What the hell is Neil Patrick Harris doing to RENT?- Page 2

[Jon]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 10:36am

PiraguaGuy2 - don't forget the one everyone laughed at when it was announced: Lou Diamond Phillips in THE KING AND I.

...and then he got rave reviews and a Tony nomination.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 10:52am

Well in all fairness to Nicole Scheuwhegur, she is THE Pussycat Doll. Plus she just won DWTS, so she is quite famous with the mainstream pop listeners and slightly older crowd now.

I reckon she'll be good though, she has a strong voice and can obviously play up the sexy cock-tease, leather clad Maureen.

Vanessa Hudgens is an annoying choice though. She really isn't a good enough singer and has the stage presence of a goldfish. Obviously she's to bring in the young crowd, but surely Lea Michelle would have been a better choice and brought in the same age group?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 11:34am

How could he do this to Saint Jonathan's Vision???

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 12:26pm

PiraguaGuy2

Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun--- TERRIBLE
Antonio Banderas in Nine----ok
Harvey Fierstein in Fiddler on the Roof------UGH
Toni Braxton in Beauty and the Beast and Aida------HOREDNOUS
Fantasia in The Color Purple-----NOT BAD
Clay Aiken in Spamalot-------No IDEA
Melanie Griffith in Chicago----------DISASTROUS
Ana Gasteyer in Wicked--------BLAH
Deborah Gibson in Gypsy and Beauty and the Beast-------HAHAHAHA BAD BAD BAD

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 1:04pm

spacedog-

Did you *actually* see any of those? Reba was a breath of fresh air to that revival. Harvey was beyond brilliant as Tevye (and almost one the shortlived replacement Tony for it).

Something tells me you're more sockpuppet than real poster.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 1:12pm

Besides, just because someone is "famous" and not "Broadway," that doesn't mean they don't have the chops for it. I mean, did someone seriously complain that casting Wayne Brady, whose biggest claim to fame was being an actor with MAJOR singing chops, was selling out?

I know. Heaven forbid someone with substantial theatre experience become famous in another genre AND THEN HAVE THE GALL to do theatre again!

*ah've got the vapors...*

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 3:19pm

husk_charmer

From your youtube link it seems the only one around here that has anything to do puppets is you, and yes i have seen all but two of the people listed. I have not see Antonio in Nine nor Clay in Spamalot. I did see Debbie in Beauty but not in Gypsy. And I am sorry but Harvey was good in Fiddler but I wouldn't say brilliant. Reba singing and acting techniques erks me!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 3:25pm

Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun--- TERRIBLE

Oh please. You seem to be the only person who thinks that including the TONY committee who contemplated a "Best Replacement" TONY just for her.

[keatyjoe]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 7:31pm

In my opinion, when it comes to film and TV stars (as well as recording artists) being cast in Broadway shows it takes a role from a deserving actor or actress who may have gone to college for MT and/or worked countless hours to obtain any role in a Broadway show. When a 'star' is cast in a show, it takes that chance away from the deserving actor/actress. That's my beef with the casting of film and TV stars. I am in no way saying that the film and TV stars are terrible in the roles they were cast in, I just believe they took a part from a more deserving person.

When it comes to the Hollywood Bowl, I could careless. Yes, it's aggravating that they were cast; however, like many have said, it isn't a Broadway production. Had this been a revival on Broadway, then I think there would be just cause for complaints.

[Gabster]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 7:44pm

toanythingtaboo2 - Have you ever seen/heard Vanessa Hudgens live? If not (and this goes for everybody whining about her being cast that has never seen or heard her perform live) then you have no right to be insulting her singing voice or stage presence. You can't insult a performer when you've never seen them perform.

Just for the record - I'm not a HSM fan.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 7:48pm

So Spacedog, from your own view, "ugh" translates to good but not brilliant?

"Harvey Fierstein in Fiddler on the Roof------UGH" and then "And I am sorry but Harvey was good in Fiddler but I wouldn't say brilliant."

I am guessing that "blah" = fantastic, "terrible" = memorable (in a good way), Not Bad = Tony worthy.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 10:24pm

I've seen/heard Vanessa live, and I thought she did a good job.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 10:40pm

Why don't you stop and actually listen to what people here are telling you?

I saw Neil Patrick Harris as Mark a bunch of times when the national tour played the Ahmanson in L.A. for several months in 1997. I, too, was a bit wary, well, because all I could think of when I heard his name was DOOGIE HOUSER (sp?) as MARK???

But he was brilliant in the role. His acting is still the best I've ever seen for that role and his singing was fantastic. I say give him a chance and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 11:30pm

My Oh My

Once again, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST NPH! Read the previous messages I have a problem with HIS casting decisions.

keatyjoe

I agree with you! I should care so much being that it is the bowl, but I just feel like they could have given work to so many broadway actors/actresses!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 12:59am

keatyjoe- In a lot of cases, a "star" being cast often helps the show to run. For example, I don't think the cast members of A Little Night Music are complaining that CZJ took away a job from another actress; rather, they know that her being cast allowed them to have a pretty good job. And I'm sure many people in Chicago have held jobs because of that show's stunt-casting.

Like it or not, actors in theatre realize that productions will sometimes be cast with stars. They may have worked countless hours, but it isn't as if the movie actor or recording artist hasn't. And besides, the people cast are also actors, so how is their being cast taking a job away from another deserving actor?

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 10:15am

An actor is an actor. There isn't a closed pool of one person being a recording artist, and another a Broadway star.

You don't need a degree to "qualify" to succeed in musical theater. It's just a training program to help you increase your chances. If someone is already famous, more often than not it's because they're talented in some field, more so than the people who weren't. Maybe not more talented than everyone, but they had something that got them to where they were.

Has everyone forgotten about the performer's hat trick, the EGOT? To win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar AND a Tony is the hardest mark of true virtuosity in the performing arts. Only ten people have ever pulled it off, including Whoopi Goldberg, Liza, Barbra and Sir John Gielgud.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 11:13am

Gielgud has an Emmy? Do tell.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 11:29am

Does anyone really believe that NPH didn't have the last word in casting this show? Given his sky-high Hollywood profile right now the Bowl folks are damn lucky to have him attached to this project - and they know it. I believe EVERY casting decision was his or agreed to by him.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 11:34am

If you don't like it the director or the cast, for whatever reason, then don't go and see it.

You've all ready decided that you don't like it.

The full company casting was recently announced. Did you audition for it, and not get cast?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 12:06pm

John Gielgud's awards

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 1:42pm

In my opinion, when it comes to film and TV stars (as well as recording artists) being cast in Broadway shows it takes a role from a deserving actor or actress who may have gone to college for MT and/or worked countless hours to obtain any role in a Broadway show. When a 'star' is cast in a show, it takes that chance away from the deserving actor/actress. That's my beef with the casting of film and TV stars. I am in no way saying that the film and TV stars are terrible in the roles they were cast in, I just believe they took a part from a more deserving person.

So someone having substantial TV or film credits mean they're less deserving? Just because someone is a star doesn't mean they don't deserve to be on stage. If someone has only Broadway credits, should they never guest on Law & Order? Should they never be given the chance to headline a TV show? Hmm, someone didn't tell Lea Michele or Matt Morrison that...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 1:44pm

I was thinking that, too, Lizzie. There are plenty of talented film and tv actors waiting for a break and now they are all being snatched up by Broadway people.

Also, this isn't on Broadway. It's at the Hollywood Bowl.

[JP2]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 2:42pm

I love people complaining about actors in a show they are NEVER GOING TO SEE.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 2:48pm

If no one did that around here, nothing would happen.

(I'm still on the fence...)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 4:17pm

Thanks Phyllis! I actually meant to ask about Gielgud's GRAMMY not Emmy....so your link proved to be doubly helpful!


To the OP....I suppose that it's not so much that you don't LIKE the casting, but that you pretty much are just assuming it will be a train wreck.

And they are not taking jobs from anyone...they are showcasing their talents. The big part of the appeal of the HB concerts is to see these stars in a different light.