Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
jasobres
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/9/05
#1Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 4:21pm
This is news to me. I was just on Wikipedia and ibdb.com, and both sites confirm that Ricky Martin (yes, THAT Ricky Martin) played Marius in Les Miz in 1996. Apparently, this took place before "Livin' la Vida Loca" became a hit. Did anyone ever see him in it?
#2re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 4:28pm
Ha ha ha! You hadn't heard? Here, enjoy some horrifying pictures.
http://www.broadwaylesmis.com/actors.asp?id=234
Never saw him, heard terrible things...
jasobres
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/9/05
#2re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 4:32pmIf I had heard of this before, I wouldn't have put a question mark after the title.
#3re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 4:32pmThere's clips on the forbidden site and he is horrendous, I can't believe he was cast BEFORE he was a celebrity!
IssaMe
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/03
#4re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 4:34pm
Actually, he was very good in the role and very charismatic. He brought a whole new audience in because he was a soap superstar from General Hospital and already a Spanish-language music superstar. It was long before his (ultimately) short-lived cross-over into mainstream pop music.
After Les Miz, he was offered other Broadway musical roles but turned them all down...and insisted he didn't want to step into an already existing role and would only eventually return to Broadway in a newly created role. He has yet to do so and probably won't for a long while.
#5re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 4:34pm
I actually saw him as Marius, and, even though I was a teenager back then, my impression at the time was "Huh, he doesn't totally suck" Take that as you will.
And to be fair, he hadn't yet hit big in the American Pop scene, but Ricky Martin was already quite famous, especially (but not limited to) the Latino community. The stagedoor after the show was REALLY crowded.
ETA: IssaMe said what I wanted to :)
Updated On: 1/27/07 at 04:34 PM
#6re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 5:36pmI think Ricky and the other former members of Menuda should rotate into Altar Boyz.
Here_I_Go_Again
Broadway Star Joined: 9/17/03
#7re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 5:39pmhe is still HOTTTT!!! sorry i had to say that, hehehe
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#8re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 5:53pm
Also, he was heavily pursued to replace Hugh Jackman in THE BOY FROM OZ.
------------------------------------------------------------
Entertainment
Sunday February 15, 3:54 PM
Ricky Martin to light up Broadway!
New York, Feb 15 (ANI): Latin singer Ricky Martin could be the next big name to light up Broadway - he's planning to take over the lead role in musical "The Boy From Oz". According to a report in rate the music.com, the "Livin' La Vida Loca" star is poised to step into X-Men star Hugh Jackman's shoes when he finished his stint in the New York-staged production September this year.
However, whispers from the Manhattan theatre district suggest that the show may not last that long, thanks to a lukewarm critical reception. (ANI)
Updated On: 1/27/07 at 05:53 PM
LuPonatic
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/06
#9re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 5:58pmI just watched the forbidden site video, and he seems like an acceptable Marius. What was so horrendous about his performance?
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#10re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 5:59pmMaybe my expectations were low too, but I didn't think he was that bad either.
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#12re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 8:13pmHe may not be bad, but he's still Ricky Martin. He should have done Mambo Kings and then maybe it would have life.
#13re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 8:32pmEww.
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
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14re: Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996?
Posted: 1/27/07 at 8:46pm
When Hugh was interviewed about his possible replacement, had the show continued after him, he said that it was Ewan McGregor ( the first choice he mentioned) ...and Harry Connick ( not 100% sure about this) who were talked to. Although the late producer Ben Gannon did confirm that he had also talked to Russel Crowe who expressed initial interest. The rumor about Ricky Martin was never confirmed by anyone affiliated with the show( I could be wrong).
By the time the show closed, it was already on a sellout phase ( since after the TONYs) 
. But I guess the producers decided they would rather close the show than continue it without Hugh.
Updated On: 1/27/07 at 08:46 PM
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#15Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/27/07 at 9:49pm
Ricky wasn't to bad...
At least from the forbidden site video I saw.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#16Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/27/07 at 9:49pm
Ricky wasn't to bad...
At least from the forbidden site video I saw.
dramaqueen2
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/23/05
#17Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/27/07 at 11:29pm
what is this world coming to?!?!
*goes to watch video..*
*returns*
that wasn't the worst thing i have ever seen, but i honestly couldn't help giggling at the hint of spanish accent he put on the words. hahahahaha, oh my.
Colle
Broadway Star Joined: 2/13/06
#18Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/28/07 at 8:30amOne complant I have heard about Ricky's Marius is that he seemed too chummy when it came to Eponine. Watching that clip, I can see where they are coming from. Christeena Michelle Riggs seemed to be creating all the tension(knocking his books out of his hands).
#19Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/28/07 at 8:51amYou can't base an opinion of a live performance based on clips on a web site.
To Kill A Mockingbird
#20Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/28/07 at 8:55amHe was my first Marius. He wasn't bad, and I don't remember anybody criticizing his performance at the time. That all came later, after he became famous as a pop star in America. That said, he wasn't extraordinary, either. Very middle of the road.
AmyRF25
Swing Joined: 1/1/07
#21Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/28/07 at 9:40am
IssaMe is right, when Ricki Martin played Marius he was well known from General Hospital and he was extremely popular with the spanish community. My Domincian friend only wanted to see Les Mis because he was in it.
I did see the show and I didn't think he was horrible in it at all. I've just passed my 8th Les Mis show and I've never had a complaint about Marius yet...
#22Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/28/07 at 9:53am
He doesn't seem "bad" to me at all. Not award-worthy, but considering what some people praise to the ends of the earth around here, I think you need to rethink your judgement.
And yes, he was hired for this because of General Hospital more than his ties to Menudo.
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Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#23Ricky Martin as Marius in 1996? Yeah.
Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:36pmI saw Ricky play Marius. I thought he was quite good.
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