Santino in Hello Dolly!!

[Broadwayxxx]

Is anyone going tonight/soon?? I am a HUGE fan of Santino and cannot wait to hear about his performance!!!!

[AllThatJazz2]

My friend and I are traveling to NYC this weekend and literally changed our arrival flights for Friday so that we can attend that evening’s performance. We love Santino’s work and have wanted to see him perform live for ages, and we adore this production of Hello Dolly (saw it with both Bette and Bernadette). Very excited, both to see him and to see the show for a third time.

[Emmaloucbway]

I'm going later this week! I'm also a huge fan of Santino and I can't wait to see him! I think he'll be great in this role. 

[msmp]

We have tickets for the 25th and while originally we picked that date because it was well into Bernadette's run, I find myself even more excited for Santino this time!

[NOWaWarning]

I was there tonight. He's wonderful. There's not much to say. He fit in like he'd been doing the show for months, sang well, danced well, had great chemistry with Kate Baldwin, and was overall funny and charming. His speech in the courtroom scene was especially good, I thought. The rest of the cast is in top shape too!

[Call_me_jorge]

To have such a great debut while rehearsing a tootsie workshop? Great for Santino!!

[Robbie2]

[DAME]

He is a honey .

[RippedMan]

I don't buy the age, but okay. 

[Mr. Nowack]

RippedMan said: "I don't buy the age, but okay."

He's 6 years younger than Gavin, and 7 younger than Baldwin.

[BrodyFosse123]

He's 6 years younger than Gavin, and 7 younger than Baldwin.

An actor's age and casting has nothing to do with each other.  Casting a 30 year old to play a 15 year old is feasible depending on the actor's appearance.  At 30, I still looked 18 years old.  Genetics and actual age has nothing to do with each other.  Some people look 10 years older than their actual ages and some people look 10 years younger than their actual age.  

Fact: Dustin Hoffman was 30 when he played 21 year old Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 film THE GRADUATE and Anne Bancroft was only 6 years older than him when she played Mrs. Robinson -- the OLDER woman his mom's age that he has an affair with.  



 

[broadway86]

I want to see him in it, this is a perfect role for him!

[NOWaWarning]

An actor's age and casting has nothing to do with each other. Casting a 30 year old to play a 15 year old isfeasible depending on the actor's appearance. At 30, I still looked 18 years old. Genetics and actual age has nothing to do with each other. Some people look 10years older than their actual ages and some people look 10 years younger than their actual age.
 

Well he's 35 playing 33 and a quarter. I know you said actual age doesn't matter, but I can say he certainly didn't look older onstage.
 

 

[SonofRobbieJ]

Jesus Christ, he's not Abe Vigoda.  

I saw his third performance, I believe (Wednesday night).  He's fantastic.  And perfectly age appropriate.  In full command of the stage and the character, he has fantastic chemistry with Ms. Baldwin (who I think should have won the Tony for Supporting Actress) and he's in fantastic voice.  Other than the show stopping because Vandergelder's wouldn't go away during Sunday Clothes, it was pure joy.  The depths mined by Peters whenever she spoke to Ephraim Levi cut me to the quick.  I welled up every time (probably owing to my own personal history I bring to the show).  It really is musical comedy at its highest level.   

[PalJoey]

I can't wait to see Santino do this!

And does anybody else want to see a picture of BrodyFosse123 at 30 years old when he still looked 18?

[theatregeek6]

Why are we all ok with color blind casting but are against age-blind casting?  If someone's age takes you out of the moment, then what about race?  disability?  age is a slippery slope we shouldn't go down.

[terrilovesNY]

Hi.  Does anyone know how long Santino will be for Gavin?  I am a fan of Hello Dolly and Santino and would love to see him in the role of Cornelius.  (I wish Gavin well and a speedy recovery) .  My next trip to NYC isn't until late June.  I'm very excited to see Bernadette & Victor and wonder if that may be to late to see Santino.

[AllThatJazz2]

Was there last night and the entire cast was a dream. Santino meshed with everyone effortlessly. Top notch. So, so happy we went again to catch him in the role.

[CoffeeBreak]

[ellbellthomps]

I saw him the other night, he was great and super sweet at stagedoor.

[Dollypop]

I was 30 when I played 16 yr old George Gibbs in OUR TOWN and no one seemed to mind. Of course, I was more age appropriate in the last act.

[EthelMae]

From the pic above with Victor Garber, it looks like Charlie Stemp is taller than both Santino Fontana and Garber. Barnaby is usually cast as shorter. Maybe it's just the angle of the photo.

[theatretenor2]

Dollypop said: "I was 30 when I played 16 yr old George Gibbs in OUR TOWN and no one seemed to mind. Of course, I was more age appropriate in the last act."

Hey there! I was 30 when I played the Courier in 1776.

[JayG 2]

What is it with the ridiculous age obsession on this site? Deal with the performance, not the damn age of the actor. Good Lord, get a grip on this lack of common sense!