They can fight over someone's opinion of whether she can sing the role 6 or 8 times a week. Realistically the producers wouldn't jeopardize the production by casting someone in the lead who couldn't handle the role. That just doesn't make any sense at all.
I'm speaking only for myself. I saw the woman twice in London and she was great in the part. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I'm not here to try to convert anyone but some of the assumptions and accusations being made about her and her abilities are borderline ridiculous and are being made just because they wanted to see someone else in the part.
StageManager, my comment was tongue-in-cheek, obviously. I just think that it's ridiculous people can accept without question the dramatic artistic license taken with Che Guevara, but refuse to consider an actress with a slightly tanner skintone.
Oh, okay. Then I'd like the panel to disregard that "dumb" comment.
So would hiring Olivo be considered a case of colorblind casting?
Ricky Martin would get me in the seat faster then Elena Rogers would... (and i love my divas)
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Ricky Martin? If they wanted poor casting, why didn't they cast Betty White as Che? I hope they aren't toning the production down like they did the movie. Che is the anti-hero of the piece. He needs to be tough. We don't want a metrosexual Che like Banderas played.
So would hiring Olivo be considered a case of colorblind casting?
I guess some people would feel that way.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/07
I haven't been paying too much attention to this thread and all of the talk about casting. Also, I never saw the show live since I was born around when the movie was made. So please excuse my dumbness when I say, "What if they cast Julia Murney as Eva Peron?"
Seth Rudetsky's Broadway 101: Evita Quick Change
I saw Julia Murney in that particular production at Sacramento Music Circus. She was quite good, but it sounded like the score was harder on her voice than I'd have expected (I'm a fan, but I've only seen her in Lennon). I wouldn't be surprised if her performance were as polarizing as Elena Roger's.
Lizzie, I don't think that Julia is exotic enough for the role of Eva Peron. Exotic, exotic, exotic, LOL!!! =) Just kidding.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
There was a story around the time of the OBC (don't know if it was true or legend) that said that during the first dress rehearsal, Evita's "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" dress was too big to fit through the door. Can't you see Patti LuPone stuck in the doorway yelling "Stop taking pictures!" Hopefully this time around they won't make that mistake.
Ricky Martin's casting will most likely draw big audiences, especially latino ones. Like someone else mentioned, he hasn't had a radio hit at mainstream pop radio in over a decade, but he has consistently released hit after hit on US latin radio stations, and his Spanish-language albums have always landed on Billboard's Latin Albums charts. And now, after his coming out, I'm sure a lot of gay men and curious people of all persuasions will likely attend...
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