Why ever did Norbert Play Fiyero?- Page 2

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 10:33am

OK, let me settle what seems to be the beginning of a cat fight. SirLiir, what Elphaba was saying when s/he said that yours was a typical newbie question was that something you should learn, and might not have been familiar with about the business of theater, is that it takes a LOT of work and recognition before any actor can start being choosy about what roles they are going to take. Unless they have some steady TV gig on the side, or have a somewhat established film career, these actors aren't making a stable living doing theater. Wicked was a very smart move on Norbert's behalf, and he didn't get a nomination for the same reason all of the other supporting characters didn't (look at stage vets Carole Shelley and Joel Grey--they didn't get a thing)--because the only positive critical reception the show had received was related to the big expensive sets, the book (not Winnie's, Gregory's), and Kristin and Idina. And in the end, it got dished out at the Tonys just what it deserved. But I digress. Bottom line: Broadway actors are lucky to have a job in the first place, and even then, they're only making enough to get by week to week. Look at Carolee Carmello--she had done lots of wonderfully received theater work, but she still took the job in Mamma Mia. You think she sees it as a great opportunity being the 3rd replacement in a so-so piece of fluff? No. But it keeps her name and her face out there, and look, she just landed a job in Lestat. Dat's the business. 'Nuff said.

Updated On: 9/3/05 at 10:33 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 11:08am

thank you Foster.......exactly what i meant........sometimes I am not that um.......nice in my posts as perhaps I could be.

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 11:18am

For BSo, "He got to kiss Idina!"

No, he didn't tell me to post that, but...

[SirLiir]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 11:23am

Thank you for clearing that up Foster. I did misunderstand Elphaba's post. And your post pretty much summed it up. It was just flabbergasting that someone like Norbert could ever need a big role because the guy is a genius and he deserves all the accolades he gets. Building up a good career track with Wicked was certainly a good move. Its easy to forget that movie stars often take on completely different roles in order to pay their bills. In fact, great movie stars star in some really lousy movies just to get those paychecks so why shouldnt Broadway be any different. At least Wicked became the phenomenon that surely helped spark his career a bit though I still dont think it helped him land the role in DRS. Wicked did not make him much of a household name and he still had to audition and show the producers his stuff. But couldnt have hurt. I wonder if David Ayers got the lead role in Tom Jones because of his Wicked resume.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 11:28am

"Money makes the world go round"

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 11:29am

I could not see Norbert as desperate for a role that was so radically different from ones he did before.

I think that may have been part of the desire as well. Norbert likes to take roles different from what he has done before.

Roger in Rent.
Emcee in Cabaret Tour.
Jamie in The Last 5 Years.
His role in Thou Shalt Not (name escapes me at this point)
Fiyero in Wicked.
Freddie in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

None of those are really similar.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:21pm

Agreed Patronus. He likes to take interesting roles, thats for sure.

[Forester]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:36pm

doing my part in realigning the good vibeness in the world.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:47pm

Maybe Norbert did a show that he knew his kids could come see him in. He's said that his daughters were upset because they thought he'd be in Wicked forever and were mad at him when he left the show.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 4:08pm

Although I agree that look-wise Norbert really wasn't great for the part, but he definitley has the best voice, and acting skills of all of the Fiyeros I have seen.

Posted: 9/3/05 at 4:46pm

i didn't even realize that Norbert was Fiyero. i never saw him in the role... but i knew A norbert was the original fiyero, and had seen pictures. i watched the tony's, and still didn't realize it was him because his DRS role is SO different from fiyero. then i went to NY and saw a bunch of Broadway Shows, and in the Playbill was a mini article on him, showing all the roles he's played, and i was like OMG! HE WAS FIYERO! and ya, that's my story.

[JohnnyJune]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 4:51pm

Paying job and Career booster. Sometimes you do things that don't necessarily mean that they are your best work.

GET A CLUE. Duh