How'd they get that part?
How'd they get that part?
Spacedog78
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/06
#1How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:37pm
In your opinion, who are the casting choices that make you think WTF? I wonder if at some point during the development of a show, does anyone ever sit back and say..."Maybe we picked the wrong person.." I have many in mind but there is one person who comes on my Broadway channel who just makes me cringe, Elena Roger. What were they thinking.
Who are your WTF casting opinions?
Updated On: 7/8/14 at 01:37 PM
#2How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:38pm
*Elena
*Roger
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Updated On: 7/8/14 at 01:38 PM
Spacedog78
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/06
#3How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:40pmI thought she was wonderful. Plus she did the show in London and on Broadway so it think they were pretty pleased with her since they asked her to do the show twice.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#4How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:44pmI hear her audition involved peanut butter and a straw.
#5How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:45pmShe did have some really off days. The first time I saw her, I was baffled with what was coming out of her mouth and why people loved her. The second time, she was amazing and owned the stage. So, she may have been wildly inconsistent, but if you caught her on one of her "on" days, it was pretty amazing stuff.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#6How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:46pmJust because a performance doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it doesn't work for others, including the director and the lead producers.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Spacedog78
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/06
#7How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:47pmI wonder if she was having one of her "off" days when she recorded the cast cd
Spacedog78
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/06
#8How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:49pm
That's exactly RIGHT dramamama, that's why they are called opinions. 
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:50pmWait...you are judging her "performance" based solely on the cd?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Spacedog78
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/06
#10How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:52pmNo, I was lucky enough to see her live as well...
#11How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 1:55pm
Elena Roger was doomed from the start. They should have known her portrayal in London would not have worked in the states. Poor thing didn't even get a tony nomination. I saw her live and she was just horrible. And I really wanted to like her.
Other people that come to mind:
Fantasia in Color Purple.
Courtney Reed in Aladdin.
Carly Rae Jespen in Cinderella
Updated On: 7/8/14 at 01:55 PM
#12How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 2:17pmI'm not sure it's a mystery how Carly Rae got Cinderella...
#13How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 2:23pmTrue...I just thought she was bad. Couldn't they have gotten a more talented D-list celebrity?
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#14How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:10pmShe was the only weak spot for me in Evita. She worked physically for the part, which is probably why got it. She sounded like a shrill Nazi captain when hitting the high notes.
#15How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:13pmDefinitely Courtney Reed in Aladin. And I didn't see this production of Gypsy, but I will NEVER get into Bernadette's version of Mama Rose. I wish I could have seen it to actually form an opinion on it!
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#16How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:25pmPromises, in what way does Courtney not work in the part?
Brian07663NJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#17How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:27pm
Sorry...I disagree with Courtney Reed in Aladdin and Bernadette in Gypsy.
Although I didn't think Courtney to be OMG when I saw her live in the show. I've listened to the CD several times and do not think she is as bad as everyone portrays her to be.
Bernadette in Gypsy...it is clear that everyone has a favorite Rose. I enjoyed Bernadette's performance and still do on CD.
When I read the thread titles I was sure I would see the response: "knee pads" but didn't find it even one time. Certainly didn't think it would be isolated to the 2 or 3 performers being criticized.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#18How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:44pm
Reed just doesn't have a beautiful, effortless Disney princess voice like we're use to hearing, so that was a bit of a let down. It's super nasal and forced.
The only one I can think of would be the Pippin u/s I saw. He was just so off the entire show. Off key, etc. I just wasn't into it.
#19How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:47pmI actually loved Elena Roger's performance as Evita and think she does a wonderful job on the cast recording and I can never understand the hatred fro her portrayal
#20How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 4:56pmI don't know if it's because everyone else had SO much more energy than Reed on stage, or if it was her voice that really bothered me, but she just felt very misplaced to me. I don't have the cast recording so I can't base it off of that, I can only base it off of when I saw it in NYC. I'm not a big fan of Disney to begin with, though, so that might be part of it too!
vpd1981
Swing Joined: 4/17/14
#21How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 7:57pm
NPH in anything
Denzel in "Raisin in the Sun" (too old for the role)
Usher in "Chicago" (really?)
Loved Bernadette Peters in "Gypsy." Was really disappointed by Tammy Blanchard, though.
IndyTheatreGeek
Understudy Joined: 6/25/14
#22How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 8:02pm
I'll expand the universe a little and include some guys.
Jerry Springer in Chicago as Billy Flynn (London-couldn't sing on key)
Paul Stanley as the Phantom (Toronto)
OK, I know it's all about putting butts in seats, but really...
I wasn't impressed by Elena Roger in Evita but on the night I saw her she wasn't horrible. Carly Rae did a serviceable job as Cinderella. I found her performance more what I would have expected from community theatre than Broadway. Fran Drescher, however was just cringe worthy.
And I found both Cheryl Ladd and Reba McEntire better in Annie Get your Gun so put me in the unimpressed by Bernadette Peters camp. One of the reasons I didn't see her in Gypsy. I haven't cared for her since I saw her do a Cabaret show in Toronto in the 80s. I know she's well respected and talented, but I just don't appreciate it.
#23How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 8:32pmI'd say the new Eponine... If the tony performance was any indication, I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would cast her in such a coveted role.
evic
Broadway Star Joined: 3/5/04
#24How'd they get that part?
Posted: 7/8/14 at 8:51pmElena's voice was not suited to the score- she screeched. But they thought that because she was from Argentina, that she was authentic. She had little stage presence (she is tiny and seemed to be the only person in Buenos Aires under 6 feet tall and she was eaten up by the huge sets) and I never believed that millions of descamisados loved her because of her charisma and beauty. She had no fire and brimstone. But an excellent dancer. I didn't see her but read that Kelly Osborne played Mama Morton in Chicago in London. GOOD GRIEF!
