Raul Esparza as Dr. Fronk-en-steen- Page 2

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 8:38pm

Brian is very talented, but he's a little too classical-looking for it, IMO. Raul sounds like a good choice.

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 8:43pm

Stated in the Variety article above:

...(Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" premieres in Seattle this summer and opens in November at the St. James Theater.)

Oh thats just not cool. I wanted it in Chicago SO damn bad.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:11pm

i love D'arcy James and Esparza SO much! it's so hard to decide between my two leading men! ahhhhh!

[triple_threat]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 10:28pm

oh raul would be great in that role!

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:08pm

I... have... never... been so torn in my life. My two absolute favorite actors on broadway. My icon and my signature! How do I choose?

I do think Brian has earned a lead role that will gain attention like this. They'd both be spectacular.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:13pm

Not a Raul fan but sounds like a good match, I also would rather see D'arcey get a break like this.
My problem is with Stroman, I would prefer Casey Nicholaw take a shot at this, but I guess Mel Brooks can manipulate Stroman better, oh well.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:27pm

Really? Seattle? If that's true yay for me! I'm already planning to go to Seattle this summer to begin with. 5th ave theatre was supposed to produce "Cry Baby" which was canceled and now will be produced at La Jolla, so they need a big "pre-broadway" show to satisfy their subscribers.

[leefowler]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 9:48am

As a general note to all of you out there:

Don't believe everything you read in a gossip column. Just saying.

[So what...I sing]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 10:01am

Given that Brian d'Arcy James does get the role I feel that it would be one of those perfect fits for him. He IS Dr. Fronk-en-steen. From his crazy hair to his whitty and overzealous style, I feel that Brian could act, sing, and probably dance (if needed) rings around Esparza. Now don't get me wrong, Esparza is one of my favorites, but I see Brian being much more believable and entertaining in the role.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 10:03am

There's someone I would rather see than either of the two guys already mentioned (both of whom I LOVE, so don't yell). But I would rather see...

Norbert Leo Butz!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:05am

I think Raul proved his zaniness in Rocky Horror. I can't see anyone else in the role now that I think of it.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:09am

I know logically that Company will close one day, but thinking about it breaks my heart. I'd love Raul or Brian in this, but I'm seeing it about fifty times either way.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 1:11pm

I haven't seen either Raul or Brian in anything, so it doesn't matter to me, who plays Fronkensteen. I'm more interested in seeing Roger as I-gor, Sutton as Inga, and Kristen as Elizabeth. I hope they are apart of the OBC.

"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."

somethingwicked, who else was offered Fronkensteen? I remember reading on here that Matthew Broderick, Hugh Jackman, Tom Cavanguah(sp??), and Jimmy Fallon were offered it or being considered for it. Was there anyone else or is that it?

[beacon1]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:53pm

According to a google alert today, Hugh Jackman has been approached as has Patrick Wilson and Greg Kinnear.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 5:52pm

Ahhh god, like everyone else on this thread, I am having SUCH a hard time deciding between Brian and Raul on this!


They're both in my top list of leading men, and god...I love Raul so much and he'd be amazing in the role, but when I first heard about the workshop cast, I was so so so so excited to hear that Brian would be Fronkensteen.


It just....clicked so much, and my head instantly went "PERFECT CASTING, PERFECT CASTING!"

And now...I really can't think of anyone else doing it, as much as I love love love love Raul. I'd still like to see him do the role, but I think I'd need Brian to originate it..

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 05:52 PM

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 5:56pm

Too late, because, technically, Gene Wilder actually originated it. lol

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 05:56 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 6:01pm

That's interesting, beacs. Patrick and Hugh seem so... not the same type as Raul and D'arcy James.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 6:45pm

Sure, it'd be nice for Raul Esparza to get the part, but I don't want to see the whole show happent o begin with. With all the news of Follies taking the St. James, I would rather see Young Frankenstein bite the dust, but that won't happen.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 7:26pm

Susan Stroman said she would like to see Raul. That doesn't mean he is willing or available to do it.

Personally, I can't see it. Just because he's done a few "zany" roles in the past doesn't mean people should assume his performance will translate to all comedic characters. I'm not saying he can't make a good attempt at it, I just don't think he'd be the best actor for the role.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 07:26 PM

[AnaGFan]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 8:13pm

Awwwww! I wanna see both of them!

[beacon1]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 9:09pm

I was kind of amazed that Greg Kinnear was approached? I didn't know he could sing!

[PeachesCat]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 12:21pm

Raul does best in comedy. He proved himself in Rocky Horror, and he saved Taboo. Actually, he was the only saving grace in Taboo!

Raul would be perfect for the part!

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[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 12:29pm

Aside from the fact that I completely disagree with the notion that he's better in comedy, I wouldn't really classify Rocky and Taboo as comedies, to begin with. He was funny in them because he was totally ridiculous. I guess those are comedic roles (to some degree, anyway), but the shows... not so much.

Like I've said before, it's not a question of ability for me, because the man can act anything you put in front of him. I don't know very much about this piece, but from what I understand, it's a smart, quick, witty kind of comedy which may in fact work beautifully on him. But for me, his kind of comedy, while he can handle almost anything, only fits in perfect synch with a very certain type of role. Don't get me wrong, I think he's hilarious at times, but there's a difference between being funny and actually being classified as a comedic actor, you know? I think if you had to slap a label on him, he's a very dramatic actor -- I mean, just take a look at all of the dark drama he gravitates toward. I think that's definitely where he does his best work, hammy as he can be.

Updated On: 2/17/07 at 12:29 PM

[pemberlee]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 1:30pm

Ooh, I hope this is true so I can finally see him live if this does come to Seattle!

[PeachesCat]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 3:43pm

With the way Company is going with the poor ticket sales, it may not even be open in October

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