Major life announcements

[RichardL]

Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez to Make Broadway Debut in '& Juliet': 'A Dream Come True'

Here's something to flip over — Laurie Hernandez is heading to Broadway! The Olympic gold medalist gymnast will make her Broadway debut this spring in the hit musical & Juliet, joining the ensemble in the featured dance role of Charmion beginning March 17 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New...

people.com

As long as the world is giving her something to do besides commentate gymnastics meets, I'm all for it!

 

[QuietColours]

Is she still attending the NYU School for the Arts?

 

[IratePanda]

Is she still attending the NYU School for the Arts?

Yes, I think so. She enrolled in '22, so this year is the earliest she'd graduate.

 

[IratePanda]

As long as the world is giving her something to do besides commentate gymnastics meets, I'm all for it!

I don't mind her commentary, but I generally have a soft spot for her.

 

[RichardL]

She is still a student but is not taking coursework this semester.

 

[JaJa]

As long as the world is giving her something to do besides commentate gymnastics meets, I'm all for it!

Yes . . . . .but good for Laurie. This is great I think

 

[makam]

I hope it isn't stunt casting and that she is actually good in whatever the part is. I kinda hate it when people with all the connections/advantages get handed parts. The gymnastics commentary job is understandable with her background (even if she isn'tgreat at it or giving us the commentary we want), the ninja warrior (?) stuff also sorta worked with the athletic background, but landing a Broadway role...well, i hope she doesn't bomb.

 

[Sasha]

Well, she is in theatre school from what I understand. But yeah, I agree about not liking the idea of fame and celebrity opening huge doors for people. I hope the casting is a good fit and wish her well.

 

[RichardL]

She is a dual major in drama and creative writing, interestingly. I didn't know that when we were talking about her memoir, but of course that was published long before she ever stepped foot in a college classroom. Re: the casting, my guess is that she actually has developed some raw theatrical talent into something marketable. NYU Drama is no joke.

 

[JaJa]

I hope it isn't stunt casting and that she is actually good in whatever the part is. I kinda hate it when people with all the connections/advantages get handed parts. The gymnastics commentary job is understandable with her background (even if she isn'tgreat at it or giving us the commentary we want), the ninja warrior (?) stuff also sorta worked with the athletic background, but landing a Broadway role...well, i hope she doesn't bomb.

She has a dance role in the ensemble cast. She had previously won DWTS so I am sure she is absolutely qualified for this part. (And its not as if the name Laurie Hernandez will be some kind of big draw for the Broadway crowd) I think its great.

 

[Indy]

Her role (Charmian) is one that &Juliet has "stunt casted" before with Charlie D'Amelio. It's part of the ensemble so while she'll be on for a lot of the show, it's not like she has a main singing part. It's mostly a background dancer.

 

[JaJa]

Her role (Charmian) is one that &Juliet has "stunt casted" before with Charlie D'Amelio. It's part of the ensemble so while she'll be on for a lot of the show, it's not like she has a main singing part. It's mostly a background dancer.

I am sorry but I do not see this as "stunt casting" Laurie Hernandez is an unknown to most of the world outside the gymnaverse. She has the personality for acting, can dance -- she won DWTS -- and she (I think graduated or is graduating this year) from NYU with a major in drama. I am quite certain she won the role. If they chose Simone Biles I would say, ok, you can call it 'stunt casting." But Laurie earned the role I am sure.

 

[MaryClare]

I am sorry but I do not see this as "stunt casting" Laurie Hernandez is an unknown to most of the world outside the gymnaverse. She has the personality for acting, can dance -- she won DWTS -- and she (I think graduated or is graduating this year) from NYU with a major in drama. I am quite certain she won the role. If they chose Simone Biles I would say, ok, you can call it 'stunt casting." But Laurie earned the role I am sure.

She won DWTS, is an Olympic gold medalist and has a contract with NBC. She is definitely not an ordinary acting school graduate. I’m sure that the role is within her talent and ability, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t get it above the very many other aspiring actors in NYC on the basis of who she is.

 

[JaJa]

She won DWTS, is an Olympic gold medalist and has a contract with NBC. She is definitely not an ordinary acting school graduate. I’m sure that the role is within her talent and ability, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t get it above the very many other aspiring actors in NYC on the basis of who she is.

But the "basis of who she is" realistically brings no added value to a Broadway Show. The vast majority of ticket buyers will have no idea who she is.

 

[rlayt]

Maybe they hope to inspire people who ordinarily wouldn’t to buy tickets. I think that’s what is meant by stunt casting?

 

[MaryClare]

But the "basis of who she is" realistically brings no added value to a Broadway Show. The vast majority of ticket buyers will have no idea who she is.

It gives the show a lot of publicity and media attention that it wouldn’t otherwise have

 

[JaJa]

It gives the show a lot of publicity and media attention that it wouldn’t otherwise have

& Juliet is a long running (4 years now) major hit on Broadway. They did not need to "stunt cast" and if they did Laurie just would not be the choice. I think this whole thing about people calling her getting (an ensemble dance) role in this production "stunt casting" is, first of all probably just not true and second of all kind of unfair and just not nice to Laurie.

 

[MaryClare]

& Juliet is a long running (4 years now) major hit on Broadway. They did not need to "stunt cast" and if they did Laurie just would not be the choice. I think this whole thing about people calling her getting (an ensemble dance) role in this production "stunt casting" is, first of all probably just not true and second of all kind of unfair and just not nice to Laurie.

Shows stunt cast all the time. It keeps them in the public eye, gives them a ton of free advertising and potentially exposes the show to a new audience. Thats great that they’ve managed to fill seats for 4 years, but they’ll want to do so for another 4 years.

Do you genuinely believe Laurie went through the normal audition process with hundreds of others, multiple call backs etc having tried unsuccessfully for numerous other productions?

 

[JaJa]

Shows stunt cast all the time. It keeps them in the public eye, gives them a ton of free advertising and potentially exposes the show to a new audience. Thats great that they’ve managed to fill seats for 4 years, but they’ll want to do so for another 4 years.

Do you genuinely believe Laurie went through the normal audition process with hundreds of others, multiple call backs etc having tried unsuccessfully for numerous other productions?

Of course shows stunt cast all the time. And I assume Laurie will bring a minor boost in ticket sales outside the usual theater going crowd. But it just will not be significant. Laurie has 1.3 million followers on Instagram. She is replacing Charli D"Amelio who has 41.2 Million followers on Instagram and likely was a real case of pure stunt casting.

 

[JaJa]

Maybe they hope to inspire people who ordinarily wouldn’t to buy tickets. I think that’s what is meant by stunt casting?

stunt casting is about hiring real celebrities and influencers to fill roles they otherwise would not get in an effort to boost ticket sales. It is absolutely done all the time but Laurie Hernandez is not going to be enough of a ticket sale booster to be categorized that way. She earned the role.