I cry when Ricky is onstage

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Here is an article I found in the Entertaiment Weekly site. The writer discusses the drop-off in ticket sales during Ricky's absence. from RC in Austin, Texas
Evita And Ricky Martin

[artscallion]

It'll all balance out with the boost in sales that will happen during Elena's vacation.

[Rainbowhigh23]

They should never have stuntcast the show in the first place. The show itself is the star!

[WestVillage]

I will cherish my memory of Patti, Mandy and Bob ... and forget this debacle in a heartbeat.

[Rainbowhigh23]

^ The Patti, Mandy and Bob version grabbed me and all I had to look at was the album cover.

I found the show to be much better with Max as Che. I would have loved to have seen Daniel Torres, who bears a striking resemblance to Ricky but obviously with a better voice.

[Mercades]

The show is lack luster with Ricky and without hi
. But that dip is intense. Half a million dollars? They had better hold onto him!

[Princeton Returns]

The show clearly isn't the star otherwise there wouldn't have been such a dip.

Anyone have any idea what the running costs are? Although Ricky brings in the big bucks you can bet he earns them too.

[ChiChi]

I don't see the point in having Cerveris do a fake argentinian accent if you're just going to have the guy who really has an accent use a fake American one.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

I found Cerveris' accent to be an interesting blend of generic Latino and the trans-Atlantic sort of accent he used in Titanic, lol. Basically he sang like he usually does but tapped his r's.

[tphiliboy152]

I'm not really sure Ricky Martin was cast in the first place (other than a publicity ticket sale stunt). It really annoys me that there is all of this celebrity casting all over the place. Another thing is when people get annoyed that Ricky Martin is out and complain. SO what. Sit back and enjoy the show with the other talented people in the cast. They are all on that stage for a reason.

[bwayphreak234]

I am expecting the numbers to jump back up again this week. The show was doing remarkably well with him (better than I ever thought it would prior to beginning performances), and it most likely will continue to do so through the summer.

[dramamama611]

tphil -- but if the REASON they bought their ticket is Ricky Martin then of course, they are going to be disappointed. And I'm sure a LOT of people are buying tickets just for him. So what? BECAUSE of him, lots of talented people have a job.


Stunt casting "all over the place"? I don't really think there has been all that much of it this season. Just because someone IS a name, doesn't make it stunt casting. When they first announced Ricky, I actually thought it could have been a great choice -- didn't feel that way after seeing him, but still.

[tphiliboy152]

stunt casting:
How to Succeed:
Dan Radcliffe
Darren Criss
Nick Jonas

Godspell: Corbin Bleu

Evita: Ricky Martin

Best Man: John Stamos (also with Bye Bye Birdie)

Sister Act: Raven

[dramamama611]

In the scheme of things that's not really that many. Esp since you name 3 in the same role/production. That show would not have EXISTED without Radcliffe.

Corbin Bleu is not stunt casting, he'd really proven himself in In the Heights. He doesn't really have a huge following.

Again: just because they are names, doesn't mean they don't deserve the part.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I don't think you can call something 'stunt casting' when the person opens the show.

Daniel Radcliffe in HOW TO SUCCEED or Catherine Zeta-Jones in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC are examples of stars opening a show, not stunt casting.

Now Darren Criss joining HOW TO SUCCEED or Raven joining SISTER ACT, that is stunt casting.

[FindingNamo]

"Another thing is when people get annoyed that Ricky Martin is out and complain. SO what."

So what? Audience members are explicitly given permission to be annoyed when the guy's name is above the title.

[coverboyz]

Exactly. The majority of this show's audience is there to see Ricky Martin. It makes me wonder if they made his vacation clear to ticket buyers.
(Not that I have anything against the delicious Max Von Essen.)

[bwayphreak234]

Another thing is when people get annoyed that Ricky Martin is out and complain. SO what.

Really? MANY people are buying tickets to see Ricky Martin. His name is above the title - he is a major reason for people coming to see the show (probably the only reason for many). If a name is above the title, and the performer is not scheduled for vacation, people expect to see them. I try to be understanding that stuff happens, and I am open to seeing understudies. If I am going to see the show for a specific person (i.e. Anything Goes for Sutton Foster), I probably would change my tickets or go see something else.
When I see Evita, I am going to see Elena Roger, and will make sure I buy my tickets when she is not on vacation. People have every right to be annoyed when someone above the title is out. It's not something to say "SO what" about. Their names are being used to sell tickets and promote the show. Obviously for Evita it is working, and there are a lot more people going to the show to see Martin than I thought.

[oasisjeff]

Ricky's vacations were posted in advance on his website and on Telecharge.

[LYLS3637]

The worst were the crazy people at the stage door. They clearly didn't see the show because they were expecting Ricky to come out. We had to tell 5 different groups of people that Ricky was out of the show this week. 4 times they followed up with a condescending "Well then who are you waiting for?!?"

Finally after the 4th time, my boyfriend snapped and went on a tirade of "He's not the only person in the show you know. In fact, every single actor coming out of that door has more talent that Ricky does in his pinky finger-- especially the 5-time Tony Award nominee!"

The middle-aged, Claymate-looking woman responded, "Well, at least Ricky is hot."

[My Oh My]

I have nothing against Ricky Martin and feel he's being unfairly punished for the mediocre "everyman" personality he's forced to play in this mediocre production.

Like the film, the main purpose of it is to tone down the negativity towards Eva and make it appear neutral, even if the lyrics totally state otherwise. They are betting people aren't paying close attention and those who do are the ones who end up thinking this production is a confused homage to Madonna. Er...I mean Eva Peron.

I'll stick to the "old," creaky Evita everyone has already seen but remains a biting, effective, highly theatrical testimony to the power of live theatre when done right:

She need not cry for anyone, she's the star: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0EQlWX7gfs

She's a bitch, she knows it, and we love her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY_FjTWaHmk&feature=related

[quizking101]

I doubt Ricky will stay with this beyond his original contract...just a feeling.
I wonder who would be a good replacement for Che should the need arise

Enrique Iglesias?

[EponineAmneris]

Since when is Entertainment Weekely a reliable, reputable source for articles, reviews or anything else regarding theatre?

They specialize in rumors and Hollywood...

[Rainbowhigh23]

Enrique Iglesias would be worse. Please cast Max von Essen.

[Reginald Tresilian]

"I have nothing against Ricky Martin and feel he's being unfairly punished for the mediocre 'everyman' personality he's forced to play in this mediocre production."

I saw this production (essentially) in London, and Matt Rawle, while still playing the Everyman Che, brought a revolutinary, firebrand approach to the role. He just didn't have the beard and beret.

Martin plays the part like he's running for class president: all smiles, no substance. It's possible he was directed that way, but I have my doubts.

[wiggum2]

raul would be great!