von Essen, Harada, and more enter Les Miz April 24- Page 2

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:53pm

Mandy Bruno was Belle at Pittsburgh CLO.

http://www.pittsburghclo.org/shows/beautycast.cfm

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:56pm

I think it depends on when you last saw Essen. I first saw him in Finian's Rainbow at the Irish rep. and thought his performance of the leading man was completely amateurish and boring. Then I saw him as Dr. Neville Craven in the Secret Garden benefit and found him to be quite tolerable, his voice was great that night and he held his own against Pasquale during "Lilly’s eyes." Then when I saw him in Desperate Measures last year he was perfect. He a lot of energy and some great passion to the role that showed that he had grown as actor over the last few years (his voice pretty much soared over the audience the day I saw him in that too). I think he is still growing as an actor, but I think he has already improved a lot and look forward to seeing him in Les Miz. WOw, that was longer than I expected, I just love new talent.

Thank you Lizzie. Updated On: 3/20/07 at 07:56 PM

[Sylar2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:58pm

Everytime I see him I cant help but think of that character in the claymation holiday flick, Rudolph, that wants to be a dentist. What's the characters name?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:58pm

Just listening to the NEO recording I don't find his voice all that strong, but to his credit, I've heard wonderful things about him in "The Baker's Wife." I'd love to hear his "Proud Lady."

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:00pm

Then I saw him as Dr. Neville Craven in the Secret Garden benefit and found him to be quite tolerable, his voice was great that night and he held his own against Pasquale during "Lilly’s eyes."

...but von Essen didn't play Neville.

That was Will Chase. von Essen was Albert Lennox.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:05pm

Woops, sorry then. He was still great in Desperate Measures though.

[Sylar2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:07pm

I saw Victor Wallace on the tour and he was prob one of my fav Enjolras but I heard he is doing that new Carmen musical at the LaJolla Playhouse.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:07pm

I didn't know Celia was leaving. Ann Harada is an interesting choice for that role(in a good way).

[Sylar2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:09pm

I think Ann will be AWESOME in that role.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:17pm

I saw Victor Wallace on the tour and he was prob one of my fav Enjolras but I heard he is doing that new Carmen musical at the LaJolla Playhouse.

Oh, is THAT what he's up to! His site was so out of date I didn't bother going until just now.

[Craig]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:19pm

Lea Michelle would bring in more people than Mandy Bruno. Interesting. I'm not 100 percent sure about that. Mandy has a HUGE daytime drama fan base. Not to mention, she's uber-talented (not that Lea isn't). I think she'll bring in a lot of people - and perhaps people that wouldn't normally have gone in the first place.

Happy for her and the other replacements.. always good to mix things up a bit...

[Sylar2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:19pm

Yeah, they just launched a website for it: http://carmenthemusical.com/content.php

Looks like it could be interesting....

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:08pm

If Mandy does bring in a large fan base, maybe it will be extended even longer and I can hopefully see the show when I go to NYC to see the Little Mermaid in December!

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:18pm

Will Ann be using her Christmas Eve voice? haha just kidding

I think I'd find the show a little bit more joyful if she got to shriek "Nah go an feh som wota from da well in da woooo!"

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:23pm

so all the casts last days are 22nd?

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:49pm

?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:00pm

I'm very surprised that these actors aren't seeing out the season at least. I mean, I've been the first one to say that this revival doesn't have a shot in hell at any Tony nominations, but if these actors ever did have a shot, they absolutely will not now.

I guess this was Max von Essen's "scheduling conflict" that made him unable to continue with FALSETTOS at George Street Playhouse. Obviously LES MIS is the smarter gig to take.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:02pm

Glad you included that line about not having a shot in hell at a Tony....I was gonna ask you about that!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:09pm

"I'm very surprised that these actors aren't seeing out the season at least. I mean, I've been the first one to say that this revival doesn't have a shot in hell at any Tony nominations, but if these actors ever did have a shot, they absolutely will not now."

Keep in mind that the revival was initially scheduled to run through April 22nd (which is why all their contracts are up at that time.)

Keenan-Bolger, Lewis, Lazar, and Galloway may not have been able to extend past that date without another standard renewal extention period (which is usually anywhere from three to six months,) and some of them may already be pursuing other projects that would render them unable to stay for a significant amount of time any longer than their original contracted end dates.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:13pm

Jenny Galloway may have also not been able to stay in the US any longer.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:18pm

Galloway's departure is due to her visa expiring. She's only been permitted to perform the initial six month engagement; no extensions.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:20pm

Never was there a story of more woe, than that of Marius and his ho.

It can be the most exciting actor, but Marius has a pretty boring role.

[gustof777]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:26pm

* slightly off topic* wow jewishboy i don't know why i ever thought of Pasquale as George but your right! He'd be amazing! he's brilliant at almost anything but man would i love to see him nail the revival

*on topic. Damn I'll miss von Essen in Falsetto's but w/e we still got Colin Hanlon!! sad to see Celia

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:53pm

Von Essen will be great im sure, but i would have liked to see Drew Sarich take over the role. i saw him understudy a few months ago and he was great.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:56pm

Can someone please fill me in, what soap is Mandy Bruno on? I've never heard of her. I am excited about Max taking over.