Winokur to re-join HAIRSPRAY cast- Page 4

[SillySara]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:58am

I actually saw Hairspray for the first time last night, and while I thought Marissa Perry was really fun and was great comedic timing, it will be exciting to see Marissa JW in the role she won the Tony for. Sure it is understandable for Perry to be upset, but it's the nature of the beast. There's no business like show business...and all that...

If any one original cast member should reprise her role, it's Jackie Hoffman. I am such a fan of hers and could not help but think of how hilarious she would be while watching the show last night.

Would also like to comment about Marissa Perry looking visibly shaken and upset during the Broadway Cares collection speech (they have the cutest stuff to buy!). I was there with Testing and kept telling him I was waiting for her to make some sort of an announcement.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:03am

The problem with the facebook thing is that it's not private, it's in fact very public. Also, what she wrote is very misleading. She seems to want people to believe she is being fired from the show, which is not the case. Her contract was simply not extended. Based on the hot mess of posts on her wall, her friends, fans, and family all seem to think she has been fired and some grave injustice has occurred.

Based on her shotty attendance, I'm not sure why she is surprised about not being renewed either.

As for the other Marissa, while I get the sentimental attachment to having her close it out, it's gonna be really strange to see a 35 year old Tracy Turnblad. I'd have been happier if they'd brough back Shannon Durig (my favorite Tracy).

[SillySara]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:13am

In regards to the age issue, Tevin Campbell is in his 30s and the "girl" who plays Inez is clearly nowhere near being in her teens. Also, the majority of the ensemble cast members do not look like teenagers either. So at this point, I really do not think age is an issue.

Marissa Perry and Constantine Rousouli looked the most like teens. But considering the company, Marissa JW will be just fine even if she is in her 30s.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:20am

adamgreer, while Winokur is indeed 35, she looks at least ten years younger than that.

It's a stretch, but she'll be fine.

Updated On: 11/19/08 at 10:20 AM

[Tom1071]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:26am

Well, MJW is vocally the weakest singer that ever played the part of Tracy. This doesn't excite me at all. I'd be more excited for the return of Kathy Brier.

Also, I don't know that I agree that Marissa Perry is getting screwed.

If Marissa Perry was contracted until the end of the run she will be paid until the end of the run. The producers have to buy her contract out. She's being screwed out of stage time but not out of financial compensation. I'm sure it's disappointing for her not to be able to finish the show and to be able to say that she was the final Tracy Turnblad but as it's been said, "That's show business."

[winston89]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:44am

Read what I wrote adamgreer. The phrase I used was "a bit more private" rather then say completely private. I know that there are ways of having your profile be seen. But, there are also ways of it to not be seen. If I live in NYC and it says that you live in LA I can't see your profile unless you request me. For the most part it is more private then facebook because you usually have to give the person who wants to see your profile permission to do so. But, there are examples of how someone could see your profile friend requested or not. Next time, actually take the damn time to read a post before you respond.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:04pm

I wasn't even addressing you specifically, winston. Settle down.

[zamedy]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:23pm

Come on you guys. This is BROADWAY.. not the spring musical in high school. The producers have a right to put whomever they want in whatever role they want. Marissa Perry played the role of a lifetime for 8 months on BROADWAY. It's unfortunate if she was surprised by this move, but I don't think we should feel too bad for someone who was able to live out their dream for 8 months. Many new shows don't even last that long. And I've heard a lot on this board about her poor attendance. What's up with that? If I was able to live my dream on Broadway, I'd have to be on my death bed before I missed a show. Look at Harvey. He never misses a show, and probably frowns upon people who often do.

What an opportunity and amazing final weeks this is going to be. And, after watching the Ryan O'Connor Show, it is so great to see that MJW is sincerely grateful to HAIRSPRAY and everything it has given her. She has not 'forgotten where she came from.' It's gonna be a blast. And while vocally she may not be as strong as some of the Tracy's that followed (Shannon blew everyone away), she brings such undeniable charm to the role that you can't help but fall in love with. Just ask Link.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:24pm

while Winokur is indeed 35, she looks at least ten years younger than that.

Well...

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 1:50pm

It's clearly a nostalgia thing, so brief there won't be cause for grousing. There's a long tradition of 30 year olds playing teens -- BYE BYE BIRDIE, GREASE, etc. In fact, take a closer look at the film of GREASE again. Not a person seems high school age. It's bizarre.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 2:13pm

Marissa Winokur does not look 35. She looks younger. And plus they're putting her in more for sentimental value to have her and Harvey close and have opened the show.

She'll be as great, if not better, than she was when the show first opened. Everyone is so freaking negative on this board.

And Marissa Perry should grow up. That's show business. She was in the show for a long time, she should be happy with that, and move on. Don't post on your Facebook how upset and hurt you are. And she wasn't even fired.

Updated On: 11/19/08 at 02:13 PM

[tthomas76]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 2:47pm

Well since MJW and Harvey are both back anyone think they'll extend? I'm going to be there the 10th - 13th of January and would love to get a chance to see them. I missed them the first time around. I did notice on ticketmaster they have the dates past the 4th posted for January but they're not selling them. Didn't know if that could mean a couple week extention or not? One can hope..

[karennnnn]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 6:58pm

I'll tell ya, I didn't know I was in for such a treat when MP friended me about two weeks ago! I have been having a blast looking through her pictures and quite honestly living vicariously through her lol!
I was actually really worried when she posted all of that on her facebook page and thought she either got fired or someone had died or broken up with her. But then I came to my senses and put two and two together and figured they were going to bring back MJW. I mean, Harvey is back so... Duh.
She seems a little bit of an attention hound and prior to what happened seemed to post quite a bit on FB anyway. Just seems like she's that kind of person and wants all the support she can get. Her close friends/cast members really respond to her so all of the drama probably helped her to feel better and move on and it seemed to only take a day or two so it's all good.
I didn't really look too much into that; there are just some folks who are that way and I think deep down or even just below the surface she realizes everything that everyone is saying.
I've only seen the show once, with Shannon Durig. I really loved her voice and wish I could hear her do something else because it sounded like she could REALLY belt one out but was holding back. I don't particularly like the OBC recording and feel like MJW sounds kind of... bad? in some of the songs. For instance, in ICHTB her voice cracks at the end and the first time I heard it I was like "Uh, take two?". I'm sure her personality more than makes up for it. I loved watching her in the documentary they did for the Hairspray DVD and after seeing that I was totally inspired.
Every single Tracy seems to have been extremely special in their own way. I still can't believe that this all stems from good old Ricki Lake!!!
That being said now I have to come to NYC twice before Jan 4 lol! I'd love to see MP as Tracy and would certainly like to see original recipe Tracy as well.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:00pm

<< Well, MJW is vocally the weakest singer that ever played the part of Tracy. This doesn't excite me at all. I'd be more excited for the return of Kathy Brier.
>>

Have to very respectfully disagree regarding MJW. Liked Perry very much, but I liked MJW's voice better.

Especially on "Good Morning Baltimore"- (or, as I remarked to Sara last night--- "Ball- TEE- More", like Perry sings it.. :))

Perry sounds much more nasal to me, but obviously, just my .02

Now, if we can only get Jackie Hoffman back !!!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:15pm

That's really all I have to contribute. It's on my MySpace's "Who I'd Like To Meet" slideshow.

[Sauja]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:37pm

So much drama! Love it! I have to say, I have yet to see Hairspray. When it first came out, I was a broke college student. then by the time I had the cash to go see it, it just didn't seem like a priority anymore because they seemed to be casting F-list celebrities (Ashley Parker Angel! Some blonde from Making the Band!). Since I saw (and fell in love with) the movie, I've been meaning to plan a trip, but it never quite happened. Once they announced Harvey going back in, I was near certain I'd finally bite the bullet. Now that Marissa 1 is back, I have tickets. for a show that had a lot of bad casting choices meant to draw people in, this one actually impresses me. Bravo, producers.

In terms of Marissa 2, it sounds like she found out the hard way about making assumptions in a volatile business. And that's tough for her, but it does seem like her lack of professionalism (complaining on Facebook? Really?!) could bite her in the ass in the long run. Time will tell!

[Schuyler]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:03pm

I also feel terrible for Marissa Perry. She was a great person and a very good Tracy. She will not be unterstudying Tracy, they bought out her contract.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:26pm

Why would they need to buy out Perry's contract? I thought that the reason why no one felt sorry for Perry was because they are bringing in Winokur after Perry's contract is expired.

[zamedy]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:00pm

Jackie Hoffman's great, but I think Susan Mosher more than holds her own in that role. She is tremendously talented and has the audience cracking up during her parts in The Big Doll House and YCSTB.

[jake6970]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:09pm

I've heard both that her contract was expired and that she was bought out of the rest of her contract. So just putting that out there haha.

[Broadway212]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:11pm

This is great for Hairspray hopefully they can make enough money to keep it open longer.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:50pm

I don't get it. If Perry's contract expired thus bringing in Winokur, then why any sort of buy out?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:52pm

I don't know why people are getting so defensive. It's not like I said she was a dude!

[logan0215]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:05pm

Well its a ridiculous comment either way because she was in the show barely 4 years ago, so unless you think shes rapidly aged in that time than your argument doesn't hold water.

Its called stage make-up folks.

EDIT: In talking to my friend, he reminded me that she returned for a stint in 2005. Saying she is too old is absurd. Updated On: 11/20/08 at 11:05 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:55pm

"Come on you guys. This is BROADWAY.. not the spring musical in high school."

This is my favorite comment on this thread thus far, and, applies to a lot of opinions on this board in general!