<p>Anyone watch it last night? </p>
<p>Rolf - Michael Campayno is local here in Pittsburgh and a senior at CMU</p>
<p>Yes I did and I have very mixed emotions. I loved the fact that they are bringing live theater to television and that the cast was mostly Broadway performers…but the acting of one of the performers was so poor that it ruined the show for me…It was painful to watch</p>
<p>LOLOL!!! Love your diplomacy, bisouu, but I think we all know to which performer you’re referring!!</p>
<p>^^^Yep!! :D</p>
<p>If you are interested, there is already a lively discussion on the telecast in College Confidential’s Parent Cafe:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1584240-anyone-looking-forward-thursdays-live-sound-music.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1584240-anyone-looking-forward-thursdays-live-sound-music.html</a></p>
<p>It was painful, shameful and grueling to watch. Thank goodness for the amazingness that is Audra and Laura… :)</p>
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<p>The level of fun that the reviewers are having with Ms. Underwood’s performance in this show was amazingly consistent. When you get panned by USA Today, you know you’re bad.</p>
<p>I agree, she was awful. I thought it was just me LOL.</p>
<p>Yes, MTMajorCook, Michael Campayno reppin’ the 'Burgh! He is also a Gene Kelly Supporting actor award winner for playing Gaston in Beauty and the Beast at Central Catholic just a few years ago! He started out at Point Park for two years and transferred to CMU. Christian Borle, also a Pittsburgh native! Shady Side Academy High School and CMU. AND the director, Rob Ashford, is a Point Park alum.</p>
<p>Shameful? That’s a bit harsh bisouu! Sure, she isn’t a musical theater veteran, and her acting left a lot to be desired, especially compared some of her castmates. She is a good singer, and she can yodel her braids off. It was evident she isn’t used to singing and moving in that way. But, eveyone is getting their lederhosen in a bunch, but that’s the real world. She is a much broader ratings draw than a Broadway veteran. That’s just the fact of the matter. Stepping into the shoes of Mary Martin and Julie Andrews takes guts. Well, I’m sure the paycheck was pretty good too. This happens on the smaller scale all the time, when known movie actors are handed roles on broadway to draw butts to the seats. Sometimes they are good. Sometimes, not so much.</p>
<p>Speaking of filling shoes, this is kind of off topic, but not totally. When Point Park did Oklahoma! a few weeks back, Shirley Jones was in the house on opening night (her son, Patrick Cassidy directed the production). Imagine playing Laurie and performing the role in front of Shirley Jones! Must have been the best feeling and terrifying all at once! </p>
<p>Even though this production had some shortcomings, it was a ratings hit, so maybe we’ll get more productions like it, and that would be a good thing.</p>
<p>My shameful comment was meant for the producers who chose to put money above talent. There are at least 5 big named Broadway actresses that should have been placed in that role. The director and producers had to have been at rehearsals and knew how badly she was prepared to play that role. They never should have let her go on. I stand by my shameful comment. I was embarrassed for her and no one was brave enough to pull the plug … I am always saddened when I hear people say that so and so is a good singer (as if that is all that is needed for Broadway/live theater). It diminishes what these performers do as a profession. The talents needed to pull something like this off go beyond being a good singer. Audra and Laura are perfect examples of this. I think the producers underestimate the american viewer. Millions would still have watched if Sutton Foster or Sierra Boggess had been cast. This could have done more harm for live theater than we think. For a newbie viewing the lackluster performance it once again makes Broadway seem like the ugly stepsister. Broadcast Rent, Memphis, or Phantom with true talent if we want to show the world what Broadway is all about. JMHO</p>
<p>Sorry, but I would not call Carrie Underwood’s performance anywhere near shameful. Her singing might have much more of a belt to it than purists certainly would like to hear, but let’s not deny that a pop/ rock sound is the direction of most new Broadway musicals.</p>
<p>Did her acting seem stilted? Yes. But there was still something appealing about her performance–certainly to the mainstream market who stayed in high numbers throughout the show.</p>
<p>As for her Southern accent occasionally creeping in, I did not find that particularly distracting. Should it have been a NY accent? An English one? Let’s face it, the Von Trapps etc. were Austrian and spoke Austrian, so anything else is an adaptation.</p>
<p>Listen, I doubt there were many African American mother superiors in Austria in the 1930’s. I had no problem making that leap and was glad to. Therefore, I can be somewhat flexible with a twang here or there.</p>
<p>Once again, I was not calling Underwood’s performance shameful…for me it was embarrassing to watch and I gave up after about 2 hours. So she could have gotten remarkable better and if she did, the i retract my embarrassing remark. But I agree her performance was not shameful and that is not what I meant.</p>
<p>Bisou–how can you possibly be so aghast about producer’s going for the money? It’s a business! Of course the best producer’s want artistic and financial success. But I do not think that they cast Carrie thinking she was bad. </p>
<p>And I’ve seen notorious bad on Broadway. Like unbelievable bad. Many, many times. I mean I was at opening night of Moose Murders–that certainly gives me some credibility. So it’s not like all of Broadway is at such an untouchable stellar level of talent. And Carrie’s performance last night was not so way below all performers and shows that have hit the bright lights!</p>
<p>I think the producers could have made the same amount of money with Sutton or Boggess or Hilty…just my opinion…and their performance would have been much more in keeping with the other members of the cast. I don’t think they cast her thinking she was bad either…</p>
<p>And don’t get me started on Russell Crowe as Javert LOL</p>
<p>But in the meantime Smash was cancelled and the Sound of Music is one of NBC’s highest rated shows ever. A cast of Meg Hilty and only other Broadway veterans would not have brought in those numbers. And again, it is about the numbers. Unfortunately casting on Broadway is going in the same direction. Big names are the way to go. There is much more blending of Broadway, TV and film names than ever before. Agents and producers are looking for that flexibility not only in talent but in the writers, lyricists and musicians as well.</p>
<p>I understand NBC was seeing this as a business decision and therefore wanted a current star to bring in the ratings and the audience they were looking for. That said, there are many current stars that would have fit that bill, and can act. Dianna Agron for one. Right age, can sing, can act, and would have the entire Glee fan base watching. Anything that brings Musical Theatre to a grander audience is a good thing, and while there were some good things about this production, there were also many, many preventable things that went very wrong.</p>
<p>On the plus side, I melted every time Audra opened her mouth and cheered for Laura and Christian’s duets (can you say 6 Tonys between those 3)…there REALLY is a difference between Broadway stars and tv/movie/music stars.
Love Carrie Underwood as a singer, good for her giving it a try but it takes a lot of experience to chew gum and walk at the same time. Just saying…I gave up after 2 hours and I was really looking forward to this live experiment ��</p>
<p>Agree with theatrelvr that anything that brings a 60 year old musical to a brand new audience who would have NEVER seen it otherwise – is a good thing. I think it’s easy to play armchair director and point out what was wrong with the production, but I am thrilled to get to see a LIVE telecast of a classic musical again. And Julie Andrews lip-synced the movie version – give it to Carrie for having the courage to sing every note on live television.</p>
<p>I don’t think singing live is anything remarkable. All Broadway performers sing live 8 shows a week. She does have a beautiful voice and is wonderful to listen to. She has great courage for attempting this endeavor.</p>
<p>With all due respect, Broadway singers don’t perform live for an audience of 18 million people. That’s what I meant by great courage.</p>
<p>I’m all for getting more people to love and respect musical theater but I’m not at all convinced this accomplished that mission. There was a lot of great stuff in there. But Maria is a big part. It’s hard to overlook and it was not just mediocre which I fully expected. It was much worse. IMHO.</p>
<p>I do think it took courage. But I also think someone should have stopped her.</p>