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<p>I think there are differences between performing on a stage every night to an audience sitting in front of you, who can respond and give you instant feedback to your performance, and performing for the cameras to an audience who is live across the universe.</p>
<p>I’ve seen the “coming attractions” several times, and Carrie Underwood’s voice sounds all wrong for Maria, to me. She sounds hard, and she’s gargling the notes. I’d like someone with a pure, open sound.</p>
<p>Audra MacDonald is a vocal goddess. Too bad she’ll be restricted to one song.</p>
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<p>I don’t agree at all. The Baroness needed only one look to understand she was in trouble; Maria was way hotter than her.</p>
<p>I’m more concerned about Carrie Underwood’s acting than her singing. If her acting falls flat that would affect the entire production.</p>
<p>^^^ Agree; it is my biggest fear.</p>
<p>That being said, I think there’s probably a whole generation out there who has not been exposed to SOM, some who will watch this production only because they’re diehard Carrie Underwood fans. If this live performance provides that first exposure to the story, then I’m OK with that. FWIW… I am NOT a country music fan, but am trying to remain open-minded with regards to her singing.</p>
<p>I recall vaguely seeing Mary Martin on stage in NYC, and being upset that she was replaced with Julie Andrews for the movie. I loved Shirley Knight, who had both looks & voice. Barbara Streisand? just terrific. </p>
<p>I wish they didn’t need a name like Carrie U for lead role, but instead used a “name” for the baroness, a lesser role.</p>
<p>They did the same for Annie, using Carol Burnett as the “name”.</p>
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I don’t think there are too many “name” 13-year-olds.</p>
<p>The arts are living, breathing, changing… to lock a performance in your head and refuse to consider watching another, is just foreign to me.</p>
<p>If it sucks, then blast away, but give it a chance.</p>
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The “Making of” special reminded me of how much the stage play differs from the film. If the new production remains faithful to the original, Audra MacDonald will have several songs as the Abbess: “My Favorite Things,” which Maria originally sings with the Abbess before leaving the abbey; “(How Do You Solve a Problem Like) Maria”; “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” of course; and several Latin hymns with the other nuns. Not enough Audra MacDonald, but what is?</p>
<p>Here’s something I never knew before <a href=“http://www.contactmusic.com/news/johansson-snubs-sound-of-music_1003667:[/url]”>http://www.contactmusic.com/news/johansson-snubs-sound-of-music_1003667:</a>
Scarlett as Maria? Would have been interesting.</p>
<p>If Carrie Underwood is “too pretty” for the role of Maria, what would it be like with one of the hottest women on the planet?</p>
<p>I didn’t know she could sing.</p>
<p>notrichenough…Carol Burnett did not play the role of Annie…LOL!!! Too funny. She played Miss Hannigan in the movie of Annie (an adult role…runs the orphanage). She was fabulous in the role. </p>
<p>I don’t think this is a fair comparison with Carrie Underwood, however. Carol Burnett was an actress who had been in musicals and plays before then. I read her biography.</p>
<p>I don’t think the issue is that they got a “name” for the lead. The issue is that the “name” they got is not an actress, nor sings MT repertoire. She may be fine; I don’t know. But there are plenty of “names” in the theater world, albeit they are not as widely known to the general public as country music stars or American Idol winners.</p>
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I didn’t say she did. The point was that if they were going to cast a “name” in Annie, it had to be one of the supporting characters, because there are no young girls famous enough to be the “name” as the lead.</p>
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<p>Are there any “names” in the MT world that are known to the general public that could do this role? I can’t think of any, not that that means much.</p>
<p>This show is on network television, it’s a commercial production… without a big “name” as a draw I think the audience would be miniscule.</p>
<p>I watched the “making of…” I actually expected Carrie Underwood to sound better than she did. I don’t know the right vocabulary to describe this, but somehow her voice sounded forced–like she was pushing a little too hard.</p>
<p>I love SOM, and am not a fan of country music. When I heard about casting Carrie Underwood as Maria, my first thought was that this would be a “country” version of SOM. I know that this isn’t the case, but can’t get that horrifying thought out of my head and will probably skip it. Since this is live there are no actual photos, but in the publicity shots I’ve seen her looks just don’t match up with someone naturally beautiful, but wanting to live a simple life as a nun. Long blond hair and lots of eye makeup just look off.</p>
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<p>notrichenough, Scarlet does, indeed, sing. She even has CDs out. 
Google it and you can listen to her on youtube.</p>
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Haters gonna hate. 
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<p>I disagree completely. The Baroness needed only one look to see she was in trouble, but not at Maria. She looked at the Captain and how he was entranced by Maria. No way Julie Andrews is better looking than Eleanor Parker, and Andrews’ hairstyle was amazingly unflattering. </p>
<p>I do hope Carrie Underwood isn’t tottering around on those three and a half inch heels as Maria.</p>
<p>I watched part of “the making of” video. The kids, certainly, are a great group. I can’t see Carrie Underwood projecting the pre-war wholesomeness that Julie Andrews did–it was easy to believe that she was a convent girl with a vocation, and that haircut helped-- but maybe if they do away with the heavy eye makeup and tone down the hair…</p>
<p>I googled SJ “singing.” Not completely convinced that she can hold a tune.</p>
<p>I’m so excited about this that I’m watching the “making of” for the third time right now. Those who expect it to look like the movie will be disappointed because the screen play does have differences. </p>
<p>Is it Thursday yet?</p>
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<p>Just like the movie and stage production have differences with the real story?? ;)</p>