoned and it was believable. Stages is a very small theater, seats about 300? And we were in the second row..so had a great view.