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TARZAN Casting

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#1

TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:20pm

Well, just talked to a dissapointed friend (who made it all the way to the final callback) and have some TARZAN news to share. Apparently the creative staff still haven't found their Tarzan. They had 4 potentials for the role and 5 understudies. They all sang for Phil and all got vetoed out based on their voices. He said they even saw a newcomer for the role who was a Calvin Klein model and sounded outstanding, but even he got cut.

All these guys had the look, the physicality and the acting chops, but had strong legit beautiful voices instead of the hard pop/rock that the team wants. Probably why Matthew Morrison isn't attached anymore. (That man has one of the most beautiful voices I've heard, but after seeing PIAZZA I don't know if he has the rock-type voice.)

They even had another audition last thursday to bring back a whole bunch of people that they had only heard once or twice, but still nothing. Now that the Narrator and Tarzan roles have been combined, they really are looking for someone who sounds just like Phil Collins but also looks like a Tarzan and has a beautiful body.

Man, after auditioning several hundred people plus all of the agent submissions you'd think they would've found a bunch of people who would be perfect. This sound like a red flag to anyone else? Especially added onto the news that a costume and scene designer is directing.
#2

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:23pm

The music ISN'T that good....they should start looking for a name.

I really don't think the Disney name could carry this show as it did Lion King.

I know a lot of people (non theatre people) who saw TLK because of the movie, etc.

I don't know many people interested in Tarzan, outside this site.
Mama Korey

The Beauty Is: Kelli O'Hara Online

#3

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:27pm

You throw Adam Pasca in a loincloth, I don't care how bad the songs are, I like when the songs are good (like Rent and Aida) but I'll live. I will hitchhike my behind up to New York if only to gawk at him.

(And yes, I am a fangirl. and yes, I am shallow. Glad we got that cleared up)
1. Ted Allen: Everyone has an interesting life if you ask the right questions.
2. Great buckets of Spoffnor, they're going to sing!
3. "I love shrubs that are historical." -Johnny and The Sprites
4. "We're not singing it to you, we're singing it for us." -Rosario Dawson, about La Vie Boheme
5. "The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours." -The History Boys
6. "Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere, one day. Pass it on, boys. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on." -The History Boys
#5

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:38pm

I had a gut feeling from the start that this production would flop...with just a spark that it'll be like CATS: a show with a fanbase that the majority hates, but gets a long run and is successful.

If that makes sense.

It seems to me they don't know how they're going to do this show. First there is just Tarzan, then a Narrator, and now a combined Narrator and Tarzan. There is no concept! They just want to do a Phil Collins musical, and Tarzan was very successful as a film ($171 million in 1999).

"Trashin' The Camp" will be a great STOMP-like number. I don't see how the rest of the show will be stage.

I just don't get it. And I don't see an artistic vision. Not looking good.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#6

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:40pm

Mmm...Adam...
This is my signature.
#8

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:48pm

REALLY early to start screaming flop, Capn.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#9

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:54pm

I think TARZAN has room to be visually stunning, but I too question the real marketability of the show.

According to the IMDB, the film of TARZAN had a $150,000,000 budget, which makes a $171,000,000 profit domestically only a minor success and pretty far down the totum pole of Disney hits, especially combared to THE LION KING, LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and even POCOHONTAS which all managed to rake in considerably higher total gross (box office combined with video sales).

The good news is that Disney is running out of cartoon musicals to put on stage. Apparently the "classics" like CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE, SLEEPING BEAUTY all have rights issues tied to them which would make it difficult to do them on Broadway.


#10

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:13pm

If they need the essential rock-type voice, they should go for Adam Pascal! His popularity is pretty high, considering his success and fame in RENT and Aida, and he definitely has the voice for it. He also just starred in RENT, as everyone on this board knows... plus, by the way things are looking, they are going to need a name. It really stinks that Matt Morrison didn't make it, but Adam Pascal they should definitely ask!!
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#11

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:14pm

Yeah and he already has the hairstyle...
#12

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:18pm

love Adam's hair long!
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#13

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:27pm

TARZAN had a budget of $130m and made over $171m in the U.S., and $448m+ worldwide.

Not as good as LION KING, but not bad, either.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#14

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:39pm

Who do you think will play Jane? My guess is they might pick Sutton Foster.

Updated On: 7/5/05 at 06:39 PM

#15

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:42pm

I think they should scarp this and do POCOHONTAS, way better music. I don't like Phil Collins at all; however, this show does intrigue me, but I doubt i'd get the Cast Recording. Didn't they do a tour of Cinderella? Or was that not Disney owned?
#16

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:45pm

Don't confuse Rodger's & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA with Disney's film. re: TARZAN Casting

I say they scrap this, don't bother with Pocahontas yet, and concentrate on bring Poppins over, doing Little Mermaid, and a revival of AIDA in 2010.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#17

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:46pm

I thought rumors of Lauren Bell Bundy was in the works for Jane. But I would love it if Sutton Foster was chosen instead.
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#18

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:47pm

Why? Jane doesn't sing, people!!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#19

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:48pm

Are you sure? I thought they were adding songs and such to make Tarzan more musically...

If not, then never mind
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#20

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 6:48pm

Laura Bell Bundy played Jane in the reading back in 2004!
#21

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:25pm

I don't know for sure. In the film, no one sang. Then I heard all the songs were to be sung by a "Narrator." Now Tarzan is both roles??
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#22

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:47pm

Yea I heard that it was going to be given as Tarzan taking over as the narrator, and they were adding in songs with {?} Phil Collins helping or something like that.
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#23

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 10:09pm

I don't understand how they would have Tarzan sing some of the songs... the one song "Son of Man" is like... speaking to him.. sort of... I don't know, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
I must say I am more excited for Little Mermaid, but I'd also like to see Hunchback here.. love the music in that movie... but that's just me.
If only you could know the things I long to say... if only I could tell you what I'm dieing to convey...
#24

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 10:24pm

I am excited. Living in Southern California, and having a disneyland annual pass, I've gotten to take in Snow White- the Musical and Aladdin a few times. Both are pretty solid. Snow White is absolutely breathtaking in my opinion. It works so well on stage. With Patrick Stewart as the Mirror (and the mirror effect they've empoloyed is awe-striking) and great actors always playing the leading roles- If this show got worked on a little bit, I'd say this would work really well here or even in London. Aladdin... no. Its good, but not great.

Newsies needs a stage production.

Tarzan will work, it'll be like Aida I feel like. It wont be as huge fo a hit as Lion King or B & the B, but it'll still have a substantial run and some big success. It'll run a little less than Aida, and will close for whatever comes after Poppin's fly over from the west end and Little Mermaid.
#25

re: TARZAN Casting

Posted: 7/5/05 at 10:26pm

I think I am more excited for Mary Poppins
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

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