Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
whatyouown223
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/4/05
#0Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 12:19amIn Spelling Bee, I know there have been non asian Marcy understudies. Have they ever go on? If they do, what's different in the show? Thanks!
#1re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 12:24am
I would assume "I knew you were Asian!!" isn't in that performance. 
(The only Marcy understudy in SF is Michelle Noh, who is Asian, so I wouldn't know. Not that I've seen her, anyway.)
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#2re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 12:42amI think the thing about spelling bee is that none of the characters really need to be a certain race. Its really easy to change a couple of lines and its easy.
Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long shot.
BertCCRI
Chorus Member Joined: 5/23/04
#3re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 12:51amI've seen Lisa Yuen as both Marcy and Rona, and she does a fine job in each role.
#4re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:00am
I know Lisa also understudies Olive. Does anyone know if she's gone on in that role?
The one thing I find funny about her as Rona is that during "The I Love You Song" when she plays Olive's mother it must be quite a sight to see little old Celia as the product of a black man and an Asian woman.. hehe.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 9/3/06 at 01:00 AM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#5re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:10am
Yes, Lisa has gone on as Olive.
Kate has gone on as Marcy, and Mo (Maurice) has gone on as Coneybear.
It's great that the show can have anyone playing the roles.
#6re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:11amDid you see Lisa as Marcy? If so, how was she?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#7re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:16amI have seen her many times, she is great!
OOTI2004
Broadway Star Joined: 10/29/05
#8re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:43amWhen I saw the show, Lisa Yuen was on for Rona and she was amazing. I would love to see her play Marcy.
thevolleyballer
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#9re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:32amI wouldn't put it past Finn and Shenken to have wanted to write something, whether lyrics or dialogue, about Marcy's being Asian, as it could have worked into a song. I'm sure they purposely took it out, though, because one line can define a character's appearance, and that's not always good. (I use the "Blonde!" line from Wicked, because that forces Glinda to have to be blonde.) Still, Chip was changed to a Jewish sort of character in the Chicago production, I believe. It all works. :)
#10re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:49am
Yep, he's Isaac "Chip" Berkowitz.
They didn't change his name for the Australian production, though.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
bwayondabrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/05
#11re: Spelling Bee Question- Marcy
Posted: 9/3/06 at 7:49am
"The one thing I find funny about her as Rona is that during "The I Love You Song" when she plays Olive's mother it must be quite a sight to see little old Celia as the product of a black man and an Asian woman.. "
haha! that cracked me up :)
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