The Search for the Next Elle Woods: The Spoiler thread- Page 35

[wicked4l]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 3:26pm

What songs are they performing? I know "omigod you guys" and "positive" i wanna say "so much better" but idk.any ideas?

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 3:41pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 03:41 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 3:42pm

It's just such a travesty of the whole Broadway career. It's tacky. I'm surprised they resisted the urge, three episodes before the end, to tell the contestants, "We have a surprise. A new contestant. The Spoiler. Amarosa...... come onstage...."

[Annaleigh'sFan]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 4:34pm

Could someone answer this question? The news of Lauren getting the Margot/Elle understudy role on the tour made me wonder. Does the understudy have a daily or even weekly practice as the lead? Because I know Annaleigh Ashford once had to do the Elle role, and as great as she is I doubt she could have remembered the entirety of Elle's choreography without practice. I was just curious.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 4:41pm

Once or twice a week. Depends on the show.

[Annaleigh'sFan]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 4:42pm

Thanks, TooDarnHot!

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 6:24pm

Allofmylife, you had me with your last post until you said "the hardest role to be played on Broadway". Just because Bundy struggled through it doesn't make the role hard, it was hard for HER, no matter how fully she "embodied" the role. It's not even as difficult in technical terms, as Elphaba or Tracy Turnblad. It's the one thing that really amuses me more than anything that's said. That and the thought that So Much Better is "the most difficult song to sing". Becky Gulsvig, like her take or not, never even looked like she broke a sweat.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 6:32pm

Grand Motel, wiser minds than ours have discussed this endlessly on this site and come to the conclusion that Elle Woods is perhaps the most arduous role, if not just on Broadway now, than perhaps permanently. It's not just "So Much Better". That song is, in many ways, the climax of the marathon first act, wherein, with one exception, LBB was onstage all the time, usually singing and often dancing strenuously. And then act two...

This role is also a deceptively hard role to sing. Friends of mine who are musical directors have suggested "So Much Better" has a killer ending, mainly because it is SO easy to go offkey on the last three notes (especially the "Then".)

It will be interesting to see if they have actually found a workhorse who can actually pull this wagon seven nights a week....

[cjane]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 6:36pm

[quote]
I agree that Equity should utterly outlaw this type of stunt. It's an insult to everyone who has come to Broadway and tried to work their way up the ladder. If the producers can't be made to see the light, they should be forced to uphold a rule.[/quote]

It's. Just. Theatre.

[lmb228]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 6:40pm

This is my first post. I've been a lurker around here for some time and have been keeping up with this post. Never really felt the desire to chime in until now:

"I guess the bottom line is that if you are excited to see whoever wins the role then by all means plan your trip and go and see them. If not .. then ....oh well.. just save your hundred bucks for another show and go and support those actors. There are more than enough shows to see in New York."

AMEN to that, Eponine3!!!! I think that's the best thing I've read in this thread, lol.

Here's my take:
I'm not thrilled with the idea of this show since I'm also an aspiring Broadway actress but I still watched it and enjoyed most of it. I think LB is a great story and a wonderful production. And while I haven't been too fond of the finalists, I wish them nothing but the best. I have faith that Jerry Mitchell has made sure that their **** is together and they are prepared enough for opening night. I can't say, I'll travel to see them but if for some reason I'm in NYC, I wouldn't pass up seeing the show again. Regardless of who's Elle.

Oh yeah, hello everyone! I'm the newbie =D

[sparklysocialite]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 7:22pm

In terms of why no one better auditioned, think about it. There had to have been some ridiculous thing in the contract. Basically, MTV owns you. Maybe you aren't allowed to audition for Broadway for like ten years or something crazy like that? Also, they keep saying, "None of you girls have ever been on Broadway, and at the end of this one of you will be STARRING on Broadway." Maybe you could have never before auditioned for anything on Broadway.

Not saying that people with talent have all auditioned before, but you get the jist of what I'm saying, right?

It is unfortunate that none of these girls are amazing. Sure, they are good. Unfortunately, just plain good doesn't cut it when it comes to a STARRING role on Broadway.

When it comes down to it, though, I want it to be Bailey.

[rich.hanson59]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 7:50pm

That isn't true, Celina was in Tarzan and 42nd Street.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 7:57pm

She was also the second to last Demeter in Cats.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 7:58pm

I think because Legally Blonde: The Musical is tongue-in-cheek musical comedy, people assume it isn't difficult. If anything, this reality show has shown that Elle Woods requires a true triple thread. What makes this reality show different than Grease and Sound of Music/Joseph/Oliver!, is that this is the first time an actor has been cast for a show where the direction/choreography are set in stone. Grease was able to get around the mass limitations of its 2 amateur stars. This, not so much. She rarely leaves the stage, three of her numbers clock in around the 8 minute mark (What you Want, Chip on YOur SHoulder, Take it Like a Man), she's got 2 huge solos, "So Much Better" and "Legally Blonde", and huge dancing in "Positive", "Bend and Snap", and the very difficult end of "What you Want". I think future stagings, especially when High School's get their hands on it, will feature less active Elle's, but because it's Jerry Mitchell, he chose an Elle in Bundy that could do all three without problem. And even she's had difficulties, with mass reports of line flubs, wig problems, shoe's flying into the audience, and that infamous changing of the last note in "So Much Better" which rivals "No Good Deed" and "Defying Gravity" as the hardest on Broadway today.

[sparklysocialite]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 7:58pm

All I was trying to say was that something about this show doesn't add up right. Think about it- why are there not any big names auditioning? Or at least people that at least 3 people have heard of? Just wondering.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:04pm

Also, ta-da Celina performing Macavity as Demeter.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zriweq1uB9c&feature=user

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:05pm

That.is.exactly.the.point.

It just doesn't make sense.

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:10pm

" wiser minds than ours have discussed this endlessly on this site and come to the conclusion that Elle Woods is perhaps the most arduous role, if not just on Broadway now, than perhaps permanently."

Ok allmylife, now you've lost me permanently on this topic. I'm quite sure the kiddies that make up 95% of the student body of this board are not wiser, if I do say so myself. Elle Woods is never going to be remembered as the most "difficult role for a female on Broadway" I'm not so sure once the show shutters that it'll be remembered at all. Let's agree to disagree for the time being and we'll reconvene on the topic in a few months.

[regnad kcin]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:12pm

re songanddanceman: "no innocence, no sense of fun" is how you described Autumn's voice. I disagree - I think there's a slightly quirky and innocent quality about her voice - the way she said "All this PLUS a brain" made me smile. Her voice isn't completely unique, but I don't think it's run of the mill either. Especially the first audition we saw, I think she's incredibly heartfealt in her singing. And I CAN'T sing, so if an actor sounds pretty and doesn't do much more, I won't be crazy about them.

PS: Maybe part of the reason they have the girls do the ensemble parts - other than to show their energy, dedication when they're NOT the star, and their ability to work in a team - was kind of a mini-audition for the ensemble roles. IE Lauren, and the other runners up.

PPS (Sorry!): Are the three girls who were doing backup during "What You Want" the current Pilar, Margo and Serena?

Updated On: 7/21/08 at 08:12 PM

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:13pm

"All I was trying to say was that something about this show doesn't add up right. Think about it- why are there not any big names auditioning? Or at least people that at least 3 people have heard of? Just wondering."

Because they don't need to parade themselves around in front of a t.v. audience and go through a hellish audition process to get cast in shows? "Big names" get jobs without reality tv.

[cjane]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:20pm

[quote]Autumn's voice. I disagree - I think there's a slightly quirky and innocent
quality about her voice - the way she said "All this PLUS a brain" made me
smile. [/quote]
I'm with you. Her delivery on that was outstanding and so endearing!

[quote]"Big names" get jobs without reality tv. [/quote]But they ain't big names till they gets the jobs.
Updated On: 7/21/08 at 08:20 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 8:39pm

Grand Motel, sorry to lose you. This was the subject of a huge thread. I'll go through my past posts and find the link.

Please also note that by huge, we mean physically demanding, not consequential.

Mama Rose, huge role. Mrs. Lovett, huge role. Mame and Dolly, huge roles.

Elle Woods - Marine Corps survival course.

Seriously, try walking a mile in her pumps.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 9:24pm

I think the girls doing backup were April Berry (current ensemble), Michelle Kitrell (former Ensemble) and Asmeret (current Pilar). I didn't see Tracy (current Serena) or Haven (the Margot at the time of filming).

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 9:44pm

"Also, they keep saying, 'None of you girls have ever been on Broadway, and at the end of this one of you will be STARRING on Broadway.' Maybe you could have never before auditioned for anything on Broadway."

Well, of course they're going to say something like that to make the show more dramatic sounding.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 10:00pm

It is TIME.