Pittsburgh CLO's "Into the Woods" to Star Foster, Cody and Leavel

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:54pm

What a cast! And they haven't even announced who'll be playing Cinderella, her prince, the Baker's Wife, and other key roles yet. Wish I could see this...
Hunter Foster is the Baker, Jennifer Cody is Little Red, Beth Leavel is The Witch.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 11:25pm

Take the train, there are cheap Hotels and the Andy Warhol Museum to explore.
They must pay these actors well, the Theatre is Gorgeous, but the production values are usually sub par.
When I saw Malcolm Gets and a great cast in COMPANY, Sutton Foster and Nell Carter in SOUTH PACIFIC, Victoria Clark in GUYS AND DOLLS, the sets and costumes were rentals.

[skb2010]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 11:50pm

I vote a re-revival on Broadway with this cast.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 12:58am

As a Pittsburgher who does not love the CLO, I would not say that the production values are sub-par. True that the sets and costumes are rentals ,but they usually rent the sets and costumes from the national tours. CLO shows never look cheapjack.

CLO's main problem, besides that they never do anything interesting, is that they are woefully under-rehearsed. Unless the show ahead of them is there for two weeks, a show there only gets one weeks rehearsal and the day before they open is the first day spent on the actual set. If you want to see a CLO show that has the kinks worked out, you go to see the Sunday matinee.

And, as someone who is trying to be an actor in Pittsburgh, I think that they shouldn't even bother having auditions for anyone but dancers in Pittsburgh.

They never cast the "character actor" parts with people from Pittsburgh who haven't worked for them before.

And the only Non-Equity people they ever cast are children.

I now step off my soap-box and return you to the topic of the thread.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:22am

I was going to ask if they cast Non-Equity. It seems weird to me that some of these actors are either recent grads, or still in school. How can you be in school and still have your Equity card? Wouldn't you be ineligible to do your own school's shows?

I almost went to the open call for this in NYC, but I couldn't due to work problems. Glad I didn't waste my time now if they don't hire Non-Eqs ever.

I'm still curious to know who will play Jack. Especially if they went with Cody for Little Red Riding Hood.

And it amazes me that they only play for a week.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:25am

Jennifer Cody as Little Red? Is she not too old?

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:27am

Jen Cody can look like she is 5 years old if she tries hard enough.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:38am

It's stage. It's not film. Make-up and acting can do wonders.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:39am

But children usually play the role in major productions.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:55am

Kevin Earley as the Wolf and Cinderella's prince? Wow!

Sadly, I'll be in Pittsburgh in late May if I go at all.

Jen Cody is going to make a FIERCE Red.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 2:08am

Interesting...
I would LOVE to see Hunter Foster as the Baker and Beth Leavel as the Witch. Kevin Early should be amazing as the Wolf and Prince.
jen Cody is a good performer.. HOWEVER, girl couldn't pull off playing 16 at the MUNY, let alone at Pittsburgh CLO. There aren't many houses that big.. Think about it.. The Baker married to Little Red? I obviously have no way to judge Lauren Sprague, who is cast as the Stepmother (and as a CCM student, I assume her to be strong), but REALLY?!? Little red is a few years past menopause and the Stepmother is working toward an undergrad degree?? This seems mighty backward, no?

[Lefou]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 12:15pm

In response to the Jen Cody being too old comments, I will say [again] as I stated in another thread and some have already said...she STILL passes for 10 years old! Little Red, much like the role of Little Sally (some see a spoof on Little Red even...) should be played by an actress who is very experienced and actually a bit older. I dont think Ms. Cody is going to TRY to play 10 years old, she is a 30-something year old woman embodying a 10 year old's spirit which she sure as hell has.

But in other news: Chandra Lee Schwartz is gonna make a FIERCE Lola in Copa!! Her Penny in Hairspray in Vegas was awesome and she was hysterical in But I'm a Cheerleader. That show has a veryy nice cast!

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:45pm

As for Jen Cody being aboe to pass for 10, the Benedum Center (where CLO performs) is an old movie palace and seats over twenty-five hundred. It's also where the Pittsburgh Opera performs, it's that big of a house. So, with the right makeup, Julie Harris could play Little Red Ridinghood there!

As for the dance students from Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park University (the two big performing schools in the city) performing for CLO, I believe that the schools have some sort of system worked out with Equity that the students don't have to get their cards until after they graduate, if they choose.

As for "Copacabana", why, God?

They have only ever done "Follies" once and that was over twenty years ago. They've never done "Sunday in the Park with George." They have never done "Mack and Mabel."

Why bring back a piece of dreck like "Copacabana"?

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:49pm

Does anyone else think Hunter Foster is a bad choice for the Baker? He seems more like an overgrown Jack to me.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:58pm

^^Hmmm, an overgrown Jack. I actually rather like that idea. I mean, Jack's mother can be played as an older woman, so she could be 50-60 year old with a son that is still childish, but not really a child. Kinda like the kid that moves back in with mom after college and never leaves.

That being said, I do have a friend in Pittsburgh, so I'm tempted, but Pittsburgh is quite the drive from Boston.

[thejcm]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:27pm

Sondheimboy is right, the Benedum is huge. Saw Tommy there a few years back and even in the front of the mezz it felt very far.

I'm leaving for Pittsburgh on Thursday for the weekend to visit friends (and see Adam and Anthony in RENT) but I'm already trying to plan a trip back in August specifically to see this.

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 5:05pm

"Why bring back a piece of dreck like "Copacabana"? "

I can only imagine that the audience voted for that whenever CLO does audience favorites the summer before. As someone who votes for Follies, Sunday and Into The Woods every year, I can at least know that one of my choices made it through.

I am very excited to see this production of Into The Woods. I think that Jen Cody will be fantastic and I'm sure Beth Leavel is going to be incredible, as is Hunter Foster. It's very exciting for me.

[Hank]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 5:22pm

Jen Cody is indeed "little", and she is adorable as well.
The rest of the cast is also wonderful.
Sounds like a good reason to visit one of America's truly cool cities. While there have a Primanti sandwich, ride the incline (some nice restaurant on Grandview Ave), see the Warchol...

[maybethistime]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:21pm

As for the dance students from Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park University (the two big performing schools in the city) performing for CLO, I believe that the schools have some sort of system worked out with Equity that the students don't have to get their cards until after they graduate, if they choose.

To the best of my understanding:
Most college musical theatre students that work in summer stock initially join the EMC (Equity Membership Candidate) Program. They work on Equity productions at participating Equity theaters for less-than-Equity pay earning 1 "point" per week. Once you accrue (I believe) 50 points (50 weeks of rehearsal/production work under special Equity contracts), you are "Equity-eligible" for 5 years. During this time you may continue to work under non-Equity contracts or you may pay the fees and join AEA. If you do not join within the 5 years, you must start over. Additionally, Equity's normal restrictions can be (and always are) waived for college students that become Equity members before graduating and still want to perform with their schools.
I hope that makes sense!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:00am

It does, thanks!

Wasn't the chick who was in the original "Into the Woods" (the one on VHS and DVD) a bit older? I thought she was hilarious! I actually think Little Red Riding Hood works better has someone fat and a little older. Cody is older, but not fat, but still has the sarcasm to pull off the role.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:06am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Ferland

Danielle Ferland, the original Little Red (and seen on the DVD) was born January 31, 1971. She was in high school during the original run.. 16 years old at opening, 19 during the filming.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:06am

Double post.
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 01:06 AM

[Taryn]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:08am

Wasn't the chick who was in the original "Into the Woods" (the one on VHS and DVD) a bit older? I thought she was hilarious!

Danielle Ferland was 16 when it opened. So no, she wasn't "older."

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:12am

Really? Really?! Could have fooled me. Seriously. I thought she must have been in her early 30s. Well bless her. She was good though. What's that chica up to now.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:19am

She was just in the revival of All My Sons. She looks exactly the same.