I'm looking forward to Joey McIntyre in the role of Fiyero. I hate it when actors get shot down before they even go on. Not very intelligent.
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Give him a chance to prove himself....he might be brilliant..looks good as well...at least he isn't gonna be as bad as Caprice was when she did "Rent" in London...I just wanted to die...Maureen or not..In the words of Doctor Dillamond: BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!
I'm sure he'll be fine, it's just that I can think of several Broadway boys who would have been great in this role and would have loved to have seen them given a chance to shine in it.
I was impressed with Joey in tick tick BOOM. He performed the role very well, handled the acting admirably, and was cute as can be (he's matured well since NKOTB). If he is lacking anything in the acting area, it's not like the role of Fiyero exactly stretches the boundaries of dramatic expression. I think he'll be great.
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
I'm all for giving people a chance but you can't tell me that Joey M's notoriety had nothing to do with the casting decision. The casting list that was floating around town was all "names".
I wonder which Boy Band member will come in to replace John T in Ave Q when he leaves?! LOL
This is stunt casting at its worst. Anyone who thinks otherwise is, quite frankly, naive. I understand bringing a star into a role, briefly, during a slow season (the winter?) or if a show is faltering at the box office (Tom Cavanagh in Urinetown). Things like Hugh Jackman in BOY FROM OZ are also an exception, but when was the last time a movie star opened a Broadway musical AND committed to a year-long contract? Joey McIntyre in WICKED doesn't qualify for ANY of these exceptions.
Back in the "Golden Age" when film stars would often appear in Broadway shows, there were many more shows opening each season, and runs were much shorter. Now, there are 12 new shows. Maybe. The finances of Broadway were also drastically different back then. Comparing the two is pointless.
I saw Mr. McIntyre in Babes in Arms in LA. He wasn't passable. He was grossly miscast and completely vocally inappropriate. The best performances in that show were Jeff Schecter (Beauty and the Beast vet) and Bets Malone (also a theatre vet). This is NOT by accident. I would venture to say that at least 8 out of 10 Broadway leading man understudies would wipe the boards with Mr. McIntyre.
This is a disgusting trend in theatre casting. Unfortunately, the only people that can truly enact change are the audiences. And even MORE unfortunately, Joe Average and family, by and large, seem to FLOCK to these things. It's similar to the problem of non-union tours. Audiences aren't told that there is a difference, so they don't see it. It's manipulative and wholly disheartening. Producers should be ashamed, but sadly, they are far from it.