Musicals in Mufti did it in 2001. Not sure if you're thinking of that as major. I wouldn't say it was. I saw it, too, and enjoyed it a great deal, even though the music was beyond some of the leads, most of all beyond a young lady named Anika Noni Rose, who struggled very hard and with some success to sing Cindy Lou. At the talkback, I think it was said that she had never before used her head voice. Her performance was very charming, despite the fact that the Met clearly would not be calling (nor was that her aspiration).
Suzzanne Douglas was dramatically very effective as Carmen, if a bit uneven musically. She had the notes, she often even had the sound, but the gear shifts were not ideal. The best of the principals was Jason Raize, whom I had never seen before. He had everything you'd need for the role, at least in that space. He could act it, he could sing it. He was excellent. His death a few years later was a very sad tragedy. |
