Phillipa Soo to lead AMELIE on Broadway- Page 3

[indytallguy]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:58pm

Even more excited to see this when I am in LA in December.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:58pm

As much as I obviously like and support this show, I am inclined to agree somewhat with icecreambenjamin's statement regarding this show's prospects for success. Granted, we don't know how drastically the show will have changed by the time it hits Broadway, but based on what I saw at the 1st preview in Berkeley, I think it might not have enough staying power among NY audiences. The show is fun, heartfelt, quirky and charming, but I don't know how well it will fare at the Tonys compared to the more splashy and/or serious musicals. I doubt it will draw much of a tourist crowd, and I predict the critical/audience reception will be fairly mixed (as we can already see from mine and Fantod's opposing opinions of this show) 

Also, I'm not so sure Soo will be nominated. She's wonderful, and the role of Amelie as I saw it was definitely a nice leading part. However, the role is not exactly a powerhouse star vehicle, nor is it as subtly and tenderly written as Eliza and Natasha. Still, I think Soo can do more with it than Barks did, and I hope she does snag a nomination. 

Even if this doesn't do well on Broadway, I can definitely see this show getting a nice life in regional and amateur theatre. It's a small, ensemble-based show that I could be very popular with schools. 

Updated On: 6/17/16 at 04:58 PM

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:03pm

HogansHero said: "It's funny to me that so many here seem to think Barks was passed over in favor of Soo when it is obvious it was the other way around. Barks is at a stage in her career where it makes no sense to subtract yourself from the market for a year or more to do a show. And of course even more so financially. In all likelihood, if she tried to do the show, her agent would drop her. 

 

"

yes it's very possible she just didnt' want to do it. I know she's been trying to get into films! I hope she comes back to Broadway soon. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:06pm

was she ever here to begin with?

and did Barks become a big star while I wasn't looking? what's she so busy with that this isn't good enough for her?

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:10pm

She's currently doing concert tours in England. She even recently debuted her first solo album.

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:11pm

Saw Amelie in Berkeley too and was disappointed in this little musical. It may take place in Paris, but you'd never know it. About as French as a French Fry.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:17pm

Hopefully it's an entirely new creative team.  The score did not reflect the show at all.  It's going to end up just like Tuck Everlasting if they don't start at square one. 

The film is fantastic and there's no reason for it to be a less than stellar musical.  The set, costumes, score, and choreography were uninspired and boring.  Phillipa is the only upside for this production.

Jeez the film deserved so much more.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:24pm

EDIT: Nevermind. It was an argument against icecreambenjamin's criticisms but I decided I don't want to get into it. 

Updated On: 6/17/16 at 05:24 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:29pm

gypsy101 said: "because apparently we like Jeremy Jordan more than Matt (also someone said Phillipa did a reading so it kind of seems like she's Jeremy in this situation).

 

"

Matthew did a reading/workshop of finding neverland as well in the spring of 2014 prior to the ART run. They are both in the same situation.

 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:40pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Matthew did a reading/workshop of finding neverland as well in the spring of 2014 prior to the ART run. They are both in the same situation."

In that case, it's probably because most people who saw Jeremy thought he was better in the role and that they only chose Matthew over him due to name recognition. Doesn't apply with the situation here.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 5:53pm

I was really disappointed with this show when I saw it on Berkeley but I thought the things I didn't like could be changed. For one thing, the magical elements give the potential for really cool effects but they weren't impressive in Berkeley. Perhaps with a bigger Broadway budget they can do some cool things. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 6:02pm

icecreambenjamin said: "Hopefully it's an entirely new creative team.  The score did not reflect the show at all.  It's going to end up just like Tuck Everlasting if they don't start at square one. 

The film is fantastic and there's no reason for it to be a less than stellar musical.  The set, costumes, score, and choreography were uninspired and boring.  Phillipa is the only upside for this production.

Jeez the film deserved so much more.

 

"

We seem to be more and more in agreement as time goes on. The movie works precisely because it uses the medium of film perfectly. The kind of crazy pace and visually spastic quality that the film has is only possible on film. Plus, it is so quintessentially French that translating it into English immediately cuts some of its charm.

 

Plus, the music in the movie is some of the best ever (even though it wasn't written for the movie) and to replace the fantastically bizarre French music with ultra-bland musical theatre pop should be considered a crime.

[HD1313]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 6:28pm

In my opinion (like I said, my opinion) it was a bad choice from Soo to decline Great Comet. I really think she would have been locked in for the tony. Her performance as Natasha is breath taking, and I can only imagine the money both her and Groban would bring in together. I don't know if the show will stand alone with just Groban, as most of the rest of the cast is from the original. I am excited to see the work she will do in Amelie, I just feel like Comet would have been a more fulfilling rout. I guess we will see!

[Pauly3]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 6:32pm

HogansHero said: "It's funny to me that so many here seem to think Barks was passed over in favor of Soo when it is obvious it was the other way around. Barks is at a stage in her career where it makes no sense to subtract yourself from the market for a year or more to do a show. And of course even more so financially. In all likelihood, if she tried to do the show, her agent would drop her."

 

I have no opinion as to who decided what.  However Soo was obviously not passed over in favor of Barks, so what do you mean by "the other way around"?  Did you mean Barks turned down the first offer - or let it be known she wasn't interested, and then the role was offered to Soo?  If yes, how do you get to obvious?  Are there other known cases where young actors, who have yet to make his/her Broadway debut, have passed on a leading role set to play a major market within six months and then open on Broadway shortly thereafter?  In favor of what?  Specifically regarding Barks, in favor of what?

 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 6:55pm

Surprising. I do hope they are able to make changes in LA. In Berkeley, it was in good shape for a first run of the musical, but it needed significant work to polish it to a Broadway finish. 

Phillipa was initially a surprising choice to me, but if she's able to bring her quiet intensity to the role, it will work beautifully. Amelie has such a quiet exterior and has to convince the audience that so much is inside her, it's a challenge for the actress.
 

Updated On: 6/17/16 at 06:55 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 7:45pm

The idea that Samantha Barks is some huge star that would get audiences to see a Broadway show is pretty silly. She wasn't nominated for the big prizes, hasn't done any significant film role since LES MIS, and didn't even earn the reviews for LES MIS that would put her at the top of any lists. That's not to say Phillipa Soo is more famous or that she will sell more tickets, but she undoubtedly is buzzier at the moment which is what often matters in these decisions. I also personally think she is incredibly more interesting and unique as a performer than Barks, whom I consider a dependable if unremarkable performer. 

[Back Row]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 10:05pm

Sunny11 said: "There is strangely little snark here.

matthew Morrison  was ripped apart when he dared to " replace" the out of town actor.

how is this different ?
 

I followed that thread pretty closely because I saw one of the first previews in Cambridge. I don't recall Morrison getting "ripped apart". There were those who compared his performance to Jordan's, but as I recall, most of the vitriol was reserved for the heavy handed and disingenuous way that Weinstein handled the whole thing. Morrison has his fan base, and Jordan has his, and the fans aligned themselves as one would expect. Personally, I never could have convinced my wife to go if Morrison had been in the show in Cambridge. She had no interest in seeing him at all. We ended up going because neither of us had ever seen Jeremy Jordan perform before. We were curious. We enjoyed the show and had a good time. I didn't see the Broadway show, so my only criticism was based on a clip of a rehearsal, when I commented that Morrison appeared to be interpreting the role as "hey, I'm Matthew effin' Morrison playing J.M. Barrie!". Maybe he toned it down a bit later. I don't know. But it was Weinstein who was ripped apart, not Morrison. The criticisms of Morrison were relatively minor.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 10:09pm

Phillipa needs a bona fide star vehicle, and her unique voice may lend some character to what was reportedly a boring score.

Very exciting!!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 10:48pm

I still wish I could have seen her performance in Great Comet—but this might be just as good. Also, I wasn't so sure I would buy tickets to see Amélie with Barks (no offense intended, she just doesn't excite me all that much personally), but as a tremendous fan of Soo's, I'm now completely all in. I'm so very happy that her career is just beginning. Can't wait!

[mtchairs]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 11:38pm

Any idea when her last performance in Hamilton will be?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 11:45pm

probably July 9th or so

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 11:49pm

Maybe Sam can replace Soo in Ham?

And remember when Celia was up against O'Hara in a role she was replaced in (and there was "backstage) drama going on there as well.

[AngusN]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 5:00am

Phillips has the ethereal qualities required to portray Amelie, and I'm certain with produce a far more intriguing performance than Sam, who I feel is rather bland.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 7:34am

CurtainPullDowner said: "Maybe Sam can replace Soo in Ham?

And remember when Celia was up against O'Hara in a role she was replaced in (and there was "backstage) drama going on there as well.

 

"

Who would cast Sam 'as white as wonder bread' barks as Eliza?

also, the comparison to Celia Keenan Bolger and O'hara is silly. The only drama that supposedly happened was that Celia was passed on for the role of Clara because Kelli was dating adam guettel at the time. And Celia was probably relieved that she didn't have to continue with the role since she was never fully confident in her soprano voice

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 10:40am

Don't be so sure. This is Samantha with her parents.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MuFzEyYUC3k/TMTd5vAPS-I/AAAAAAAAAG0/YSl6Z8K9JOY/s1600/Sam+And+Her+Parents+Richard+And+Ann.jpg