Who is the next Clara in Piazza???- Page 2

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 8:01pm

she is leaving dec 4th

[bettyschaefer]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:32pm

what about jessica grove?

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:59pm

Jessica's on tour in "The Boy Friend" directed by Julie Andrews. Judging from her performance in that, I would say that she doesn't have the acting chops to handle Clara. I think Jennifer Hope Wills certainly has the look for the part, although I've never seen her perform. I have seen Celia Keenan-Bolger, and I think she is quite talented.

lc

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 12:06am

They have no one lined up for the part and are having a very hard time finding someone. Everyone involved in Piazza is very upset to see Kelli go. She leaves Dec 4th and begins rehearsals for Pajama Game on the 5th. Hard-workin gal!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:07am

well...if any Broadway freak is brave enough to call Jennifer's managment to ask if she actually auditioned for the role...Luedtke Agency - Penny Luedtke
1674 Broadway, Suite 7A
New York, NY 10019
[phone]

[Doogie]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:13am

muscle... no offense, but anyone stupid enough to do that would get hung up on, or maybe screened out. Agents are busy enough and I'm sure that they would not freely give out that information.

However, my guess is that she was PROBABLY seen for this role at some point if she is available. Trust me, EVERY reasonable idea anyone on here one can think has surely been thought of by the casting directors and the creative team.

Doug

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:16am

i am not offended at all....but Jennifer just did 2 shows on Broadway...so maybe she is not that known...i don't know...it was just a thought...im too shy to call....but who knows? maybe their agents never thought of her as Clara...i know she was in Carousel in Pennsilvanya last....maybe she is still under a contract...i dunno...i was just wondering.

[Doogie]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:23am

Nonetheless, casting directors have MORE than enough wherewithall to know who she is, and if they think she might be appropriate and be able to handle the role, I'm sure that they would request she come in.

For agents and Casting Directors, this is their JOB, so I'm absolutely positive that her agents would send her in if they thought she was good... FYI, I would be SHOCKED if any MT casting director working out of NYC had never heard of Jennifer Hope Wills. She isn't a star, but she has broadway credits, and is within the consciousness of the industry, I'm sure. If fans on a broadwayworld board know who she is, I'm sure people IN the industry know who she is.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:35am

ur right...i just wanna see her as Clara so bad!!! she would be so great....im sure some other actress is gonna get the role.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 10:38am

Well Jessica didn't really have much to work with in the Boyfriend, so I think judging by her voice, she would be really good.

[AugustusGloop]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 12:09pm

I've heard they're seriously considering Megan McGinnis.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:12pm

who is megan mc ginnis?

[BluCat500]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 1:29pm

I saw her in Little women and thought she was great...although that show didn't exactly require the kind of notes piazza does, I'd love to see if she could do it though...
Megan Mcginnis

[Doogie]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:18pm

I hope thats not true.... McGinnis is talented, but a little too "Disney-esque" for my tastes. I hope they go with someone else.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:54pm

i saw LW and none of those girls seemed like a good pick for Clara

[AugustusGloop]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 11:22pm

Well, it was Little Women...it didn't exactly show off anyone at their best. Megan McGinnis is extremely talented, but hasn't ever been featured in a role that truly suited her. I think if she is indeed cast as Clara, it will allow her to make her mark.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 8:45pm

oh...i remember Megan now...she looks a lot like Laura Shoop from "Fiddler" ...i don't know if she is "Clara" material...but she sure can sing.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 8:56pm

I agree with Megan as Clara. Her soaring soprano had such clarity on the cast album of Little Women and she exudes innocence and charm. I'm hoping its her.

Akiva

[Corine2]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 10:14pm

Jennifer Simard would be great.
I think the FB version with Megan Lewis is the best.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:40am

Like I have said before, I still think Jennifer Hope Wills would be great. Beautiful voice, beautiful presence and she would look terrific in those costumes!

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:43am

I spoke to Victoria Clark after Piazza yesterday and asked her and she said that they haven't decided on who will replace Kelli. She said they are still auditioning people and no one has been picked yet.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:44am

i hope they go with dana caruso from FIDDLER.

[crazyfangirl]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:48am

I don't think ANYONE knows yet.... producers seem to have a habit of waiting till the last minute to pick a replacement. ALSO, sometimes the standard contract allows for stand-bys to get first dibs on being the replacement. Does anyone know if Kelli has a stand-by or an understudy? (No idea, I've only seen PIAZZA once.) Also, even if this is not the case for THIS particular musical, they may decide to just put Kelli's understudy on for a few weeks if they're really having issues finding a replacement.

Personally? I'd LOVE to see Celia Keenan Bolger get a crack at it, since she originated the role and (from what I was told from a friend of hers, who saw Celia do the part in some capacity, I don't know if it was a workshop or what) said Celia was amazing, and that, not only was her singing great, but acting-wise, she was so utterly convincing in the role that the "twist" (behind Clara's character) was ABSOLUTELY heartbreaking.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:57am

She has two understudies...I don't have my playbill with me right now so I can't look.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:03am

i just saw it again yesterday, and i do happen to have my playbill in my bag at work!

her understudies are laura griffith and jennifer hughes, both current ensemble members.

i could definitley see them giving megan mcginiss a shot at this role. i was bummed yesterday because it was probably the last time i would see it with kelli, but with talks of megan being considered, i would be excited to see it again!