<p>So...for those of you who don't know, the producers of the revival of Grease are...using an interesting casting call method. A reality show, which shares the title with this topic. It's not totally America picked, there are judges who pick people, but ultimately, America will choose the leads.
So you must ask, hit or disaster?</p>
<p>A British TV network/station did this last year to find a new Maria for a West End production of "The Sound of Music" and it apparently was a huge hit. Hence, those of us on the other side of the Pond are getting the "Grease" version. My guess is it will be a minor hit.</p>
<p>I saw it advertised, but I was surprised to see you had to be at least 18 to audition.</p>
<p>It's not that surprising that 18 was the minimum age. They're doing the rest of the casting in the traditional way and it's unlikely that most of them will be that young. In the previous revival of the show, most of the "teens" were hovering around age 30. In addition to that, it's simply easier for producers when actors are at least 18, which makes it somewhat of a rarity to see an actor younger than that in a Broadway show, unless the role calls for a child.</p>
<p>When does it air and what channel?</p>
<p>This show sounds like NBC's version of FOX's American Idol which starts up again this month, and it's probably a pretty good marketing idea for Grease as AI is for the record producer. In the case with AI, the public knows the performer well before his/her first CD hits the shelves and has a "vested" interest in the winner's (and finalists) careers after watching so many weeks and possibly voting for their favorite. In the same way, the Grease leads will be household names before the show ever opens. I hope it is a big success so maybe television will offer more Broadway-type programming other than the Public Television station. And I hope it creates a surge of interest in live theatre, thus ensuring our children have jobs when they finish school! lol</p>
<p>It starts Sunday, Jan. 7 at 8 P.M. on NBC.</p>
<p>musicmom, it's possible that more of this type of AI programming will happen, it's unlikely that it will help with any further "Broadway-type programming". Broadway shows are very carefully controlled, in terms of what is permitted to be filmed and shown on television. That isn't likely to change. It very well could, however, help ticket sales, which is always a good thing. As for a surge of interest in theatre, 2006 was the most profitable year on Broadway yet so things are looking good in that regard. :)</p>
<p>Grease was on tour here recently and the actors pictured in promotional stuff looked about 40! Certainly not realistic teenagers!</p>
<p>I watched all of the Sound of Music one over here (How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?). Very interesting - they picked ten very different girls (who all had their own little gimmick like Baby Maria, Tomboy Maria, Irish Maria, etc. and all outfits were in the one signature colour) for the final ten. I did think they could have found ten better girls for it in all honesty, but they seemed to be going for variety. As for it not being totally America picked, it certainly wasn't over here - viewers voted and the bottom two had a sing off with the casting vote going to Andrew Lloyd Webber (who interfered at every step of the way :D). Some pretty crazy choices, and a way for those involved in the show to make sure their favourites stay in. Only the final was decided by viewers, and there was a lot of careful editing and manipulation in favour of certain contestants.
One thing I was really disappointed with was that they did hardly any MT songs on the show - apparently lots of belty pop stuff is better for picking a Maria Von Trapp :rolleyes: So not really much of a big musical theatre show, but I do end up watching the AI type shows anyway :D</p>
<p>One of BW's last years graduates auditioned and was called back for the show. I'm not sure if she's made it any further, but we're hoping for the best for her!</p>
<p>Remember... when Grease was on Broadway in the early 90s Rosie O'Donnell was Rizzo (later replaced by Brooke Shields), and Megan Mulally (sp?) was Frenchie... it is pretty normal for adult actors to be cast as teenagers (that is what is so special about Spring Awakening).</p>
<p>I think that I read that in Sound of Music the woman cast as Maria was having trouble keeping up with 8 shows a week and a cover was often going on (much to the outrage of the audience members who wanted to see the winner from TV). </p>
<p>I have to admit that a reality TV show to cast leads in a Broadway musical makes my soul hurt a little... but I guess it is just televising what already goes on in terms of a audition process..It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.</p>
<p>I know what you mean, KatMT, about it hurting your soul a little. I keep wondering how much imagination and judgment the general public has when it comes to casting ... I mean, will all the women who hope for a chance to be Sandy have to dye their hair before auditioning, if they are not already natural blondes, or will the audience be cognizant enough to realize that people can wear wigs? Of course, we will no doubt watch the show. (Rosie O'Donnell as Rizzo? Lawd help me .....)</p>
<p>In Rosie's defense, she wasn't bad as Rizzo, and she's done so much good for Broadway and theatre, in general, that we should all be appreciative. :) That production was chock full of 'stunt casting'. After Rosie, Rizzo was played by Debby Boone, Jasmine Guy, Sheena Easton, Mackenzie Phillips, Linda Blair, the wonderful Joely Fisher, Lucy Lawless, Brooke Shields and many others. Other famous faces on that stage included Chubby Checker, Al Jarreau, Adrian Zmed, Joe Piscopo, and Jon Secada. As it was in Cabaret, some of them were better than others, but most put the proverbial butts in seats, which was the intent.</p>
<p>Kat, I think you're right about this being a situation where it will just be cameras filming what similarly goes on in many Equity calls. It actually is much more inclusive than the usual process can be, and I'd be willing to bet that there are some types of controls built into the process of final selection.</p>
<p>I didn't see Rosie.. but I heard she was good. I saw Brooke Sheilds who was suprisingly good... I didn't mean to say that it is a bad thing that many shows cast older cast members in younger roles... I was using Rosie and the cast of Grease as a specific example of how often adults are cast to play teenagers (and stars are cast, as alwaysamom said, "to put the proverbial butts in the seats" :) )... I am in my mid-30s and most of my performer collegues have been working for years, paying dues, gaining experience, and developing into outstanding polished performers... a few still look very young... particularly in a large house, and in the right show could believably play younger.</p>
<p>alwaysamom... I think you must be right that some sort of controls are probably built into the process... and if they do it well, it could offer viewers some insight into the audition process and a small glips into the life of an actor.... we shall see... I teach in a college MT program, so I am sure that my students will watch and give daily reports ;)</p>
<p>Hey, I can imagine Rosie as Golda, easily. But as a sort of tortured teenaged floozie/Rizzo? Not on your life. She just looks too old to be believable, imo. (Of course, the disclaimer is that I didn't see it!) Interestingly enough, I can imagine Brooke Shields doing it. Someone here said Rosie has done a lot for Broadway. Other than "Taboo," which apparently was a flop, what has she done? Please know I am not trying to be provocative or challenging. I truly don't know. The only time I have seen her around Broadway was coming out of Carnegie Hall a few years ago after the Kristin Chenoweth concert. Fans waiting at the stage door had to be shepherded away so that she and her partner could get out and into their SUV.</p>
<p>Rosie's Broadway credits:</p>
<p>Fiddler on the Roof (revival)
[Golde] - Replacement
(Sep 20, 2005 - )</p>
<p>Taboo Produced by Rosie O'Donnell;
"Il Adore" footage edited by Rosie O'Donnell
Nov 13, 2003 - Feb 8, 2004</p>
<p>Seussical
[The Cat in the Hat] - Replacement
(Jan 16, 2001 - Feb 10, 2001)</p>
<p>Grease (revival)
[Betty Rizzo]
May 11, 1994 - Jan 25, 1998</p>
<p>I don't know the specifics of what Rosie has done, but when her show used to be on TV she frequently had performers from Broadway shows on. I remember seeing a number from Lion King and Titanic as well as others. I know she encouraged people to go out and see new shows when they opened, as she always talked about what was new., and who was in it.</p>
<p>I can actually imagine her more as Rizzo than Goldy though.....the tough girl exterior with the heart of gold rather than the Jewish mom. That's just me....</p>
<p>anothermom-w-q, it's good to know that Rosie encouraged people to spend money on the theater. That's cool and a good thing to do. I see from what Susan posted that her stint as Rizzo was some time ago, so perhaps it's the image I have of Rosie <em>now</em> that is playing into my difficulty imagining her as a teenager. Perhaps, too, the fact that I saw photos of her dressed as Golde (apologies to the other grammar and spelling sticklers out there for spelling the name wrong before ... I hate it when I do that! :) makes it easier for me to imagine her as a doting and loud-mouthed mother figure from Fiddler. :) (Anyone out there see Taboo?)</p>
<p>NMR, I'm the one who commented on Rosie's positive influence on theatre. During the years that she had her talk show, she regularly showcased Broadway shows with performances to national audiences. The popularity of her show, and of her, herself, made it possible for shows and their actors to get public exposure that would not have existed otherwise. It was a publicist's dream and the kind of publicity that could not be bought at any price. When she had these performances on the show, she would purchase tickets for every audience member and a guest to then go see the show, in addition to encouraging her at home audience to go see them. It worked! People that track these kinds of things were amazed at the resultant ticket sales and she is still today much loved in the Broadway community. By the way, she, again, is showcasing Broadway now that she is host of The View. She does it because she loves theatre.</p>
<p>When she was Rizzo, she was 32 which is much younger than many others who have played the role, including the best Rizzo, in my opinion, Stockard Channing. :) Yes, Taboo was indeed a flop (as are about 8 of every 10 shows that open on Broadway) but that can hardly be blamed on Rosie. She invested $10 million of her own money in the show, a show which arguably should have been produced off-Broadway. There just was not a sufficiently large audience for a show about Boy George to fill over a thousands seats at a Broadway theatre night after night. It was, however, a very good show with incredible talent. Raul Esparza, particularly, hit his stride as a performer in that show and truly made a name for himself on Broadway. The show, interestingly enough for a 'flop', received many nominations for awards that year, including 4 Tonys and 4 Drama Desk awards.</p>
<p>I even enjoyed Rosie (and Harvey) in Fiddler, while many didn't. :)</p>
<p>alwaysamom, you are right: 32 is NOT old! (It especially doesn't seem old to me now that I am, um, older than that!) And again, kudos to Rosie for showcasing Broadway and actors on her former talk show and on The View. It's definitely a worthy cause and one that I hope she continues to promote.
(I saw Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, but never did get to NYC to see him as Tevye, though I can definitely imagine him in the role. His goose-honk of a voice was perfect for Edna!!)
And what you say about 8 out of 10 shows on Broadway closing before long or not being hits is also true, sadly. Taboo certainly was not alone in that.</p>
<p>So, did anyone else watch last night? To be honest, I found the show quite boring. I realize that they focussed on a small number of kids, of varying types and varying levels of talent, so that it was 'entertaining' but I was a little disappointed in most of those I saw. I would guess that many of the ones who were given a yay rather than a nay and whom we didn't see, are probably more talented than most who were showcased. I'm hoping anyway. </p>
<p>Oh, and apparently, being 18 was not a requirement to audition. They showed one boy, who didn't make it, and one girl who did, who were both 17.</p>