Tari Kelly

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:10pm

Holy Christ!!! As many of you may know, Tari Kelly plays Audrey in the first national tour of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, opposite Anthony Rapp. I advise all of you LSOH fans to go to Tari's website ASAP! (www.tarikelly.com) She has clips of her singing "Somewhere That's Green", "Sominex", "Skid Row (Downtown)" and "Suddenly, Seymour". She is PHENOMENAL! Her voice blows Kerry Butler's and Jessica-Snow Wilson's (and, possibly, Alice Ripley's) vocal portrayals of Audrey out of the water!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:11pm

oh yes she does. Her voice, as well as the three Urchins are quite impressive

[broadwayboy81]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:13pm

Her voice is nice. definitely beats many of the previous...

BUT, not Ellen and not Alice!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:14pm

Those Urchins have nice voices but no idea what role they play in the plot/ark of the show. Probably bad direction, but still...

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:26pm

I'm guessing you've seen the tour production. Has anyone seen the tour production with Tari's understudy, Yvette Lawrence, as Audrey? I've never heard of her, but I would love to hear of her performance.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:31pm

the urcins act as a greek chorus. they interact in some scenes, but they primarily function as greek chorus for teh show. as casting breakdowns say, they are telling the tale and are the only ones who know what is going on.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:42pm

Ummm, I think we know the point of the Urchins, broadwayguy2. I think BobbyBubby was saying that the ACTRESSES playing the Urchins don't understand their characters, or they understand their characters, but are following bad direction. I'm a LSOH freak, so there's no need to explain anything! Updated On: 12/9/04 at 04:42 PM

[jo]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 7:21pm

I remember Tari Kelly from THE BOY FROM OZ. She was one of Peter Allen's backing trio in the show and also understudied Stephanie J. Block. I think she performed the role of Liza on at least one occasion. I am glad to hear about her success!

Interesting how a number of TBFO alumni have had a crack at lead roles on touring or off-Broadway shows ( Brad Anderson in AIDA, Tari for LSOH, John Hill for BARE, and of course Stephanie in the role of Elphaba in the first tour of WICKED).

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 8:27pm

Wow. She sounds wonderful! So does Anthony...maybe this sould have been the Bway cast.

Also, great pics!

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 8:32pm

I totally agree. I loved Anthony and Tari so much more than Hunter and Kerry.

Anyone else just been listening to the songs over and over again, or is that just me? Sorry, I love her voice. And Anthony's. God, I wish I could see the show again!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 8:40pm

I am...

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 8:54pm

Grrr...

[futurebroadwaystar1]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 8:55pm

It looks and sounds great! I can't wait to see the show in Feb.!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:01pm

She sounds amazing in the sound clips!

But is that her in this picture in the middle of the bottom row??? With the huge smile on her face??? Lol.

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:08pm

Wow...I use to be a Kerry Butler fan, but damn...she blew Kerry oughtta the water.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:17pm

Vocally, yes. Actingwise...obviously. Sorry, I very much prefer Tari Kelly...huge fan.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 1:02am

I saw LSOH tour, Tari was so good. the urchins have amazing voices, I met all of the urchins and Tari, and Anthony who all graciously signed my playbill. I didn't get a pic though...what was i thinking???

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 2:45am

Silly child! I got pics with Anthony, Tari, Dentist, Urchins, and Voice of Plant. (yes, I do know their names. no, I don't feel like writing them. deal.) I email them frequently.


What? Me post just to brag? Never!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:29pm

After listening to Tari's version of "Suddenly, Seymour" repeatedly, I have come to LOVE her vocals, but the orchestrations bother me. It doesn't sound as full as the Broadway version (with Kerry & Hunter, Jessica-Snow & Joey) did. Does anyone else notice this? Examples:

During "Please understand that it's...", there are no bongos in the background as there are in the Bway version.

Also, during the big final chorus of that song, the drums sound less full than the Bway version. Like, some cymbals that are steadily crashing through the chorus are missing. (Pardon my lack of knowledge about percussion!)

Here's another question: Would these musical changes be on the part of the conductor/musical director (Brent-Alan Huffman), or would the percussionist be allowed to change things? I always thought each part was written out so they would always be the same.

[AuBrie]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 4:02am

I have just seen the tour of LSOH tonight.(San Diego)
I was definitly blown away by Tari Kelly. Suddenly Seymore was incredibly amazing! I am a big fan of Jessica Snow but thought that Tari definitly was way better vocally and acting. Anthony of course was wonderful. the urchins also had great singing voices but I agree that their interpretation bugged me.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 4:02am

How so?

[musicgal04]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 2:20pm

That is Teri Kelly in the picture above. It was from Austin Musical Theatre's Production os "Oklahoma". She was Ado Annie and Noah Racey is next to her as Will Parker. Also Kevin Early is standing beind her, he was Curly. I was in that production and she was wonderful.

[MouseInfo]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 6:55pm

I also saw the production in San Diego on December 7th. Overall, I thought the show was great. I was blown away by Tari...thought she was great. I also thought Anthony did an amazing job. I wanted to go back and see the show again.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 7:39pm

Yvette Lawrence, Tari's understudy, was a Belle cover in the Broadway Beauty and the Beast back in '97 or '98, I think.

Tari Kelly was a Silly Girl/Babette cover on the national tour of Beauty in '95-'96.

Brent-Alan Huffman has been a member of the music department of BATB for many years, including conducting the 2000-2003 tour.

Many BATB connections on this LSOH tour.