Orfeh / Reading She was in tonight

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 11:07pm

tonight i saw a reading called "Once Upon A Time In New Jersey" and it was about Italians in a love triangle in Hoboken NJ 1956.. small cast ..orfeh played Angie one of the title roles and she was outstanding. She really stood out over the other female singers and in the 2nd act she had to put on this softer speaking voice kind of like an Audrey voice which now changes my mind and leads me to believe she would make a good Audrey if Kerry does not indeed take on the role. The show itself was cute but, I don't think it can go any further than what it was tonight...sort of like an "Earth Girls Are Easy" kind of a show. Very talented bway actors in it as well... some guy who was Sonny in GREASE on bway... and the girl who played Nadine in Wild Party she has blonde hair... short girl very funny..shes going to be in GREASE in the Europe cast. It's amazing how many of these readings there must be with all these wonderful people in them that none of us get to see!! P.S someone also needs to cast Orfeh as Rizzo!! Updated On: 6/30/03 at 11:07 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 8:14am

I saw Orfeh go on for 'Rusty' way back in Footloose. The woman needs a great role that really can let her show her stuff ON broadway.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 3:27pm

I saw "OUATINJ" last week. I was impressed with Orfeh as well as by some other members of the cast. The musical is lyrically well-written and clever, overall. I did think the lead was miscast and making the plot totally improbable. In my opinion "OUATINJ" could develop further productions. By the way it won the Richard Rodgers Award for new musical and the lyricist won the Kleban Award for her lyrics to this show. I have to restate though that I did like Orfeh. Who is she?

Yours for a better Broadway!

[Not Since Carrie Pipperidge]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 3:31pm

Yeah, Orfeh is pretty amazing. I was lucky enough to see her in "Me and Mrs. Jones" a few years ago. The show was silly but she was F.I.E.R.C.E. Why isn't she in a Broadway show now?!?!?

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 4:03pm

is there a recording with orfeh of saturday nigh fever?? and she on any other recordings?? thanks :)

[Tafka Mms]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 1:21pm

There was not a recording made of the b'way cast of SNF. Only the tour.

Such ashame that Orfeh did not get to record her songs.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 10:40pm

Who did she play in SNF?

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 1:18am

Orfeh played Annette, the shunned Brooklyn gal that lusted after Tony Manero and sang the sh*t out of "If I Can't Have You." She was shafted by the Tony nominating committee in 2000, IMHO (as was Sherie Rene Scott of "Aida"). She's always really great, but at the same time, she always has really mediocre co-stars (Like that guy that was in "Fever"). Which leads me to the million dollar question - Is Orfeh really that talented or does she just luck out all the time by getting throw in the middle of in lackluster casts? :) LOL

I'm glad to hear that she finally found a company ("Jersey") where she stood out alongside other talented people! Wish I could have seen it. Maybe we'll hear more from this show.

P.S. I completely agree with you, Amneris... Orfeh WOULD be a great Audrey or a great Amneris, if you think about it, Amneris! :)

-DR

[Not Since Carrie Pipperidge]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 8:30pm

Actually, I do just think that she's brilliant :)
I'm so upset they never recorded the Broadway cast. Thank god for bootlegs! :)

[luluhed]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 8:37pm

She was also one of the many Janis Joplins who sang that role in the show that I think was called "Love Janis" that ran at the Bleecker St. Theatre. I saw Orfeh at a shoot last year. She told me she was the only one who could sing eight shows a week in the Janis show, but they wouldn't extend her run. Sorry I missed it. I've never heard her sing.

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:06pm

I saw "Love Janis" like three times. Orfeh was amazing--definitely very powerful in the role. Cathy Richardson, the first singing Janis, was also great, but I liked Orfeh's voice--it was more theatrical yet still rock and roll. Oh--and she WAS one of the only people who could sing it, but it was four shows a week, not eight (they alternated). I remember that Kristin Lee Thomas from "Rent" dropped out quickly and so did Laura Branigan and Amy Joe Johnson. Check out the link below.. it's actually pretty funny!!!!

As far as her not extending, my guess is that the pay was terrible. One of my friends played the Interviewer in the show and I can still remember clearly him showing me his first paycheck. It was shocking how little money he made a week. Are all Off-Broadway salaries so low???

-DR
Broadway.com story

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:07pm

For the record, the names are::

Kristen Lee KELLY from Rent (not to mention Rocky Horror)
Amy JO Johnson (a veteran of the Power Rangers television series)

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:09pm

See, BroadwayGuy.. We DO need you around! Feelin' better yet?

[Not Since Carrie Pipperidge]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:11pm

Luluhead... which shoot did you do with Orfeh? I love to see Broadway people in commercials! Or was it a photo shoot? Tell me more, tell me more! :)

My favorite one on now is Annie Golden taking all of her coins to the CoinStar machine. I can't get enough of it!!!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:12pm

possibly.

Eevn though your numerous remarks toward me have in no way given me any cause or reason to take them as harmless joking.

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:16pm

awww....

we're sort of bound to end up together, don't ya think?

[luluhed]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:23pm

Not Since-It was a silly promo for AMC, the movie channel. Perhaps you saw it-around holiday time last year, they taped actors, singers, local characters, etc., introducing the films and talking about stuff during commercial breaks. I avoided watching mine, lol!

Oh-and I wanted to add that Kristen Lee Kelly absolutely rocked as the understudy of Yitzak in Hedwig! Updated On: 7/7/03 at 09:23 PM

[Not Since Carrie Pipperidge]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:28pm

Thanks Lulu! I missed that--I don't watch AMC... but I have a friend who's a HUGE fan of hers. I'm willing to bet he has it on tape!!!! :)

Oh, and I loved Hedwig, but never got to see Kristin go on. Maybe she can star in the Broadway REVIVAL of Hedwig!!! :) :) :) Updated On: 7/7/03 at 09:28 PM

[luluhed]

Posted: 7/7/03 at 9:37pm

Revival??? From your lips, etc... How I wish! But that show should never run on Broadway-that would be the kiss of death for it.

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 7/8/03 at 10:08pm

I've never seen Orfeh in a show, but I do remember seeing her sing on TV in costume for SNF. Which one is she on the AMC commerical? I remember that! It was cute!!!

[luluhed]

Posted: 7/8/03 at 11:32pm

The AMC thing wasn't a commercial, it was all these people just being themselves, adlibbing about the films they were introducing. It was more fun talking with everyone in the waiting room than making the spot!