Raul Esparza as Dr. Fronk-en-steen

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:07pm

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117959335.html?categoryid=2062&cs=1

Variety reports that Susan Stroman has seen Company and would like Raul Esparza in the title role of "Young Frankenstein." It also says that it will open at the St. James Theatre, but I don't know about that yet, since, as of now, that's only a rumor.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:16pm

WHy do you think The Producers is closing this summer?

Raul would be great. I'm sure he will handle high camp just fine.

[Clayford27]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:22pm

OMG PLEASE let that happen!

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:28pm

BobbyBubby, I didn't say that I thought that The Producers was closing this summer. What makes you think I said that?

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:32pm

"I'm sure he will handle high camp just fine."

He did so in Rocky Horror.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:36pm

Brilliant casting idea!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:42pm

He would be fantastic for this part.

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:45pm

This is turning into a who's-who of the Broadway World. What an OBC to see!

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:20pm

That would be so amazing.

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:22pm

Oh. My. God. BRILLIANT!!!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:26pm

jasobres-you misread BobbyBubby's post. The Producers IS closing this summer (I don't know how you wouldn't know this being that it's been splashed all acroos broadwayworld). Bobby's telling you that it's closing to make way for Young Frankenstein.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:31pm

I kind of wish that I had seen Young Frankenstein so that I could form an opinion on this.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:35pm

What are you waiting for? Go out and rent it. It's a marvelous movie. And you'll appreciate it more now than you ever will after it's been doctored and expanded into the Broadway production. I, for one, was a HUGE fan of The Producers (the original film) who felt the musical was a bit of a let-down, and the remake an absolute horror. As a big Young Frankenstein fan who fears the worst once again, I'm begging you to see it now.

And to get back on topic, Raul Esparza would be wonderful as the good doctor. But so would have Brian D'Arcy James...

[broadway86]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:37pm

He would be fantastic in this role!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:39pm

YF is one of the funniest movies ever made.

I'm sure Raul's first priority is to guide COMPANY, but who knows how long that show will stay open?

Good casting if it proves true.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:39pm

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge Esparza fan, he's been one of my favorite actors since THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW five years ago. I was, however, very much looking forward to Brian d'Arcy James getting a chance to shine. He's incredibly talented and I feel as if he hasn't really gotten his shot yet. I realize that he was just workshopping it, but you never know. Ah, well. I'm sure his time will come. But, business is business, and if Stroman thinks Esparza is the better choice...I am sure Esparza will be fantastic in the role, should he accept, but I think James would have been, too.

[rose_pearl]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:47pm

^ My thoughts exactly. And it sucks because I love them both, but Brian would be so great. And like you said, he needs his chance too.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:07pm

As great as I think Brian d'Arcy James is, Raul Esparza will most likely be coming off of a Tony win going into next season.

With someone like him fresh off of a major win for a revival he heavily carried, Stroman and company are going to be much quicker to give him the role rather than someone whose lesser known along the lines of Brian.

Let us remember that James didn't even get the role in the workshop until several people (including Matthew Broderick, among others) had already passed on it.

Could that be an ominous sign to his chances of reprising it in the actual full fledged production? I sure think so.

Updated On: 2/13/07 at 07:07 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:28pm

I don't know much about it, but I'm sure he'd be wonderful because there's nothing the man can't act. However (and this could be because I'm not a Brooks fan), it would break my heart if he left Company early for this.

Updated On: 2/13/07 at 07:28 PM

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:30pm

Not to worry. Young Frankenstein doesn't open until the fall. So, technically, he wouldn't be leaving early.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:33pm

jasobres, although "Young Frankenstein" doesn't open until late October, it will most likely be playing out of town in the middle of the summer (which would probably require Esparza to leave "Company" early.)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:33pm

I read something about this beginning in the summer. In Seattle?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:42pm

luvtheEmcee, both Chicago and Seattle are rumored to be cities under consideration for the pre-Broadway opening. Considering this particular creative team had great success opening "The Prodoucers" out of town in Chicago, one would assume that would be the most likely place they'll look to for this production as well.

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 8:28pm

Once more, I say:

PLEASE LET IT BE IN CHICAGO!!!

[little_sally]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 8:33pm

Love Raul but I wanted to see BdJ in this role.