Parade performances: — Page 5

Bettyboy, perhaps your luck has just been down on those days? Every time I went to see a show Karen was in she has been in. It gets really old hearing the same complaints about how Karen "never shows up" and how Karen "can't dance". I don't think any of us are entitled to debate whether Karen Olivo is "really troubled".

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" I have a feeling Natalie might be taking over sooner rather than later."

Highly doubt that. Karen's contract presumably would have ended on December 13th, the same day as Cavenaugh's. If she were leaving then, it surely would have been announced by now.

^^my thoughts exactly!!

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^ She may have been up for Anita, but she never would've been able to do the show, as she was pregnant (and had her child in the early summer). I believe she's a (fairly) recent addition to the production.

I loved seeing Natalie as Anita, but is it really fair to completely judge her Anita versus Olivo's, particularly in terms of "spark"? Of course there wasn't the same spark as a live performance- Natalie was (I assume) lipsyncing and doing the performance in an alley, in front of cameras.

Natalie Cortez is an excellent dancer and good singer- anyone who saw ACL can attest to both. I'd love to see her Anita- in context, at the Palace. Not lip-syncing in an alley on YouTube. Ten bucks says any "spark" you're saying she lacks will be there.

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What were those two new fairy-tale creatures in Shrek.I saw Jack-Frost but I couldn't make out who the guy with the black jacket on was or the big round thing.

I mentioned loss of spark in my comments about this performance, but I was talking only about this performance of this number
(I agree it is tough lip-synching) and am totally willing to give Cortez a chance in the entire role.
I will probably go back to see her when, and if she takes over. Her line and extention are beautiful, I would hope they would put the leaps back in for her, which to me are part of the "spark" of the number, without them the thrilling end of the number just ain't there.

"keep in mind that the producers couldn't force her to do the parade filming or any other performance for that matter that isn't part of the 8 show a week schedule at The Palace."

That's not entirely true, according to the Production rulebook

52.(J) It is understood and agreed that it is part of the Actor’s job to
participate in reasonable promotional and/or publicity appearances, as
requested by Producer.

Those appearances were taped around November 16-17-18. Olivo was away on vacation or personal days during the tapings. My understanding is that the producers asked her to consider changing her schedule to appear in the "America" taping, she would not and they proceeded with Cortez.

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I was not implying that she (or any actor) should be fired for not wanting to appear in publicity and promo events. I was merely pointing out that publicity and promo events are indeed expected and part of the rulebook, their duties do not just end at the eight performances a week.

Now what Smaxie said does make sense if that were the case. If her vacation or personal days had previously been scheduled for the time that the taping came up then the vacation days would take precedence over the scheduled taping and they then could not force her to appear.

If it matters, here's a higher quality video of Billy Elliot. Now you can see how bad the lip-synching REALLY is!!

Thank you for posting this. Something I noticed is that evn when Meredith and Matt are introducing the number their mouths are not quite in synch with the sound, and obviously they were speaking live. Also when I have the digital tuner my main TV on (with Digital cable) at the same time as the smaller (non digital) set near my desk the sound is out of synch by more than a second.

My point? Well It seems many of you want to blame the performers when it maybe technology. After all they are singing to a pre-recorded track being played live in front of Macy's (it has to be or the crowd there would not hear it) with a separate feed being sent to the broadcast outlet. I bet if you were there live the match would be better but somehow through the processing of the audio signal for TV it looks more off than it really was.

As for BILLY, saw the show (a 2nd time) when I was down the previous week. David Alvarez was on as Billy and he has gotten a lot taller and his voice has deepened. My friend found out from one of the cast members that David is leaving the cast in December and Trent is supposed to leave in the New Year.

Kate Hennig is terrific as Mrs. Wilkinson!

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Curtain, what I am trying to say is that is the contract for an actor can only pertain to that which they have to do at the theatre to do their job. Other then that and Equity gets pissed off. For example, if you're a producer, you can't put it in a contract that the star of a given show has to wait outside the stage door and sign autographs. The same way you can't say that an actor of a show has to do a particular number on The Today Show. Things like those I mentioned are optional and cannot be put into a contract. However, many Broadway performers decide to do them doesn't mean that they have to or that it is in in their contract to do so.

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The key word there is requested. The producer can request but the actor can still say no without there being an issue.

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