Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
#1Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:31am
It's hard for me to believe given her close relationship with Miranda and her suitability for the part that she wasn't given first dibs on Angelica or Eliza. I wonder if she turned it down and whether she is kicking herself right now.
#2Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:40am
She like retired from acting in order to teach. So I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be kicking herself for doing something she wants to do.
#3Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:45am
The first time I listed to the recording I thought Olivo would make a brilliant Angelica. Mandy Gonzalez as well.
#4Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 1:16am
I'd like to think Karen Olivo was offered the role of Angelica. In The Revolution, Lin said the melody of "Satisfied" was taken from a song he wrote her for a cancelled album she was working on. When I listened to the album for the first time, I thought Mandy Gonzalez would be perfect as Eliza.
jomilo21
Understudy Joined: 11/12/14
#5Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 1:32am
I will take it one step further and say it most definitely sounds like the role was WRITTEN specifically for Karen Olivo...
#6Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 6:27am
The idea that Olivo is "kicking herself right now" is so silly. She retired from acting, it's not like she retired from acting because she wasn't in anything successful. She made a decision to remove herself from that world at a time she was incredibly successful. I assume she turned down Angelica, because as others have said, it seems like the role was written for her or at least very much inspired by her. But I don't know that at any point she has "kicked herself." It's fantastic that she still participates in weekend runs of shows. I wish I could go see her reprise Anita in LA at the Hollywood Bowl.
And yes, it's a real shame we'll probably never see her play Angelica on Broadway. She'd be out of the world.
Gymfan15
Swing Joined: 6/21/14
#7Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 6:49am
It would definitely have changed the dynamic if Karen had been Angelica, for sure. Right now Renee gives the role a lot of maturity and steadiness, I think because she reads older than Hamilton himself. You definitely get the big sister/little sister thing. But with Karen, she'd read a LOT younger; more Hamilton's age and maybe even the same age/younger than Eliza (because I think Pippa reads quite mature for her age; it's hard to describe but she can play the older Eliza so well even at her young age). So the vibe would be different.
To clarify, I'm not saying it would be bad. I'm sure there will be a lot of Angelica's cast that give a different kind of energy to the role, and I really look forward to that. I'm just saying that Karen playing Angelica in my mind looks a LOT different than Renee playing her.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#8Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 7:44am
A lot younger? I disagree. Entirely.
Would it be different? Sure. Would it be better? Nah. I'm sure it would be wonderful, however.
And definitley, there is no kicking herself. Olivo made choices, ones she seems very much at peace with.
Dreams don't always die, sometimes, they just change.
Broadway Forever2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/16
#9Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 8:06am
I mean it's likely it at least came up especially since the melody of the song satisfied was taken off from music that Lin wrote for her originally and Lin cast a lot of his friends in the show. Like the character kinda seems like it was inspired by her lol. But I'm sure she's fine with her choices. I doubt she's kicking herself lol. Isn't she partly retired anyway? Renee is amazing in the role.
Updated On: 6/16/16 at 08:06 AM
#10Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 8:18am
I think Karen would definitely be an excellent replacement choice for Pippa or Renee and I totally wouldn't put it past her to consider it. Karen has been back from moving to Wisconsin to do random gigs this would be a perfect comeback for her if she wanted to make a return for awhile.
#11Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 8:28am
Rather than create some icky fiction about a talented woman "kicking herself," why not celebrate the fact that in Karen and Renee we have the gift of two remarkably talented women, both of whom happen to be women of color and both of whom have been connected with developing Lin's work AND both of whom have been recognized by the overall theater community with Tony awards?
Isn't that a better story? And probably closer to reality.
elphaba.scares.me
Broadway Star Joined: 10/23/04
#12Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 8:51am
PalJoey said: "Rather than create some icky fiction about a talented woman "kicking herself," why not celebrate the fact that in Karen and Renee we have the gift of two remarkably talented women, both of whom happen to be women of color and both of whom have been connected with developing Lin's work AND both of whom have been recognized by the overall theater community with Tony awards?
Isn't that a better story? And probably closer to reality."
^^^^THIS^^^^
Reminds me of that post a few weeks ago that said if Karen had "played her cards right" (aka ditched the husband and run off with Prince), she would have been set for life. Even though she clearly wasn't interested in or attracted to him and she retold the story to Susan Blackwell with the sentence "he looked at me like I was a pork chop."
That said, I assumed Angelica was written for Olivo, especially since Goldsberry was one of the few who had to audition. I think Mandy might read a little old for Eliza now, but I haven't seen her onstage in a while.
Broadway Forever2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/16
#13Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 8:55am
Yeah Lin cast a lot of his friends in roles so I'm sure that he had Karen in mind when he wrote the role, especially since like you said Renee had to audition, but the idea she is full of regret or kicking herself is hilarious.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#14Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 9:02am
Call_me_jorge said: "She like retired from acting in order to teach. So I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be kicking herself for doing something she wants to do.
"
The one time I agree with Jorge. Does the OP not realize Olivo retired from Broadway? How and why would she be regretting something when it cannot even be considered? Ridiculous.
#15Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 9:17am
While she is retired from Broadway, she certainly still makes concert and tv appearances. I still have hope that someday she'll be back on Broadway, but who can fault her for her decision.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#16Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 9:21am
I never implied she retired from acting, which others have. I specifically said Broadway. I said it for reason... Because that's what she has said.
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#17Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 9:32am
I agree with PalJoey's take.
And while not speaking of Olivio's choices specifically,the idea that people can't/don't have regrets)or kick themselves) after decisions they've made seems strange to me. People often revisit decisions they've felt quite comfortable about when conditions change, viewing them in that new context.
Sometimes your original decision is reinforced. Sometimes it leads you to think about what might have been. Regrets? Kicking yourself? All depends on the specifics.
#18Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 11:01am
As PalJoey said, the OP is trying to create some bulls!t story about Olivo's choices that seeks to create a fantasy world in which Olivo turned down the role in some sort of alleged diva move and is now "kicking herself" for it, which more than silly, is a vicious and unnecessary way to twist the events.
It is very likely that Miranda was inspired by Olivo when he wrote the role of Angelica. It is very likely that she would be brilliant in the role. But the truth is that Olivo made a very public decision to step away from the pressures of Broadway--something tells me being a part of such a high-stakes show that became a wild phenomenon is exactly the sort of thing she would avoid. The truth is that Renee Elise Goldsberry auditioned for the role, and that Miranda has said that no one he saw for the part could handle the role like her. The truth is that Goldsberry is giving one of the great performances in musical theatre. The truth is that Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote one of the most brilliant female roles in the theatre, a role that actresses of color will continue to make their own and nail for as long as musical theatre exists.
#19Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 11:36am
Calm down, guys. He said he "wonders" if she's kicking herself. That's hardly the same thing as trying to invent a story.
#20Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 11:49am
Karen is not retired. She's made it clear that she is open to opportunities; she's just not actively pursuing them. That's not the same as retirement.
Could some of Angelica's music been written with her in mind? Probably. But she was never part of the development. Anika Noni Rose developed the role before Renee came in.
#21Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 11:59am
I forgot that Anika did the workshop! I will amend my statement to this one, which is even better:
Why not celebrate the fact that in Karen and Renee AND ANIKA we have the gift of THREE remarkably talented women, ALL THREE of whom happen to be women of color and ALL THREE of whom have been connected with developing Lin's work AND ALL THREE OF WHOM have been recognized by the overall theater community with Tony awards?
#22Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:10pm
Co-sign, PalJoey.
funhamilton_rent
Featured Actor Joined: 9/26/15
#23Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:12pm
Yes, there was a role for Karen. She was originally supposed to play Phillip Schuyler, Eliza's brother. That character got booted along with other important characters such as: John Adams, James Monroe, John Barker Church, and John Jay. Oy vey, there were a lot of Johns.
Broadway Forever2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/16
#24Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:15pm
funhamilton_rent said: "Yes, there was a role for Karen. She was originally supposed to play Phillip Schuyler, Eliza's brother. That character got booted along with other important characters such as: John Adams, James Monroe, John Barker Church, and John Jay. Oy vey, there were a lot of Johns.
"
haha
funhamilton_rent
Featured Actor Joined: 9/26/15
#25Was there a role for Karen Olivo in Hamilton?
Posted: 6/16/16 at 12:17pm
Broadway Forever2 said: "funhamilton_rent said: "Yes, there was a role for Karen. She was originally supposed to play Phillip Schuyler, Eliza's brother. That character got booted along with other important characters such as: John Adams, James Monroe, John Barker Church, and John Jay. Oy vey, there were a lot of Johns.
"
haha
"
I'm happy you appreciate humor! Thank you so much for telling me that.
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