Apparently, Vanessa Hudgens is involved in a workshop of a Broadway bound "Gigi." (according to Broadway.com) How successful would such a classic show be in these times? I'll be honest, there's one song in the show that is kind of creepy. I've heard it on the radio. This show is planning a run at the Kennedy Center in early 2015, with a hoped-for transfer to Broadway in late 2015. Victoria Clark is in it, so it has to be good. Thoughts?
Gigi Workshop
Oh dear. Vanessa Hudgens? No, thank you.
I know of her...she was in High School Musical. But I haven't heard her sing. Is she of the "Ashlee Simpson" School of Singing?
Hudgens would be very miscast. Victoria Clark would be wonderful though, I wonder if she's up for Aunt Alicia or Mme. Alvarez? Hopefully the latter because Alicia does very little musically.
I was assuming Clark was Alvarez. Because that would put Burton as Alicia and she's, if I remember correctly, a competent but not amazing singer.
Vanessa was in Rent at The Hollywood Bowl, don't know if that helps. I don't really know how to judge her from High School Musical because it's High School Musical.
Mimi in RENT and Gigi are very different roles. I didn't see her performance at the Hollywood Bowl, but it sounds much more suitable for her.
Confidentail to FANatic: that "kind of creepy" song was a MONSTER hit in the 1950s. Weird, huh?
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I've never seen the stage show, but wouldn't Clark be wasted in a part written for Hermoine Gingold? Maybe they are really overhauling the show...
*sigh* When will these producers and casting directors ever learn that Most Famous doesn't equal Most Qualified?
^ I'm sure they know that. However, Most Qualified doesn't equal Sells Most Tickets, either.
Disneybound. Name brand means everything selling tickets, whether they are right for the part or not. It IS called Show BUSINESS for a reason. An unknown is NOT going to put asses in seats.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
1. I'd hardly consider Hudgens a "star" or A-lister anymore. It has been years since High School Musical, which is what she's best known for (I realize she's done more than that)
2. The article and press release clearly states this casting is not indicative of any future casting. No reason to doubt that. It's just a private industry reading.
I do wish they were collaborating with someone who's both famous AND watchable. I don't consider Hudgens an actress, singer, or much of anything...I guess she's pretty?
It's a shame that Victoria Clark keeps being cast as second fiddle in some of these shows. I'm sure she's very happy she constantly gets work, but how wonderful would it be to see her star in a show of her own (and yes, I know she can't sell tickets).
True, being in a workshop, hardly means you have the role. It means you were free while they were workshopping it. There have been many many actors and actresses (do we still need to separate those?) who have done workshops and never made it to the Broadway stage.
Swing Joined: 6/24/14
I'm not looking forward to Vanessa Hudgens being in this. Her voice is absolutely atrocious and as nasal as one can possibly be, and her acting is mediocre at best.
I am, however, looking forward to seeing Cory Cott in this! I saw him in Newsies last July and I was absolutely blown away by his talent! He is truly spectacular on stage.
Vanessa or not, it's a bore of a show, with a few good numbers. It's a show for ENCORES to present as a museum piece.
Besides High School Musical, she starred in the well-reviewed but notorious Spring Breakers, and has been doing quite well as a model.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
I have never been able to make it more than 20 minutes into the film version of Gigi. Vanessa Hudgens would not interest me enough to see the show even if she was actually cast in the production.
I also have a great deal of difficulty making it through any of the three filmed versions of Camelot. Now that I think about it, maybe I am just not a big Lerner and Lowe fan. Aside from My Fair Lady, I have never really gotten into any of them.
Ugh. Just not a fan of the film. I've tried so many times, but it simply fails to interest me. Same with Camelot.
Yeah, I've never been able to get into the movie either, something about the aesthetic of it turns me off, but I have good friends whose opinion I highly respect who swear by it, so eventually I'm gonna sit down and give it a real chance. Hate the MY FAIR LADY film, haven't seen CAMELOT but I love the music from that show, "I Love You Once in Silence" is one of the most haunting love songs ever written for a musical IMO.
I think Camelot has a few good songs, but half the score and all of the book bore me tears.
Lerner & Loewe write some very nice songs. But, Gigi and Camelot, have characters and plots that don't intrigue me at all. My Fair Lady follows the same upper crust of society, but Shaw's story makes the them interesting and not seem trivial.
One of the biggest problems I have with the film of Gigi is the actors' singing. That's why I enjoy the cast album infinitely more. The movie's best parts are the elaborate sets & costumes and Andre Previn's sumptuous arrangements. The plot is also more than slightly uncomfortable to a modern eye, and I enjoy a number of the songs added for the stage score more.
Interesting comments about the snooze-factors of Lerner & Lowe musicals. Thinking back I find all the films very boring, despite some wonderful tunes, wonderful arrangements, fine performances and beautiful production values.
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