Will RAUL ESPARZA Ever Return to Broadway?

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 1:44pm

ANDY KARL's exit from SVU made me wonder... When will RAUL ESPARZA return to Broadway? He should have won the Tony for COMPANY ... Such a talent!!

Hope to see him on the Great White Way again soon... :)

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 2:37pm

I've wondered about this recently too...what has he been up to the last several years?

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 2:52pm

As the OP kind of alluded to, he's been a series regular on Law and Order: SVU for the past 4 seasons. But before that, it did seem like he was in show after show after show in NY, I do hope we get him back onstage soon. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 3:09pm

ah, i don't watch the show so I missed that! 

[smidge]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 4:17pm

Wish he would come back too. But a TV gig is hard to turn down. And I'm sure Leap of Faith was a disappointment. He has appeared in some Encores productions.

[bekk99]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 4:23pm

Yes.

[rg7759]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 4:36pm

cymbeline last year was great but i couldnt recall anyone showing the slightest care that he was in the show.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 4:47pm

TV is a steady paycheck . Broadway is hit or miss depending on how critics receive a show and whether or not an audience shows up. If I were him, ride tv for as long as possible. Do theater during a hiatus or after the tv gig ends.

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 4:55pm

^Yep-yep-yep!

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 8:01pm

let's hope not

 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 8:50pm

Esparza was pretty excellent in that production of Cymbeline. It's a shame the production didn't make much of a splash, since the whole thing was pretty delightful. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 8:54pm

Maybe he will return after banking the money from Law & Order & Hannibal. 

Updated On: 7/11/16 at 08:54 PM

[nsguy45]

Posted: 7/10/16 at 11:57pm

Word is that he was wounded by Leap of Faith's reception and the NYT review of his performance. Raul belongs back on Broadway and so do Aaron Tveit and Jeremy Jordan.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 12:07am

Good point. Why subject yourself to critical brickbats when you can ply your trade elsewhere . You get paid well and the work may be steadier..Add to that the residuals.

Updated On: 7/11/16 at 12:07 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 1:22am

If I remember correctly Brantly described his performance in Leap of Faith as cold and self-conscious and said that all of Raul's performances in the past have been self-conscious as well. Personally, I think that was totally uncalled for. I can understand why Raul may have wanted to take a break from Broadway.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 6:37am

Brantly making a statement that was totally uncalled for? Who would have thought. . That is so not like him . Yeah Raul may have taken that remark badly. Just goes to show old Ben is a classless bitter old hag.

Updated On: 7/11/16 at 06:37 AM

[Sunny11]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 6:56am

TV critics can be equally as harsh. I admire actors for the thick skin they have to have for doing what they love. 

[castlestreet]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 8:06am

My advice to Mr. Esparza or anyone in the theater would simply be to

 

1) Consider the source  

 

2) Get a thicker skin-it's a rough business and as Tommy Tune once so brilliantly said "contrary to popular beliefs, it's not for sissies"  

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 8:44am

CATSNYrevival said: "If I remember correctly Brantly described his performance in Leap of Faith as cold and self-conscious and said that all of Raul's performances in the past have been self-conscious as well. Personally, I think that was totally uncalled for. I can understand why Raul may have wanted to take a break from Broadway."

 

No. It's rather simple. He "took a break" in favor of a larger paycheck. It's about money and no actor can ever be criticized for that. He would be crazy to abandon network television for Broadway. Kudos to him. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 8:47am

castlestreet said: "My advice to Mr. Esparza or anyone in the theater would simply be to 

1) Consider the source  

 2) Get a thicker skin-it's a rough business and as Tommy Tune once so brilliantly said "contrary to popular beliefs, it's not for sissies"  "

I'm not sure why this thread veered off into critic bashing (and I am not suggesting it is or is not warranted, etc) and now into a how-to column advising Esparza what he does and does not need to do. What I AM sure about is that Brantley (what's with the mis-spelling in 2 separate posts? Is some sort of insult intended from that?) is not alone in his assessment of Esparza and thus, while I don't know, it seems reasonable to think that one reason he might not be getting work in the theatre is that there are casting directors, producers and directors who align with Brantley on this subject. Of course we also don't even know that Esparza even read the "offending" review folks here are so exercised about. Many actors never do. 

[jenn328]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 10:11am

rg7759 said: "cymbeline last year was great but i couldnt recall anyone showing the slightest care that he was in the show.

 

"considering he was the reason I saw it three times, I respectfully beg to differ

 

[indytallguy]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 11:03am

Financial planners often say to really try to ramp up earnings and savings in your 40s, so consistent pay from a TV show certainly aligns with that.

I do hope we get to see him performing more when he wants to/can do so, even if in a limited run or benefit shoow. I've enjoyed his work in many productions, particularly his Sondheim roles.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 11:25am

HogansHero said: "
What I AM sure about is that Brantley (what's with the mis-spelling in 2 separate posts? Is some sort of insult intended from that?) is not alone in his assessment of Esparza and thus, while I don't know, it seems reasonable to think that one reason he might not be getting work in the theatre is that there are casting directors, producers and directors who align with Brantley on this subject. 

"

The guy has now performed in 9 Broadway shows earning 4 Tony nominations along the way. That certainly doesn't signal a lack of confidence in him from the majority of the Broadway community.

Updated On: 7/11/16 at 11:25 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 11:29am

If he ever does return, Mr B should not do the review of the show as he is obviously biased against him and would not give a fair review . The show would suffer because of his bias.

[hork]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 11:48am

I think there are much worse things an actor can be called than "self-conscious." I don't see how that makes Brantley a classless, bitter old hag with an obvious bias.