In-depth Update on Karen Olivo- Page 2

[Jordan Catalano]

Where and when did Olivo ever ask for your sympathy?

[madbrian]

Given the countless entertainers whose lives either spiraled downward or ended far too young, it looks like she has made a wise decision to step away, at least for awhile.

[Bettyboy72]

I got the impression she was never into the acting life. I have roughly 8 failed attempts to see her under my belt (she was out a lot). I think Laurents crucifying her had to be one of the nails in the coffin. I love her voice, but I think she will do better out of the public eye.

She'd be a great acting professor at a college. She has a lot of wisdom to impart.

[CarlosAlberto]

PlayitAgainSam ~ Olivo isn't the first thespian to walk away from an acting career. Not everyone wants to be an actor and if one isn't happy in their chosen profession, whatever that profession may be then they are within their right to change it. You have no right to judge her. It's her life. It isn't about you or what you think millions of others would "kill for".

Dolores Hart walked away from a very successful movie career in the 1960s to become a cloistered Benedectine nun, I hear she is quite content and doesn't regret it one bit.

[Jordan Catalano]

Dolores actually became a nun because her married boyfriend was trying to have her killed. Get your facts straight, Carlos.

[all that jazz]

Someone who purposely walks away from such a promising future does not seem very wise to me. She's certainly not a good role model for students.

[Jordan Catalano]

^ No wonder you got along so well with broadway guy.

[SonofRobbieJ]

'Someone who purposely walks away from such a promising future does not seem very wise to me.'

Someone who walks away from something because they know they need to do so to make sure they are a healthy and complete human being is the very definition of wise.

[Jordan Catalano]

Remember that you're trying to explain that to a 12 year old, Robbie.

[CarlosAlberto]

LOL @ Jordan. That is not true!

all that jazz: you're clueless, materialistic, superficial, shallow, pretentious and obnoxious. YOU REEK OF IT.

[Kelly2]

I think some people in this thread don't realize that getting what you wanted is sometimes the worst punishment. You only get one go at this and if she's happier in Madison than on Broadway, good on her for being strong enough to give up something that is very hard to walk away from for the sake of her happiness.

[Liza's Headband]

"Someone who purposely walks away from such a promising future does not seem very wise to me. She's certainly not a good role model for students."

I just spit up my lunch. Is this kid for real?!

Guys. Just imagine if this was about Dame Lea walking away from acting. What do you think his/her reaction would be then?

[Mister Matt]

just have no sympathy for someone who walks away from something that millions of others would kill to attain

That's okay. I'm sure she has no sympathy for anyone who believes a person has the responsibility to remain eternally unhappy and miserable simply because their career is in a competitive field.

One of the greatest words of wisdom I ever received in the business came from Tony-winning producer Stuart Ostrow: "If you're not having fun, stop doing it. Because this business will kill you."

[CarlosAlberto]

Guys. Just imagine if this was about Dame Lea walking away from acting. What do you think his/her reaction would be then?

Hopefully the reaction will be that it kills itself.

[Jordan Catalano]

Sometimes the things you most wish for are not to be touched.

[Liza's Headband]

Carlos. I'm cackling over here. But I'm nodding my head in agreement, too.

[dramamama611]

Who's looking for sympathy? If it didn't bring her joy, she 100% did the right thing.


As a student, I was excellent in math -- should I kept working at it regardless of the fact that I hated it?

[Jordan Catalano]

To little kids like Jazz, acting is like the mafia. Once you're in...

[newintown]

There are more stories in the entertainment world like Olivo's than (to pick at random) Sutton Foster's. We just don't know how to discuss them, because we're afraid to talk openly about our thoughts on failure. (I'm not saying Olivo failed; but many people perceive abandoning a performing career as failure.)

[dramamama611]

Excellent point, Newintown. A change in your career path or lifestyle is not a failure, it's a choice.

And as always, ATJ, you just don't get life. Isn't the best lesson anyone can learn is to do what makes you happy? How does this make her a bad role model? Can she no longer teach them how to act? How to handle the media? How to find an agent? MOST students won't get "far" as Ms Olivo has anyway. She has quite a bit to share...including the far from fairy tale version.

[all that jazz]

But Olivo was not anywhere near the top, she still had a long way to go.

I'm not saying what she did was right or wrong, since I also realize that for most people happiness comes before success. That's just how I see it, I can't not help but to feel sad when someone abandons something that millions of people would kill to have, including myself. I'm the guy who always who always gets angry at the ending of Pal Joey and The Devil's Wear Prada and It's not my fault, that's just how my brain works.

I truly understand and respect all of your opinions, I just happen not to share them, because of my own very personal beliefs.

[SonofRobbieJ]

You will never, ever find happiness until you fix your brain.

Never.

Never, ever.

You will be a miserable person because your brain is not working properly.

[Jordan Catalano]

"I truly understand and respect all of your opinions, I just happen not to share them, because of my own very personal beliefs."

Kid, your "beliefs" are made up from what you've seen in GLEE and SMASH and are in no way grounded in any sort of reality.

[broadwayboy101]

all that jazz, you have an extremely stylized and unrealistic view of the acting world. If you choose to pursue it as a career, you are in for a rude awakening when you realize that it is nothing like the Glee-induced walk in the park you seem to think it is. Winning a Tony Award and performing in a Broadway show is far from failure.

[BwayTday]

She might have not been "near the top" but she won a goddamn Tony Award and starred in more broadway shows than most people could even dream of landing, but that really isn't the point. She wasn't happy and she wasn't fulfilled. Success isn't everything and you'll have to learn that eventually. Kill to get to the top and then be miserable there. Never give up on the dream you had once even if it stops being your dream. Sure, sounds like solid logic to me.

As a 'student' I find Karen Olivo to be a wonderful role model and if I ever reach 1/10 of her success, I hope I have the sense to drop it all if it no longer makes me happy.