Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
#0Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:28pmWhatever happened to her? ibdb.com only list RENT as her broadway credit, so I guess she hasn't been on another show. How long did she stay with RENT? Are there any articles that state how she feels about the movie?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:37pmI hear she's teaching now.
greenegirl87
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/11/05
#2re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:38pmI believe I read somewhere that she did not want to be involved with the movie
"But now the air is filled with confusion. We replace care with illusion."
Updated On: 11/22/05 at 07:38 PM
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#3re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:38pm...after her brief stint posting on BWW!
#4re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:45pminteresting......
#5re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:55pmAccording to a recent article, her and Chris Columbus mutually decided she was too old to reprise the role of Joanne. That's why she isn't in the movie.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#6re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 8:03pmWell I had always thought that, but I just was wondering what she had done since RENT.
#7re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 8:17pmShe was Rafiki in the Lion King tour a few years back.
*Krissy*
**Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#8re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 9:22pm
I miss JoAnne1 
#9re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 9:24pmI did not think she was very good on the OBC. Just my opinioin sp?
Bdwy24
Leading Actor Joined: 8/17/05
#10re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 9:38pmShe did play Rafiki in the tour of The Lion King and I heard she was excellent.
#11re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 9:50pmbroadwaystar--I do too. That was one fun thread.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#12re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 9:55pmI heard that she respected the decision that she was too old, but had one request... I quote her "Keep Joanne black!"
#13re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:09pm
I was at the RENT world premiere last week, and along with the entire film's cast, also in attendance at the film and the after-party was Fredi Walker. She was chatting it up with everyone and seemed to be having a blast. I also read the said interview noting that she and Chris mutually deciding that she was too old for the film. No hard feelings there at all. I do wish she would come back to Broadway though and remind us all again what a kick-ass voice she has. I love listening to her and Idina rock it out in Take Me or Leave Me!
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Updated On: 11/22/05 at 10:09 PM
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
theatrebabe
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/22/05
#14re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:15pmYeah, What Kevo siad. There was an article in the Times awhile back about each of the original cast members, where they are now, and what they thought about the movie. I forget what she's doing. But she wasn't bitter about not being in it or anything.
"While some feel it is a film related question, I seem to think it may be a 'I am thinking of losing my winkie' sort of question."
-cheezedoodle
-cheezedoodle
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#15re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:16pmi would've liked to have been a fly on the wall when fredi was talking to tracie! let alone daphne and rosario!
#16re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:58pmdaphne was absent that night (not to start any drama or anything)
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#17re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 12:36am
last i heard she was working on her production company - see the link below
big spoon productions
"Nothing is an accident, We are free to have it all, We are what we want to be, It's in ourselves to rise or fall!!" - "Fortune Favors the Brave" from Aida - the love that never died
#18re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 12:44amDo you really think she's too old? I mean, she said it herself, but I always thought that if Joanne looked older, then it would re-inforce her insecurities towards Maureen's love. Just my personal opinion, the critics reviews I have read have mentioned Tracie as one of the best performers in the movie so I'm sure it wasn't a bad decision to hire her as Joanne.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#19re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 12:47amtracie's performance in the film is phenomenal - and she seems like such a real down to earth person - totally adorable - i met her after the screening and though they were all nice, she was the nicest of the bunch!!
"Nothing is an accident, We are free to have it all, We are what we want to be, It's in ourselves to rise or fall!!" - "Fortune Favors the Brave" from Aida - the love that never died
Urban
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
#20re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 7:17amI never got the old deal (for Joanne). Joanne was the one character that was older then the rest, at least to me.
#21re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 11:44amFredi rocks! I find it odd that she was too "old" but the rest of the OBC was not? Things that make you go Hmmmmm....
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#22re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 3:59pmI agree, especially since Joanne is such already a mature, successful woman, and she has to be old enough to have graduated from Harvard's law school. Again, I'm sure Tracie is a perfect choice for the role, but I think the excuse that Fredi is too old does not make so much sense.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
JoAnne1
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/20/04
#23re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 5:45pm
well thanks for the kind words you guys...
don't worry. you'll see me on the boards again one day. and i will be doing the 10 year in April.
i still lurk around the boards - though don't have as much time to post as last year...
i'll be around tonight and checking in on the reviews and such.
xoxo
FWB
"Stupidity should be PAINFUL!" - Cam
"Yeah - painful for the STUPID not the rest of us!"
OMDB
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#24re: Whatever happened to the Original Joanne, Fredi Walker?
Posted: 11/23/05 at 5:47pmCan I say - I miss our late night 2am chats on the old wagon thread!
