USA Today Reveals First Picture of d'Arcy James in SHREK

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 9:55am

USA Today has printed the first photo of Brian d'Arcy James in costume as Shrek and he looks completely unrecognizable.



http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2008-08-11-shrek-musical-james_N.htm

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 9:59am

Move over, Elphaba!! Shreky's comin' to Bway and there isn't room enough for TWO green characters on the Great White Way!

So they're going for the literal approach? Can't wait to see what Donkey looks like.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 9:59am

I LOVE THAT PICTURE! Haha!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:02am

It's now official: Broadway is a theme park.

[jennyish]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:12am

I would recognize those eyebrows anywhere . . .

[Elke]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:17am

That is priceless... Can't wait to see the other characters.

[christhefish]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:20am

my thoughts exactally Hook.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:27am

I agree - Broadway is fast becoming just a place for tourist families to relive their favorite cartoons that they know backwards and fowards already rather than a place for good, innovative theatre. In other words ... a theme park.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:30am

Wow...this is pretty AWESOME!

[alliez92092]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:31am

You wouldn't know it was Brian if it wasn't for the eyebrows.

[James885]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:33am

Wow. Very interesting. I wonder what Sutton looks like in full costume and makeup.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:41am

"Broadway is fast becoming just a place for tourist families to relive their favorite cartoons that they know backwards and fowards already rather than a place for good, innovative theatre."

You know, it's comments like this that make me cringe. This is going to turn into one of those "OMG, Broadway is such a theme park!" threads. Why do people think that everything on Broadway must be deep and completely original? Don't get me wrong, it is great when someone brings a fresh, new idea to Broadway, but why pick on the commercial productions? I don't see Broadway as a theme park - there is PLENTY of theater out in NYC and beyond that is completely original - why not support the off-Broadway and off-off Broadway shows, if it really irks you that much?

Additionally, these commercial productions are bringing in new audiences who may grow to appreciate many different types of theatre.

Updated On: 8/12/08 at 10:41 AM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:47am

That must take a long time to put on.
I'd almost rather they'd taken a more stylistic approach so we could see more of Brian's handsome face.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:48am

Hook....I bet the Donkey costume looks like an 'ass' - pun intended...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:48am

"I'd almost rather they'd taken a more stylistic approach so we could see more of Brian's handsome face."

That would defeat the whole purpose - Shrek is UGLY!

But, yeah, it would be nice to see some of his handsome features, besides his brows.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:58am

""Broadway is fast becoming just a place for tourist families to relive their favorite cartoons that they know backwards and fowards already rather than a place for good, innovative theatre."

You know, it's comments like this that make me cringe. This is going to turn into one of those "OMG, Broadway is such a theme park!" threads. Why do people think that everything on Broadway must be deep and completely original? Don't get me wrong, it is great when someone brings a fresh, new idea to Broadway, but why pick on the commercial productions? I don't see Broadway as a theme park - there is PLENTY of theater out in NYC and beyond that is completely original - why not support the off-Broadway and off-off Broadway shows, if it really irks you that much?

Additionally, these commercial productions are bringing in new audiences who may grow to appreciate many different types of theatre."

Well -- I think the theme park comments have a point. Before television and even cinema REALLY took off, audiences flocked to Broadway houses and their local regional theatres to catch the latest ORIGINAL shows: A Streetcar Named Desire, Gypsy, Peter Pan, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello Dolly, Mame, Kiss Me Kate, The Man Who Came To Dinner, Private Lives, Barefoot In The Park, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, etc.

As TV/Film became more popular, more and more seats became empty at live theatre houses.

Today, in order to attract an audience to see a Broadway show, it has to be commercial. Movie-to-stage, collection of jukebox songs, based on a historical event/person, use Hollywood names, etc. The people who go to non-commercial shows are the people who do theatre and the people who enjoy theatre (which is not enough to fill a theatre for any long run, let alone a "decent" enough run to recoup).

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:59am

That picture is hilarious.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:10am

Ok, yes, it looks just like Shrek.

But, I have a hard time seeing it as anything more than a very well-done, high end Halloween costume.

[pli1018]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:20am

I wish the would not have taken a literal approach. Oh well...I'll still see it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:26am

Did we forget what happened when MERMAID didn't take an exact literal approach? We ended up with this.






People will complain either way it seems.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:29am

It really makes me wonder how they are going to change Sutton back and forth the two times they are supposed to, both rather quickly. I know others had suggested magnets for a quick change, but for something this in-depth I'd think that would be difficult. Can't wait to see the rest of the costumes.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:31am

Move-over, Phantom! Looks like d'Arcy James is gonna need more than your 2-hours of make-up!!! That's madness... I mean seriously, this photo is insane.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:31am

"Today, in order to attract an audience to see a Broadway show, it has to be commercial. "

Right, in fact... in order to attract an audience to see a movie it has to be commercial. That's our culture. People don't flock to see arty movies unless they become word of mouth hits or get lots of awards. The same is true of Broadway. It doesn't make Broadway the problem. How many horrible movie sequels are big hits? People rush to see The Mummy 3 because they recognize the brand, know what to expect, and convince themselves they are going to have a good time. That's how the majority of popular culture consumption works.

Also, Broadway is SOOOOOOOOOO expensive that a normal tourist is NOT going to take a risk on a show they don't know they are going to like... for the same reason they eat at Friday's in Times Square or Bubba Gump's... they are on vacation and aren't looking to risk a fortune on something they might hate. Show's like Shrek appeal to them because they can say "Well... I did like that movie... I'll probably like that musical." and it is a safe choice. Even a brave person... the person who takes a risk on the artsy movie... doesn't always have the luxury of spending $125 (more if they want to sit on the aisle!) on something that could turn out to be a bad experience. Even at half off... a family of four going to see a Broadway production is beyond most families budgets... especially for an artistic risk.

Finally... you cite Peter Pan, Hello Dolly, and Mame as examples of original shows... but as I'm sure you know these are adaptations of sources material that would have been as well known as some of the film to stage adaptations of today. South Pacific and My Fair Lady are both adaptations of well known material... this adaptation business has ALWAYS happened... granted it is different and perhaps less original now... but Broadway has long been a cannibal of popular culture.

Finally, a theme park does not have artistic success on the level of The Light in the Piazza, Caroline, Or Change, Sunday in the Park with George, August: Osage County.... blah blah blah... you get the point.

I'm sure your comment was flip and I get what you're saying... but it is short sighted and missing the real issue. It is American culture that is dissapointing... not Broadway... Broadway is FAR TOO EXPENSIVE for the average American... Broadway has always been unoriginal... and there is still room for art on Broadway, on occasion and sometimes even the tourists go see it.

kmc

[EugLoven]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:33am

My friend, who knows nothing about Broadway, just leaned-over my shoulder and commented: "It looks like it should be on-ice."

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:34am

Love the picture!