Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
ILuv2shop531
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/07
#1Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/21/10 at 12:02amIf anyone was at Corbin's first show in In the Heights definitely post reviews here!
tking001
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/3/09
#2Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/21/10 at 12:22am^Yes, it is.
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
ILuv2shop531
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/07
#3Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/21/10 at 12:24am
Wow, I the press photos made me think it was tonight haha...
well we can bump it on Monday
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#4Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/21/10 at 12:00pmWaiting to actually SEE the performance before reviewing it is SO twentieth Century!
Upland
Stand-by Joined: 1/18/10
singalongsong2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/11/08
rmusic11322
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/07
#7Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 1:12pmDid anyone go to Javier's "last" show?
#8Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 6:32pmCould it be possible, that if the show's grosses go low enough, MTv would come in an film In The Heights a la Legally Blonde now that Corbin Bleu is Usnavi???
rmusic11322
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/07
#9Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 7:00pm^ I already saw a TV commercial about the new Bleusnavi and I'm afraid that grosses will drop too. :/
#10Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 8:08pmHaha! Bleusnavi, I like it!
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
rmusic11322
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/07
#11Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 8:53pm
I just found this on the In The Heights website. Does this really bother anyone because of his race?
Corbin and Marcy
Updated On: 1/25/10 at 08:53 PM
#12Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 9:00pmI don't know that it would bother me. It doesn't make much sense though, given that the show is about a Latino community.
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
#13Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 11:53pm
I just got back from his first performance. He was EXCELLENT! I never would have guessed it was his Broadway debut. Corbin gave a very engaging performance as Usnavi, connecting with the audience as narrator, and blending in with fabric of the storyline in the group scenes. I was truly impressed.
I really have no biases, as I had never heard of him before it was announced that he was going to be in IN THE HEIGHTS (I've never seen any of the "High School Musical" movies.)
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#14Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/25/10 at 11:57pmI wasn't there tonight but a couple of my friends went and said the same thing as WBAF.
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
paphillyguy
Leading Actor Joined: 1/5/05
#15Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 2:13amI agree, I did not know of him either before I heard he was going nto the show. Having seen the show a few times with the original cast and one Usnavi understudy, I have to say he did an excellent job as well. He was engaging and very charming. Lin was there tonight, saw him before the show and at intermission. The cast is in great shape. However, I found Marcy Harriel to be the weak link for me. Her Vanessa is not even close to Karen Olivo's. It was a full house for a Monday, I assume a good number of comps to fill the house for Corbin's first night.
#16Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 2:16am
I am glad to read positive reports about Corbin.
While Marcy is a talented performer; her Vanessa is just completely charmless, passionless, and a total bore. I really hope we get a new Vanessa soon.
I am excited to see this show again when Janet takes over as Nina!
Updated On: 1/26/10 at 02:16 AM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#17Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:23am
Glad to hear the positive reviews. I'm taking my kids to see this in Feb -- they are pyched to see Corbin as (being kids) they were big fans of the High school musical franchise. (or as I lkke to call it: Grease Lite.)
And while I admit, ITH wasn't a show I LOVED, I'm looking forward to it a bit more due to the reviews. (and since the negative ones are likely to start coming in...maybe I won't revisit this thread!)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#18Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 7:26amSo happy to hear that! I had faith in him, I guess he lived up to my expectations. Now I'm just worried about the crazy fans, especially the ones that will attack The Heights fansite, I gotta be prepared to control them.
#19Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:51amI don't get all the fuss over him stepping into the role. He's a talented guy. It's not like he's replacing Emile de Becque in South Pacific !!!
#20Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:26am
fyi BWW news desk, that was Jon Rua (not William B. Wingfield as you have identified him) on as Graffiti Pete last night.
Photo Coverage: Corbin Bleu's First IN THE HEIGHTS Curtain Call
csees
Swing Joined: 6/18/08
#21Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:48amHE WAS FAB!!!!! Omg. I'm obsessed. I'm going to go every day. He really surprised me.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#22Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:51am
>I don't get all the fuss over him stepping into the role. He's a talented guy. It's not like he's replacing Emile de Becque in South Pacific !!!<
It's because the literalists have invaded. "Only Jews can perform Fiddler on the Roof!" "Only Thai royalty can perform in The King and I!" "Only serial killers and cannibals can perform in Sweeney Todd!"
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
maxximumvolume
Stand-by Joined: 5/4/09
#23Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 1:21pm
Add me to the list of people who thought he was great. Not only did he perfectly fit in the world of the show - he did not stand out like a sore thumb as some have suggested, either based on race or age - but from the minute he first started rapping, "Lights up on Washington Heights..." I thought he was positively electrifying. He carries the show on his shoulders with aplomb, and I could not believe that this was his first time; his work was effortless, confident, and quite smooth for a first time, and I can only imagine he will get better.
As we went into the second act Corbin's work was quite beautiful, pulling at my heartstrings with real grace and nuance. He is not simply impersonating Lin, he has made this character his own, finding new quirks and bits to play with. It's a surprisingly assured Broadway debut and I can't wait to see him again and again.
He was truly grateful and genuine at stage door, as he spent plenty of time signing and taking pictures, but also seemed touched by the praise of my friends and I who were fans of the show long before he came around, having seen it multiple times. He's a real class act and a terrific stage performer and I think you all need to go in with an open mind and enjoy his performance.
Updated On: 1/26/10 at 01:21 PM
#24Reviews of Corbin Bleu's first night in ITH
Posted: 1/26/10 at 1:31pmWell maybe with all this positive response, MTV will film it or at least allow him to originate the role of Usnavi in the film. I know Lin is supposed to, but I feel like Corbin Bleu would be a huge draw for it.
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