Toni Braxton as Belle
Toni Braxton as Belle
.jpg)
#0Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 12:38pmDid anyone see her? If so how was she, and how was her A Change in Me, and basically how was her singing Belles songs all together?
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#1re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 12:45pm
Toni Braxton as Belle - Look Here
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#2re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:01pmI really don't remember. I blocked it out. I just remember her voice was really low and I heard they lowered the keys for her. I was very unimpressed. But I do remember that she did not come out of the stage door, because she didn't want to be mobbed by fans. When I went to the stage door to see a friend of mine in the show, there was a hand full of people there. Someone told us that she usually left in an SUV and ducked so no one would see her...but no one really cared.
This is Harvard, not a stripper bar...
MrMidwest
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/05
#3re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:11pm
You might find some of the information you're looking for in this thread.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=856282#1180760
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
#4re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:15pmOkay I have a video from youtube that was posted by one of my friends it's not a bootleg it's just a friend of his singing a change in me from a school talent show, is it okay if I post it?
mejusthavingfun
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/12/06
#5re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:18pm
She was a b!tch in Beauty and in Aida. The staff at the Palace LOATHE her to this day.
Updated On: 8/21/06 at 01:18 PM
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#7re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:22pm
For obvious reasons (those early cast replacements), I ventured to "Beauty & the Beast" (at the Palace) several times...so yes, I saw Toni at the Palace. All in all, she was quite good, giving her Belle a few humorous 'ghetto' moments, such as a few rubber-neckings to the Beast and one audience pleasing 'talk to the hand' gesture. Seriously, it worked and the audience was with her the whole performance.
Yes, they did lower her keys but kept the rest of the chorus on their regular keys, which was somewhat offsetting, but it worked.
And yes...she had a special curtain call dress -- she didn't wear the Belle finale' gown. It was a simple yellow beaded floor-length gown.
#8re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:25pm
okay I'm going to post it anyways I asked and nobody responded so here ya go let me know waht you think.
Best Change in Me ever
#9re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 1:26pmI think the policy is NOTHING from YOUTUBE. . . .but maybe you'll hear that from the monitors.
". . . POP . . ."
#10re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:19pmI saw Toni in Aida and I loved her in it.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#11re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:41pmSo A Change In Me was written for her? Someone know whyt it was, and could someone also explain the scene what's going on in that scene.
mejusthavingfun
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/12/06
#12re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:43pmI heard it was... I can't remeber anything about that horrid show. Tim Rice was a terrible fill-in for Ashman.
Yero
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/29/06
#13re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:45pm
"I heard it was... I can't remeber anything about that horrid show. Tim Rice was a terrible fill-in for Ashman."
Do you have ANYTHING positive to say? All of you're posts I've read today are all negative and are bashing performers and shows.
"I have this mental image of Patti barreling down the street and pushing tourists out of her way." -colleen_lee
BroomstickBoy
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/04
#14re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:45pm
Speaking of A Change in Me, does anyone know why it's in a much higher key in the Alan Menken songbook? It's about 3-4 keys up from the original key I think, from the version I've heard.
Anyone know?
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)
#15re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 3:21pmI don't know but it's one of my favorite songs from the show.
Funny Face
Broadway Star Joined: 7/6/06
#16re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 3:38pmI remember that, I'd have loved to see it. she looks beautiful in that pic.
theaterlover45
Broadway Star Joined: 8/21/05
whatyouown223
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/4/05
theaterlover45
Broadway Star Joined: 8/21/05
theaterlover45
Broadway Star Joined: 8/21/05
#20re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 4:15pmO sorry it must have been when she first took over the role.
#21re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 4:19pm
Broomstick Boy, It was so much lower for Toni Braxton because, as Jailyard once told me, "Toni's a baritone."
As the score was lowered for her, Im sure they raised it to fit more comfortably within the ranges of other belles.
"The only way we live beyond our lives is to connect and carve ourselves into the souls of those we love." -Little Fish
BroomstickBoy
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/04
#22re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 6:39pmI figured that was the case. I knew Toni was a baritone and it would sound rather awkward having to belt the As and Cs that Ashley Brown and other Belles (including Susan Egan on her So Far... CD) have sung.
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#23re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 7:11pmWas there any specific reason that Toni Braxton was chosen to play Belle? I know it was clearly stunt casting, but she seems like such a random choice for the role.
Paul LW
Featured Actor Joined: 6/17/04
#24re: Toni Braxton as Belle
Posted: 8/21/06 at 8:09pm
As far as a raised key...I found one also in a "Contemporary Broadway Songs" book, and it was about 3 steps higher...the perfect key for a baritone, making the final "And I...." "..don't Mind"...those money notes, sit at an F.
So, now I sing it =)
Videos