Piazza OBC vs. Now

#1

Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/17/06 at 6:29pm

I am seeing Light in the Piazza on Tuesday (yeah! my FIRST time in NYC!!!) (SO EXCITED!!!) and was just wondering a few things..

I have fallen in LOVE with the OBC recording and can't really imagine it getting any better... how many of the OBC ppl are still in the show and how does the new cast compare to the OBC?

Any current standouts? I am particularly interested on reviews about the Aron Lazar and Katie Clark... Fabrizio o is AMAZING n the CD... is Aaron comparable??? And how is Clara???

Anyway, thank you SO much!

Can't wait!!!

#2

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/17/06 at 7:52pm

dont worry about our reviews. go see it, then tell us what you think. just go and enjoy it!

#3

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/18/06 at 10:42pm

Having seen both the original and replacement casts multiple times, I can honestly say that the new actors offer fine performances that in no way detract or diminish the experience. Aaron sings the role with a more legit, operatic voice. (Every time I've went, no matter who was singing, "Il Mondo Era Vuoto" has gotten one of the biggest hands of the evening). With Katie, she has a decent voice, but one that pales in comparison to Kelli O'Hara. Her acting of the part is quite fine and she goes over well with the audiences. Chris Sarandon is a bit broader than Mark Harelik, but offers fine support.

But jsand25 commented, go see it and tell us what you think. If you love the score already, then you should be well off already.

~K

#4

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:22am

I'm seeing it tuesday also! And you'll be seeing Patti Cohenour as Margaret, who I hear is amazing.

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 12:22 AM

#5

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:33am

i saw the show b4 i heard the cd. and i had a different person for clara, fabrizio, and Margaret and i loved it. i liked my clara (katie clarke) better than kelli.

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#6

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:37am

I love Patti's Margaret...that is all

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Your fupa is showing.

#7

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:42am

And I loved Chris Sarandon's Signor Nacarelli.

#8

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:57am

double post

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 12:57 AM

#9

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:13am

Patti's Margaret is SO different than Vicki's, but totally just as fabulous.

Patti is a bit more defeated, and when Patti says "ciao, Fabrizio"", it makes you surprised that he didn't high tail it outta there quick.

#10

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 8:03am

Aaron Lazar is definitely a bump up in my book for Fabrizio...his voice is beautiful!

#11

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/19/06 at 9:07am

I preferred Aaron Lazar's voice to Matt Morrison's, even though I feel both are very good. It just seemed like the night that I saw Lazar, he was more effortless than Morrison.

#12

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:37pm

Aaron Lazar graduated from my high school in 1994 so we (the theatre group) took a trip up to NYC to see him in Piazza and I was blown away by his voice. It's very rich, pure, and just gorgeous. I'm a very big fan.

#13

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/21/06 at 11:07pm

And whatever you hear on the OBC, you'll be getting a different interpretation, when you see it on stage. Hearing V. Clark's "Dividing Day" is magnificent. Watching her perform it (and I have yet to see the same interpretation every time I've seen this) is a revelation. She finds so many shades and so much depth in it! You'll find Lazar and Clarke worthy replacements, though I no longer really see Lazar as a "replacement" anymore. He's made the role his own...

#14

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/21/06 at 11:48pm

Can someone explain to me how Clarke got her audition? I'm still confused as to how this girl from the midwest got an audition and landed the role?

#15

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/21/06 at 11:54pm

In some article I thought it said she had worked with someone who was working on or knew someone working on Piazza...

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"This ocean runs more dark and deep than you may think you know...I'll be the fear of the fire at sea." -Marie Christine

#16

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/22/06 at 12:31am

Oh, i guess it is all about connections.

#17

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/22/06 at 10:36am

Conductor Kim Grigsby knew her vocal coach...and that was the connection.

#18

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/22/06 at 8:04pm

I'm a biiig fan of Aaron Lazar as Fabrizio. He's very different from Matt (who I also loved), but handles the role just as wonderfully, both vocally and acting-wise. I haven't seen Katie Clarke yet, so I really can't give an opinion, but I'm sure you'll love her. Chris Sarandon is enjoyable, but not as strong as Mark Harelik, in my opinion.

Hope you enjoy the show! I'm looking forward to your review!

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"Peace! The charm's wound up." --Macbeth

#19

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/22/06 at 8:17pm

Obviously, Victoria Clark is amazing. I don't think I need to tell anyone that.

Aaron Lazar's voice is gorgeous. It's different from Matt's, but very very beautiful. He also handles the role excellently, acting wise.

Katie Clarke is beautiful. I had been a little skeptical, after hearing Kelli on the OBCR. Katie's voice isn't quite as strong as Kelli's, but she carries the music very well. As far as her acting went, she was phenomenal. I had nothing to compare her to, but I thought she interpreted the character excellently.

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The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda "And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

#20

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/23/06 at 12:35am

I finally saw the show tonight. WOW. (Although I wish I hadn't seen Forbidden Broadway before seeing the show... inappropriate thoughts were definately running through my head.)

I'd fallen in love with the recording already, but I thought the current cast is even better (with the exception of Victoria Clark. She doesn't do Wednesday PM shows), especially Aaron Lazar. So amazing...

#21

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/23/06 at 7:04pm

Saw it tuesday...Patti Cohenour is AMAZING as Margaret.

#22

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/23/06 at 8:42pm

i thought the show was good, nothing like what people here are saying, but good...

hopefully- you'll get to see Victoria Clark because, afterwards, it becomes aparent how much she carries the show and how brilliant she is.

though i'm sure Patti is great...

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"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed

#23

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/23/06 at 8:45pm

I've seen both Patti and Victoria and I really don't think one is better than the other. If I had to choose, I would say I prefer Patti by just a little bit, but both are amazing.

#24

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:59pm

I really wanna see Patti as Margaret, i never got to do so. But im sure i'd prefer her over Victoria as well. Kelli on the other hand, i think only Jennifer Hope Wills could have been as strong vocally and acting wise.

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"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

Updated On: 3/23/06 at 09:59 PM

#25

re: Piazza OBC vs. Now

Posted: 3/25/06 at 7:29pm

Patti as Margaret would be worth a visit...

Updated On: 3/25/06 at 07:29 PM