pop-stars,,,ick!!!- Page 3

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 7:30pm

You may not be stupid but you're getting defensive, Also it's all POP music, folk, r&b, top 40... it stands for popular, not genre. Updated On: 9/13/04 at 07:30 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 7:54pm

oops luckystar! what's this i'm reading? OMG say it ain't so.."THE IDINA" wanted to be a *POP* star?

Oh heeeeellls naw, we won't stand for that she belongs in the THE-A-TRE..we shall have none of that nonesense. No recording contracts, movie deals or television for her. She can have the stage ALL TO HERSELF!

[FOCI]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 8:12pm

Actually, my biggest *beef* isn't with the popstars on broadway it's with the wanabe popstars/movie stars on broadway. As Al Dente pointed out most of the people start out wanting to be popstars and some of them never let go. I mean, if you are gonna b*tch and moan about having to do 8 shows a week and having all these little girls adore you while pining for a t.v. show, movie, recording contrat whatever. Then move to freakin' L.A. and do what you want to do. Let the people out there who study all their life and spend all their time worshipping broadway onto the stage-if you are not grateful get out. otherwise, whatever, I'm cool.

[broadwayfan24]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 8:20pm

why are we making a big deal over Idina anyway? So what if she wanted to become a POP singer. She wasn't famous at all when she got the part in RENT. This thread is about producers trying to get POP stars playing roles on broadway.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 10:41am

Xlucky made it about Idina, I was making a much larger statement, mentioning people who have been much more successful on record than she most likely, will ever be. As for Broadway being a pit stop of sorts or a consolation "prize", one has to look no further than the oft repeated sentiments expressed by Ms. Headley, in that now infamous interview she did. That about sums up the mentality of most pop star wanna-be's on Bway. I'll bet she'd trade her Tony for a Grammy anytime.

[staticradar]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:09am

If a pop star has talent let them be. I mean some might be wonderful in a role, just maybe not one we've seen yet.

I saw Mel B. in RENT and IMHO she just couldn't handle the role. She did a pretty good Out Tonight and then pretty much lost her voice the rest of the show. She was cracking and really hoarse. We went to see the show again a few days later for a Mat performance and saw Caren Lyn Manuel who was fantastic in the role and who DIDN'T lose her voice. For Mel B, the role is too damanding on her voice. She has a nice voice, like I said her Out Tonight wasn't bad. Her acting was a little over the top, but she was trying and I'll give her that.

But the fact of the matter was when we went we weren't going to see a Spice Girl or anything, we were going to see one of our favorite shows on Broadway. We would've gone spice girl or no spice girl because we love the show.

[mikeonbroadway]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:56am

xluckystar2107x said "i agree about rent. i mean even the typical images of the characters are now distorted. i mean maureen...blonde and wasnt there an asian mimi? idk w/e thats not the point. the point is is that the hype is down but the way to boost it isnt to add a pop-star.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'whod've thought that love could be so caffinated?' "

A) If you're going to get your panties bent over the spelling of Kristen v. Kristin. The word is caffeinated.

B) What are "typical images of the characters"? Do you mean Mark is a skinny redhead because Ant played him and Maureen must must must have dark hair because Idina does. That's bull, really unless it says in the script something about Maureen's hair or Benny's race (which...it doesn't) should a certain look be pegged down.

C)Obviously, the producers think casting a celeb in a show is successful or else they would not continue to do it. If you have a problem with it, rather than bitch about it, maybe you can produce a show and try to figure out ways to keep people coming and keep it fresh for 8+ years.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:57am

stat, but SOME people who went to see Mel B had never seen RENT before.. so they weren't there cause they loved Rent....

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:03pm

Their ticket money spends the same.

[Waylon]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:45pm

I think everyone is also forgetting Miss. Deborah “Debbie” Gibson. She has been doing some great Broadway theater…and lord knows she was a Pop Star.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:54pm

and i don't know if anyone has mentioned this...but Taylor Dayne was an 80s pop star and i saw her in AIDA and i thought she was phenomenal! (or however you spell that word, haha) and then there's Hugh Jackman of course. sure he isn't a pop star, but he wasn't a broadway star until he tried it out. who knew that wolverine would one day play the part of a gay man while singing and dancing and be praised and awarded for it? who knew...

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 2:52pm

In my original post Wonderwall, Dayne was most definitely mentioned.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:16pm

ok good, i loved her! Thanks Al Dente

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:20pm

Don't blame the casting directors. Blame the unions and theater owners who have driven up the price of tickets to $100+. If a tourist who doesn't know a lot about Broadway or theater is going to pay those prices, they want to know they're going to get something that is a known quantity. They know who the pop stars are. Bottom line.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:30pm

I agree about the crappy contributions of a popstar to a Broadway show because I have yet to see a good, even decent performance. Popstars are not ACTORS. If one came along who could actually act, it'd be a very different story.

Sure it'd be fun to watch Christina Aguilera sing her butt off onstage (as Mimi in Rent?), but it's a meaty role and chances are the performance would induce cringes.

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:34pm

so you all think its perfectly fair that if someone equally or more talented than a pop-star goes up against them for a role they will surely lose just because they dont have a name?...my point throughout this whole this was just that that is what turns me off about them.thats it. and i didnt mean to personally attack or anything i just felt others were (and are) attacking me so i mean i had to defend myself its human nature. Updated On: 9/14/04 at 03:34 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:37pm

Then you need to discuss it with those same actors whose union is affecting the ticket prices with their salary demands. Doesn't make much sense, does it?

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:43pm

mikeonbroadway: actually it does break down EXACTLY what the characters from rent MUST be like :

WE ARE LOOKING for RAW, ORIGINAL singers who truly have a quality of street life and move well. Authentic people!!! We do not need the typical musical theater performer. RENT requires strong, clear voices and honest personalities.

ROGER
Caucasian, male, early 20’s to late 20’s. Sexy, young, good-looking leader of a rock band. A brooding rock star, but with a gentle side. He has natural charisma and mystery. Rock & roll grunge voice. Range is up to A-flat.

MARK
Caucasian, male, early 20’s to late 20’s. Baritone/second tenor. Underfunded, underground filmmaker. Very casual narrator of the show, but with a sense of humor and fun.

JOANNE
African American, female, mid 20’s to late 20’s. High rock belt. Wry humor and sardonic wit, politically connected, probably Harvard Graduate. A lawyer with spunk. Very smart and mature.

COLLINS
African-American, male, early 20’s to late 20’s. Low baritone, bluesy voice. Very soulful. Philosopher, teacher, anarchist, AIDS activist. Great open personality. Mature and warm, very committed to his friends & lover.

BENNY
African American, male, early 20’s to late 20’s. Baritone/second tenor, can handle pop ballads. A striver who has gone from the projects to becoming a successful business man. Motivated by money at the risk of angering his friends. Very smooth and extremely good-looking - he uses charm to get what he wants.

ANGEL
Latino, Asian male, young/late teens to late 20’s. High tenor to falsetto. Actor must be willing to play drag but he is not just a diva. He has a heart of gold and is a really fun guy, lots of style.

MIMI
Latina, female, early 20’s to late 20’s. Raw rock & roll voice with a high belt. Must be extremely sexy and potential dangerous fun. An optimist, not a quitter, likeable, but with some dark secrets.

MAUREEN
Caucasian, female, early 20’s only. Young, spunky soul singer. Innocent sexiness. Really quirky and funny actor. East Village Performance Artist who is really into it.

and ENSEMBLE
Ethnicities especially encouraged! Early 20’s to late 20’s. Great singers. Ability to move well onstage. Must be able to understudy principles.

Please mail your submissions to:
RENT Casting
145 West 28th Sreet, #12F
New York, NY 10001
http://www.wannabeinrent.com/

Updated On: 9/14/04 at 03:43 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:43pm

and then there's Hugh Jackman of course. sure he isn't a pop star, but he wasn't a broadway star until he tried it out.

No, he just starred in big-time musical productions in London and Melbourne.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:55pm

"so you all think its perfectly fair that if someone equally or more talented than a pop-star goes up against them for a role they will surely lose just because they dont have a name?..."

Hey, I'm sure on the Planet High Art where artistic considerations reign supreme over pragmatic business your fairy tale outlook on casting might be sensible and something to applaud.

The rest of us live on Earth where financial and marketing considerations play as big a part in casting as artistic ones.

And here's the real stinker: it's like that in EVERY SINGLE OCCUPATION ON THE PLANET.

Fair? Who gives a monkey crap. Anyone looking for fair casting should save the auditioners and the industry the time and irritation and stay at home where they belong. Because if you think anyone's divine talent is what's going to get them to the top, you're in the wrong friggin' business. And you're on the wrong planet.

Life sucks, wear a helmet.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:56pm

I second that, JohnPopa.

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:57pm

no s*it but the point of the matter is name or no pop-stars arent the asset they are assumed to be...
and we wouldnt have some of the wonderful people we have in show bussiness today if talent didnt play a part in casting...true that talent will not be the deciding factor 100% but EVERYONE starts somewhere and EVERYONE gets their break. why should pop-stars, who already have names, get the roles better suited of new actors? Updated On: 9/14/04 at 03:57 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 3:59pm

Yes they are. They are ticket-selling assets. $100 per.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 4:01pm

Because they've already gotten their breaks and, thus, are more attractive to casting agents. They're a known quantity.

Why cast anyone more than once then? There's always an unknown that could use the break.

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 4:03pm

no really they arent.
because so many shows have lost their hype in the long run after a celebrity has left. and ticket prices for big shows like Aida (toward the end) and Wicked stayed the same even though they did have celebrities in the cast. i think that the replacements alienated people who were fed up with the pop-sh*t and in turn they had less turnout.