What's next for Piazza's Katie Clarke?- Page 5

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:49pm

Hmm... in the clip of Celia singing "The Beauty Is" she goes higher than Kelli does in the redone version. I believe you of course, seeing as how you have to talked to Adam Guettel and I have not, but I just find that interesting.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:53pm

Either way, billfinn, Katie Clarke ISN'T stunt casting. She's not a box office draw. So your argument isn't valid.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 4:03pm

I didn't know Celia went higher than Kelli! What are the differences between Celia and Kelli vocally anyway? Kelli seems more operatic to me. Her voice seems fuller. Even in "Tirade", she really lets it rip while Celia seems to hold back just a little bit. Are you sure Kelli doesn't sing higher on the last verse of "The Beauty Is"? Not even the last line? I could have sworn...

I never said Katie Clarke was stunt casting. What I said was "Don't trust casting directors blindly, for every instance." An example I used for that was stunt casting and Wicked. The creative team purposely turned down tall women trying out for Glinda and ended up choosing J-La. Later, they cast Kate Reindeers. Next, Megan Hilty (whom I find too bland for the role). Next, Kendra Kassenbaum (who can't even hit the note!). All of these women are taller than Kristin Chenoweth so keeping in tradition with that casting went down the drain.

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 04:03 PM

[whimsical]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 4:08pm

I see the point you are trying to make, but what I get from the Jennifer Laura Thompson example is the fact that the casting directors obviously don't know what they want until they see it. And they saw it in Katie. Not just one person wanted Katie, but people from all sides of the creative team.

She does deserve to be there. Updated On: 6/20/06 at 04:08 PM

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 4:17pm

Patti Cohenour said it best, prior to Katie's arrival. "She will either be as good as Kelli or better, because of her age." The creative team was banking on her innocence, youth, vitality, and naievete (sp?) at age 21 as to what she was bringing to the table for the interpretation of Clara Johnson. Obviously, it's a flip of the coin for us. There are those who see this in her acting and love it. There are those who demand more exploration in the role, which cannot occur without maturity.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 4:20pm

Kelli has, yes, more of an operatic sound. Celia's more musical theatre... when Kelli would go into her upper register, Celia would stick with a mixed belt. But unlike Katie Clarke, Celia knows when to actually go into the upper register. Soprano passagio lies around F5 for most people. Katie tries to belt the A6 in "Say It Somehow" for instance, and it just does NOT work. Celia also tries to sound more childish when she sings and puts more of a character voice into it.

And, yeah, in the Seattle production clip I heard Celia goes higher on the last note (I can't detect what word she sings; it has some different lyrics.) I don't have my sheet music with me, but I tried to match the pitch with my little keyboard and I'm pretty sure Kelli sings a G5 whereas Celia sings an A6. Take the actual notes I gave with a grain of salt, as I have been wrong before, but I do know that Celia's note is higher than Kelli's (the "someone" on "Someone could be looking for a someone like you.") Neither note is difficult for sopranos, mind you. Except for Katie Clarke. e_e Whoops, did I type that...

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 04:20 PM

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 4:22pm

"Well, that would mean regulating her diet. She wouldn't let Clara fatten up."

Right, you're acting like Katie Clark weighs the same as Marisa Jaret Winokour. Katie is NOT fat by ANY standards. No, she's not model-skinny either, but I've a feeling she would have been considered a healthy young miss in the 50's and not "fattened up". Just because a woman doesn't have very thin arms and whatnot automatically makes her fat? I'm frightened for the future.

To say that Mona Lisa Smile represents real life in the 1950's is just silly.

I'm thrilled to see women like Katie and Megan Hilty on Broadway. NO WHERE CLOSE TO FAT, but just not skinny. And I thought people were overreacting about Emily Skinner...jeeze.

Besides, theater isn't "real life" nor do I think it should try to represent it. We live real life, we go to theater for a different experience.

This BS is why fat women are being pushed out of the Opera and why young women are starving themselves.

Please.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 4:22pm

I agree, billfinn. It's either a love it or hate it thing with Katie.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 5:51pm

Megan Hilty should have lost at least 10 pounds, considering she was Galinda Upland of the Upper Upland Uplands. She is perfectly normal the way she looks, but the role is purposely supposed to be the satirical epitome of perfection. Those girls that they're supposed to be parodizing in today's universities and high schools are super skinny. My mother even remarked the other day at the movie theater. The average male waist used to be 34 - 36 , but more and more it's becoming common that we're seeing 30's and 32's off the racks. Now that's she over with Wicked, it's not really an issue though. She's fine the way she is.

Emily Skinner's unique vocal capabilities and strong stage presence overshadow her weight. She can stand on her own with her talent alone.

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 05:51 PM

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 8:17pm

I actually liked the way Megan looked for Glinda. She's more curvy, but it was more marilyn monroe esq. as opposed to the rail thin Kate Reinders which I think is plausible for the "popular" girl.

[senzarigor]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 8:55pm

in the FIRST version of "Beauty IS" the last page is different (both lyrics and notes). It ends, "This is making Love" (with the word LOVE being on the A6). A few of the Seattle and Chicago versions differ from what we got on Broadway. I have BOth scores and One cam see that "The Beauty Is" really evolved as a musical number. What I am NOT sure about is when The ending Changed. I have no idea if Celia ever did the version that we know today. Celia was a wonderful Clara. But The NYC producers and production team loved Kelli's "look" and "voice". I was told that, "Kelli cast a better spell with her looks and voice".... who knows?

Katie did some interestings things onstage. I Was very disappointed with her "The Beauty Is"! The title song went much better, but the "Forever" in her tirade was just not good. What I did not get with her (the way I did with Celia and Kelli) was WHY Fabrizio would be so taken with her... I just didn't it?

I do think she has a great deal of talent. Time will Tell...

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:33pm

I thought the opposite actually: her "Beauty Is" was passable (up until that high note at the end) but the title song was a wreck.

What got me was the A6 in "Say It Somehow." She completely botched it. Urgh.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:41pm

"Say it Somehow"?! I thought they renamed it "Sing it Somehow" when Clarke took over!

Katie has improved A LOT with "The Beauty Is". She only screwed up once on T.V. as opposed to earlier in the run when it was every other line in a verse. I thought the chemistry between Katie and Aaron was purely sensual. I don't mean to sound crass or crude, but look at "Say it Somehow" at the end. Katie kissed Aaron's chest twice or thrice and then dove in for the neck. When I saw Kelli, she kissed Matt on the chest once and then that was it. They made out. It was more about connection, caressing each other's skin, subtle moves, than the physicality. I didn't get that from Katie/Aaron's "Say it Somehow". However, that's OKAY! Haha. Katie's vibrant and vivacious and Aaron's a body builder so I'm gonna vote "Okay" on that ballot.

I liked "The Beauty Is" a lot more before Guettel rewrote it. "This is having patience... This is making LOOOOOOVE!"

[bwaybound6116]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:47am

I thought she was HORRIBLE as Clara. I really don't see a future for her. Maybe as a character actress. I was not impressed. I know it sounds bitchy, but her voice is no match to Kelli and I think they should have found someone with more vocal experience. She was a FANTASTIC actress for the part, possibly better than Kelli.

Updated On: 6/23/06 at 11:47 AM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:52am

"Katie is freaking built. And as any straight man can tell, she is HOT. I love curves and a bit of muscle. Also,she's perfectly smooth. She has no bulges anywhere, proving the she is at her perfect weight. "

Well said!

[kgee30]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:55am

Loved her as Clara -- a fine Broadway debut. Her expressions and gestures, her naivete, her uncertainty, energy, fear and wide-open joy -- all of that fit the character for me. Her voice isn't as pretty as Kelli's, but that fit the character for me, too.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 12:18pm

i've personally seen Katie in other productions, and i have to say her acting is very good, very honest, very organic. And she is stunning to look at. Her morale is terrific, and if in the interview she came off as arrogant about not waitressing, my bet is that she was actually kind of "in wonder" at that luck, and not taking it for granted.

As for all the various casting scenarios about her path to the role, sprinkle all opinions with appropriate grains of salt. Including my own. Let's hope her next role is as entertaining and successful as Ms. O'Hara's was in PAJAMA GAME. There's enough frustration in this business, why wish any more on anyone else, despite your personal take on their abilities?!?!?

[kaycee]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 5:07pm

I don't know where all of the negativity is coming from. I think Katie was wonderful, and I actually think I prefer her voice to Kelli's. I think some of you are forgetting how young she is, that this IS her debut, and that she really has done a marvellous job.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 5:19pm

After lurking this thread, and never really giving my review of Katie from the PBS broadcast, here are my quick thoughts:

While Katie was definitely not as strong vocally as Kelli or even Jennifer Hughes (the understudy), she completely won me over. While her top notes aren't always there, her lower register and lower legit voice are pleasant on the ears. Acting wise, if she was a tad over the top with the childish ways, I felt Kelli was a tad too reserved, so a happy medium would have been better. In conclusion, I thought Katie made a fantastic Broadway debut, and while at times amateur here and there, I loved her and can see why she was cast.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 2:36am

"I think some of you are forgetting how young she is, that this IS her debut"

Yes, I do know, but I don't like to make excuses like that. It's a Broadway show, not an amateur high school/college production.

That being said, I don't think that Katie was bad by any means. Lacking vocally, yes. A tad green, too, but it was a good debut in my estimations. I thought she was too over the top with the retardation, and I didn't like some of her choices. But dear God, I was happy that she was making them.

I prefer Kelli, heavily to Katie. Katie's performance tossed her cookies a bit too early for me. Kelli left clues throughout the performance, and absolutely broke my heart "in those momentous moments". I just thought Kelli's subtlety fit better into the piece than Katie's more easily identifiable "special child"

This is just one theatre queen's opinion though.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:24am

"Right, you're acting like Katie Clark weighs the same as Marisa Jaret Winokour" -Buffy-
How would you feel if you were Marissa and were reading this? I think Katie's or Marissa's weight is not anyone's business. The issue is that whoever signed Clarke didn't realize that this is a very unexperienced girl who needed to go through her "waitress" days and improve her technique as a singer and actress before getting a lead on Broadway. What are these people thinking when they have talented singers like Sarah Uriarte Berry and Jennifer Hughes in the company? I'd hire Katie to understudy Hughes, maybe. It just doesn't seem fair. When Berry was singing(hitting every note) next to Clarke it was just embarrassing to me. Berry, Hughes or other actresses who are not in this show could do a much better job. Terrible casting, Im not blaming Katie, I'd have taken the job in a heartbeat if i were her.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:32am

Megan Hilty should have lost at least 10 pounds, considering she was Galinda Upland of the Upper Upland Uplands

If they thought she was too heavy, they wouldn't have cast her. I personally thought she looked wonderful, whether she's supposed to be parodizing a thin girl or not. I don't know where you would come off saying that.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 12:30pm

As a paying customer and Wicked fan, that's where I come off saying that. The quality of the Glindas and Elphabas has been declining and I think it's gross. This isn't a Wicked thread, but her weight wasn't the issue so much for me. It was her bland acting choices.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 12:37pm

Bill, i understand what you say, it is great that you like that show, but why don't you see other shows, don't you get tired of Wicked? And if you don't like the cast, don't go! the show will survive without your support.

Updated On: 6/24/06 at 12:37 PM

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 1:27pm

I'm sorry. I missed the context clue where you found assumption that all I see is Wicked? I'm a fan of many works in Musical Theater.