How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
#1How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/30/08 at 9:28pmI know she has some great vocals in In The Heights..but did anyone see her in Rent..?..I know she understudied Mimi and Maureen
Amneris
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#2re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/30/08 at 10:58pmi saw her play just about everything in that show and she was wonderful in all tracks. Her mimi was original, her vocals were beautiful and she really touched you.
#2re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:23pmi saw her as mark's mother, i wish i saw her as mimi.
SDav 10495
Broadway Star Joined: 7/21/06
#3re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:39pm
i saw her as mark's mother, i wish i saw her as mimi.
Ditto.
"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit."
(Emanuel Azenberg)
#4re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 9:28am
I saw Olivo as Mimi five times back in 1998. I hated her. Absolutely hated. She was one of the worst Mimi's I've ever seen.
That being said...she was completely brill in ITH. Couldn't believe it was the same person.
"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." -Carrie Bradshaw
Ole Chum
Leading Actor Joined: 12/6/07
#5re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 11:21am
i saw her twice as Mimi and twice as Maureen on broadway. she was one of the best technically acted Mimis i ever saw- very emotional, very in tune with the character. that said, she didnt blow me away.
as maureen, however, she was really brilliant. just insanely good comic timing, had this way of taking herself so seriously while being totally ridiculous. and she blew the roof off the theater with take me or leave me. absolutely wonderful.
(if you saw her in 1998, you saw her on tour and i got the impression that when she started out- understudying Mimi- her vocals were really amateur and shrill. but that said, the powers that be made her full time tour Mimi and she got solid reviews all over the country and honed her performance for broadway.)
#6re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 12:12pmI did see her on tour with the Angel Cast and that's a perfect description of her voice. Amazing how far she's come in ten years (oh lord...has it really been ten years?!)
"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." -Carrie Bradshaw
#7re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 12:14pmagreed- i saw her on broadway, understudying Maureen and I thought she was very strong.
get all the bitchy dish at: thatbroadwayblog.blogspot.com
Ole Chum
Leading Actor Joined: 12/6/07
#8re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 12:44pm
yeah she really was one of the best performers i ever saw in rent- her singing take me or leave with danielle greaves was positively earth shattering
so ive been a quiet fan for a while and i just love all the praise shes getting for ITH- from almost every critic. were it not such a busy tony season...
#9re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 2:50pm
http://westwood.fortunecity.com/baker/552/sounds.html#CHICAGO%20CLOSING
I can't believe this is goodbye. . .12/06/96 - 09/05/99
#10re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 3:37pmWow the clips of her on that site are pretty good. I'm glad that they exist.
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
LouieLovesTheater
Leading Actor Joined: 3/30/04
#11re: How was Karen Olivo in Rent?
Posted: 3/31/08 at 4:41pm
Saw Karen as Mimi on tour in St. Paul (Laura/Maya did the first two days and then left for London).
I thought she was totally boring and forgettable...she was going on full time and she didn't even bother to fix her hair....it was LOOOOOOOONG then, straight and shiny. It looked like Crystal Gale doing Out Tonight....
That said, her vocals lately have been wonderful.
