Spring Awakening Understudy Gerard Canonico

[Chipster07]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 1:48pm

Has Spring Awakening Understudy Gerard Canonico gone on yet? If so, what role and how was he?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 3:19pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=920893#2707133

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 5:31pm

Hands OFF Chipster!

[smashingasian]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:27pm

Actually, Gerard was on for Jonathan B. Wright. I thought he did a great job... considering today was my first time watching the show and he's the only Hanschen I've seen. Jonathan was actually in the audience for the performance! He was talking to some audience members about the show.

[educator06]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:47pm

That's odd; he was speaking to some audience members? Curious why he would be doing that.


Updated On: 12/31/06 at 06:47 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:49pm

I was wondering why he was at the show if he was not performing.

[DiamondGirl]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:58pm

Wow, I didn't know he was in Spring Awakening - I thought he was great in Children's Letters to God.

[bobert5353]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 7:06pm

He was most likely sick, but he wanted to still watch the show.

[smashingasian]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 7:08pm

I was quite baffled myself. I don't know if he knew the people or not, but he was walking around intermission, and at the end of the show he stood up which started a standing ovation.

It was actually quite empty today. I moved up a couple of rows to get a better view.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 10:55pm

I saw an instance like that when I saw All Shook Up last summer. Trisha Jeffrey was on for Lorraine, and at the stage door, Nikki M. James walked out.

Maybe he wanted to see it, or the powers that be wanted to give Gerard a day in the role? Not sure how this works.

[Lauren_T]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 12:48am

how was his voice and acting?

[smashingasian]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 1:08am

I don't have anyone to compare him to, but I really enjoyed his performance. He has a great voice and his acting was very good. I'm quite partial to him in "My Junk", his dramatic reading was...well... quite a reading haha

He's so tiny compared to Gideon! But the "Word of Your Body Reprise" was something alright. It got the korean tourists next to me go "OHHHH" haha

[Lauren_T]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 1:11am

yeah i see him to come across very very young compared to the rest of the cast. ugh!

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:23am

Honestly, i'm sure he's fabulous, but just looking at that headshot I can not believe that he would be any older than I am, and i'm 15.

[tmz814]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:43am

Gerard is 17.

He didn't even know that he was going on until 15 minutes before show time and hadn't rehearsed more than 1 or 2 of Hanschen's scenes before today. I wish I could've been there to see him go on for the first time.

Updated On: 1/1/07 at 02:43 AM

[bobert5353]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:46am

I found out the answer from a friend. "Jonathan and Lauren were just made Dance Captains, so they had to sit in the audience and watch the show."

[Lauren_T]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 9:51am

dance captins? there is like barely any dancing in this show. and Lauren? Doesn't even dance in the show? Maybe I dont fully understand what dance captin is then?...lol

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:32am

Most every musical has a dance captain- right down to Avenue Q. The dance captain (in my experience) records the original choreography, and makes sure that it is cemented into the production. When a new actor arrives to replace someone, they are responsible for teaching to new steps.

Updated On: 1/1/07 at 10:32 AM

[mijofly19]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 11:49am

There's plenty of dancing in the show. While there are some who aren't fans, there is even talk of Bill T. Jones getting a Tony nomination with this production.

Katurian is right when it comes to the Dance Captain's role. They may also call for a rehersal if the choreography does not seem up to par.

For those who have seen it when one of the ensemble members goes on, do the adult swings fill their seats on the side of the stage? Or do they just leave them empty?

[tmz814]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 12:50pm

When one of the ensemble "kids" goes on as an understudy an adult swing covers their spot in the onstage audience.

[smashingasian]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 1:28pm

Gerard is 17.

He didn't even know that he was going on until 15 minutes before show time and hadn't even rehearsed more than 1 or 2 of Hanschen's scenes before today. I wish I could've been there to see him go on for the first time.

Wow, yesterday first time going on. He did great! I'm 17 too and... wow. There was this certain air about him which pulled you in during the reprise. I don't know how Jonathan does the scene, but I really enjoyed Gerard's interpretation. Maybe I'm just biased because he's the only Hanschen I've seen haha Hopefully I'll be able to see the show again in the near future.

[Lauren_T]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 3:36pm

"He didn't even know that he was going on until 15 minutes before show time and hadn't even rehearsed more than 1 or 2 of Hanschen's scenes before today. I wish I could've been there to see him go on for the first time. "

Um I'm sure he probably did rehearse the scenes. They would not let him go on not knowing. Plus, he sits on stage EVERY night singing back up watching the show since November. I am sure he probably could play Wendla's role if he had to after seeing the show like 50 times straight!
Updated On: 1/1/07 at 03:36 PM

[tmz814]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 11:04pm

ummm... ok. Gerard is a friend of mine and I talked to him last night after he got home from the show. He had only rehearsed a few of the scenes, never the whole Hanschen track. Those words came directly from his mouth. If you want to argue with someone about it, talk to him. Neither he nor Robbie had done the whole track in rehearsal yet. He did know the scenes from watching it every night, but that is not really the same thing as rehearsing it, now is it. I don't want to argue with anyone about it. I just felt the need to respond.

Gerard also went on today as Georg.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 11:12pm

It's a little strange seeing an adult go on in the ensemble track, because I think it kind of interuppts the whole parallel between the teens of 1891 and the teens of today.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 11:15pm

"I think it kind of interuppts the whole parallel between the teens of 1891 and the teens of today."

I agree. Do they dress like an older person would today? Or are they in similar clothes to the ones the teenagers wear?