The "Pretty" Return of ANDY KARL- Page 4

[10086sunset]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 10:39am

After Groundhog Day, this screams “good idea.”
Joking aside, I think Mr. Karl needs some new representation.

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 10:57am

yesraccoons said: "I personally have never heard of Kazee before this thread but for me and people I know Andy Karl is a draw. I wasn’t planning on seeing Pretty Woman but I’ll definitely be trying to get tickets now. He was great in Groundhog Day and I look forward to seeing him again!"

Same here. I'm not interested in the show because Mr. Kazee has departed; I'm interested because I'm familiar with Mr. Karl's work and I enjoyed him very much in Groundhog Day.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 11:46am

Interesting that Mr. Mitchell is praising the casting of Karl all up and down Facebook and Instagram with no mention of the departing Kazee. And he got one line at the end of the press release stating "family issues" which is pretty generic. And I wonder if anyone had a Broadway contract before the transfer, I doubt it. I hope we hear Kazee's side like we heard Jeremy Jordan's side of the NEVERLAND affair. And speaking of that, I wonder if Matt Morrison was approached to replace?

[RicardoMagon]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 12:02pm

Morrison was incredibly dull in Finding Neverland. I doubt he was approached to replace

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 12:12pm

CurtainPullDowner said: "Interesting that Mr. Mitchell is praising the casting of Karl all up and down Facebook and Instagram with no mention of the departing Kazee."

You mean he is promoting the person who people can see in a show he is promoting while he is online promoting it? That IS strange.

Plus, there is no evidence Kazee was replaced rather than wanted to leave to actually deal with family issues? Sometimes there isn't a conspiracy.

 

[newintown]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 12:30pm

Except it doesn't really make sense to leave a paying job in order to deal with family issues that need money to resolve. This is standard firing legal language ("is leaving to pursue other opportunities".

Neither Kazee nor Karl (unless they have unknown family support) are sufficiently famous or (probably) financially able to pick and choose projects or when they work/don't work.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 2:15pm

''I hope we hear Kazee's side like we heard Jeremy Jordan's side of the NEVERLAND affair.''

The two situations are not comparable. Morrison did the original, early workshops of ''Finding Neverland.'' Jordan did the tryout at A.R.T. because Morrison was unavailable (he was still shooting ''Glee'' ). Jordan  fought for the chance to originate it on Broadway, but he knew that the role probably would return to Morrison. 

''The fact that ['Pretty Woman'] is opening in the summer does not bode well.''

Broadway shows that have opened in the summer include:  ''Hairspray,'' ''La Cage aux Folles,'' ''Avenue Q'' and ''Hamilton.''

Updated On: 5/24/18 at 02:15 PM

[beechmi2]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 2:33pm

Although I wish Mr. Kazee the best, I find this news encouraging.

The musical is called 'Pretty Woman', and its' success depends entirely upon the performance of the pretty woman herself Samantha Barks. And from what I saw in Chicago, she will soon be the talk of Broadway. Although the role of her suitor is central, it does not make or break the show.

Although I was not wild about the score, and the show clearly needs some 'tweaks', I trust Jerry Mitchell and team to clean it up quite a bit for Broadway (provided of course, that the powers that be let them do just that).

As for its box office prospects, and I am no expert, but so far a weak score has not hurt ticket sales for 'Mean Girls', 'School of Rock', or 'Come From Away'. People won't be buying tickets to 'Pretty Woman' expecting 'Carousel' or 'My Fair Lady'....and from what was onstage in Chicago the producers are fully aware of that.

Bottom line is that Ms. Barks' performance will rise far above this material and she will soon become the 'Bette Midler' of the 2019 Broadway season. And watch how quickly the tickets will sell once word gets out in NYC.

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 2:49pm

I know people are saying "Why is he leaving?" or "He could make more money by staying with the show.."  Well, maybe it'a combination of both.  His father needs care and he doesn't see the show as doing that well so why risk spending the time in a production that won't last when he could be there for his father.  If the show's a success he can always go back into the show after he's taken care of his personal business and the lead leaves. 

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 7:42pm

Bottom line is that Ms. Barks' performance will rise far above this material and she will soon become the 'Bette Midler' of the 2019 Broadway season. And watch how quickly the tickets will sell once word gets out in NYC."

 

Did I read that right?

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 8:01pm

CurtainPullDowner said: "

Bottom line is that Ms. Barks' performance will rise far above this material and she will soon become the 'Bette Midler' of the 2019 Broadway season. And watch how quickly the tickets will sell once word gets out in NYC."



Did I read that right?

"

Lol, right? I enjoyed her, but to say she’ll be the Bette Midler of 2019 is a MASSIVE over statement

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 8:47pm

EllieRose2 said: ""Couldn’t he have done the show and paid for someone to take care of his father?"

You're despicable."

i don’t know how asking a sensible question considering his apparent hardships and finances makes me despicable but okay. werk.

it seems like a strange time to voluntarily leave a broadway show but obviously i understand if he prioritizes his father over his career, i didn’t think it was monstrous of me to wonder if there was some way he could do both of those things.

[S394206H]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 10:04pm

Just because participating in a Broadway show will pay well doesn't mean it's the better call to make in a situation like this. There's no feasible way Kazee would be able to personally check up on his father and still do eight shows a week. Sure, you could pay for a caretaker, but I know that if I were in a situation like this I would want to be the one making sure said family member is okay, especially after something as traumatizing as this likely was for Kazee and his family. An actor has every right to leave a show that hasn't even opened yet for a personal family emergency- obviously there wasn't an issue with his contract because he was allowed to depart the production. I'm sure he would much rather be performing than having to deal with this horrible situation, but sometimes things don't work out in a way that lets you have it all. And, let's face it, as much as I love Steve Kazee he's not a "name." Yes, people who are fans of his were excited to see him in the role, but Andy Karl is a much more commonly known actor at this point in time, especially coming off of Groundhog Day. Steve made the choice to leave in order to be with his family, and they found a replacement for his role- that's how life works. I'm sure he's crushed he won't be able to make the move to Broadway, but we have to respect his privacy and his personal decisions and move on from this.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 10:58pm

I wonder if Steven Pasquale was ever considered?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 11:19pm

What were the songs like for his character? Maybe they rewrote some stuff, and needed/wanted a different sound? Who knows. But it is a little unheard of these days. 

[Sunny11]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 5:44pm

RicardoMagon said: "Morrison was incredibly dull in Finding Neverland. I doubt he was approached to replace"

The character there was a repressed introvert but he has played more dynamic  leading man types before, in Hairspray and light in the piazza, getting a Tony nomination  for the latter. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 5:44pm

After "Rocky" and "Groundhog Day", I hope this show last more than those two musicals for his sake.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 11:16am

Karl might be more of a name than Kazee, but Mitchell and all wanted to have a name that would be bankable, I wouldn't have chose Karl either. His forum and social media fans will maybe make the show last one extra night than it would have with a complete unknown.

Updated On: 5/26/18 at 11:16 AM

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 6:39pm

Karl has had 3 Tony nominations in the past 4 years, which is not inconsiderable, and he had a supporting stint on TV in ''Law & Order: SVU.'' Kazee won the Tony for ''Once'' (2012), but that was his last Broadway credit. As for ''bankable'' leading men in Broadway musicals, that would seem to be a short list. Off the top of my head, there's Hugh Jackman and, say, Josh Groban. If you look at this year's Best Actor nominees, I don't think you could consider Harry Haden-Patton, Joshua Henry, Ethan Slater or (multi-Emmy winner) Tony Shalhoub really ''bankable'' musical-theater stars.

''After 'Rocky' and 'Groundhog Day,' I hope this show ['Pretty Woman'] lasts more than those two musicals for [Karl's] sake.''

I'll bet Karl wishes ALL of his shows ran longer, but that's not in his power, nor is it always squarely on his shoulders alone. Karl got terrific notices for ''Rocky'' and even won an Outer Critics, Drama Desk and Olivier Award for ''Groundhog Day,'' so I think he gave his all (especially for the latter, where he performed despite an injury).

Like any working actor, you play the best hand you're dealt. His TV pilot wasn't picked up, so he got the offer for ''Pretty Woman.'' Karl gets to reunite with a director he loves (Jerry Mitchell); pays tribute to a friend (Garry Marshall), and shares the Broadway stage with his wife, Orfeh. And if the show can work out its issues and Karl has chemistry with Samantha Banks, maybe they can help make it a better show. All the while, he gets paid a nice salary for his services. All things considered, that sounds like a ''Pretty'' good deal to me. 

Updated On: 5/26/18 at 06:39 PM

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 6:46pm

Andy is such a wonderful, warm, friendly person.  I am always rooting for him.  I hope this is a success, I haven't checked Ticketmaster lately, but I hope this is a hit. 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 7:01pm

Wayman_Wong said: "Karl has had 3 Tony nominations in the past 4 years, which is not inconsiderable, and he had a supporting stint on TV in ''Law & Order: SVU.'' Kazee won the Tony for ''Once'' (2012), but that was his last Broadway credit. As for ''bankable'' leading men in Broadway musicals, that would seem to be a short list. Off the top of my head, there's Hugh Jackman and, say, Josh Groban. If you look at this year's Best Actor nominees, I don't think you could consider Harry Haden-Patton, Joshua Henry, Ethan Slater or (multi-Emmy winner) Tony Shalhoub really ''bankable'' musical-theater stars.

''After 'Rocky' and 'Groundhog Day,' I hope this show ['Pretty Woman'] lasts more than those two musicals for [Karl's] sake.''

I'll bet Karl wishes ALL of his shows ran longer, but that's not in his power, nor is it always squarely on his shoulders alone. Karl got terrific notices for ''Rocky'' and even won an Outer Critics, Drama Desk and Olivier Award for ''Groundhog Day,'' so I think he gave his all (especially for the latter, where he performed despite an injury).

Like any working actor, you play the best hand you're dealt. His TV pilot wasn't picked up, so he got the offer for ''Pretty Woman.'' Karl gets to reunite with a director he loves (Jerry Mitchell); pays tribute to a friend (Garry Marshall), and shares the Broadway stage with his wife, Orfeh. And if the show can work out its issues and Karl has chemistry with Samantha Banks, maybe they can help make it a better show. All the while, he gets paid a nice salary for his services. All things considered, that sounds like a ''Pretty'' good deal to me."

My comment was a response to those who thought the switch in casting was a good choice because Karl was more of a "name" than Kazee. Which is why I brought up bankability. Outside of his fans here, nobody knows who Karl is and his name alone won't make a difference whether this show succeeds or not. The other reasons why casting Karl may be better (rewriting the role, having more chemistry with Barks, the creatives liking him more, him just being better for the part, etc.) are reasons I can see and will remain to be seen. I just think there was a lot of propping up of Karl at the expense of Kazee on this thread that really wasn't needed and it read as some weird one-sided fandom war going on (as if Kazee has a big enough following here to have one) and when I saw people thinking more people will see it now that Karl is in it was a bit much for me. I mean technically, that may be true as Karl gained quite a following online, but that won't really make much of a difference overall the way some posters were posting. Of course, maybe it wasn't really fans of Karl doing that but the people who were also salivating at the thought of the "true" story was actually Kazee getting fired/let go and now has to take care of his father and deal with personal family issues while being involuntarily unemployed because that sort of gossip is so juicy and delicious for some people.

Updated On: 5/26/18 at 07:01 PM

[willep]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 7:57pm

I walked by the theatre today and noticed that there were Kazee specific pull quotes outside. Why would they have they used those if they were anticipating replacing him? 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 9:05pm

Wayman_Wong said: "If you look at this year's Best Actor nominees, I don't think you could consider Harry Haden-Patton, Joshua Henry, Ethan Slater or (multi-Emmy winner) Tony Shalhoub really 'bankable' musical-theater stars.



I remember what feels like forever ago when Hugh Laurie and Colin Firth were floated as possible casting for Higgins. While Firth is maybe a "bankable" name, I think Laurie could have been "bankable" in that specific role. The way Tony Shalhoub is somewhat of a bankable name in The Band's Visit but not in any random musical you might cast him in. With the TV/movie stars I think it helps if they stick to similar types/roles as their most popular TV/movie roles unlike say Chris Evans in Lobby Hero or Mark Ruffalo in The Price. But there will be some actors who are always "bankable" names like Denzel Washington.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 9:54pm

I just have to chime in; YAY! for Andy! Let's just hope the show is solid. In both 20th Century and Drood he stole those shows. I loved the physical comedy with KC in 20th and he really worked very nicely and handily with her, (even with her physical issues). In Drood with Jesse Mueller, they were both great.

He surely deserves a BIG break this time out. 

Updated On: 5/26/18 at 09:54 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/31/18 at 11:05pm

They have taken down the marquee for Pretty Woman, so hopefully we'll be getting something a little more interesting? Also, Kazee's name is still all over the front of the theater so I suppose all that's changing too.