Washington Square Article Discusses Big Names on Broadway, Including Clay

The Washington Square's reporter, Linnea Bloomquist, in her article They've Got Big Names on Broadway? Big Deal, does not seem impressed with Broadway using big name celebrities in their musicals. However, in discussing the musicals and celebrities, they did one thing I liked...they included Clay Aiken as one of their big names!

For whatever reason, there are people who seem to think that Broadway is a step down from Hollywood or the music industry. Not sure why, though, because this is really just another avenue for showing the amazing talent of some very talented people, including Clay.

This article talks of "stunt casting", which is casting A and B list stars to raise ticket sales in a musical that would possibly otherwise die. In mentioning the many talented stars who have had success on Broadway and have breathed life into a show that would possibly not have continued to survive, this article to me is spotlighting the extreme talent and versatility of these stars. Clay, for example, has already shown that he is a great singer and comedian. Now, he is showing his natural acting abilities. And this, they would call "stunt casting"? I would call it instead "inspired casting" or "smart casting"! Just like Hollywood, why wouldn't Broadway want the best they can get to continue to draw the crowds?

Note what this article says about Clay:

And how is Clay Aiken's Broadway debut going? He will go on as brave Sir Robin eight times a week until May 4, and though his reviews have been surprisingly good, his presence alone will not make or break "Spamalot." The Monty Python musical has consistently played to full houses and will certainly persevere for several years to come, with or without stunt casting. Aiken is one example of stunt casting that was intended not to salvage a floundering production but to boost already steady ticket sales.

The reporter says Clay is surprisingly good. Many people have been very pleasantly surprised at Clay's acting and comedic ability. The "surprise" part will soon go away as more people see the many talents that he has. Then maybe the idea of stunt casting stars will be a thing of the past, and the idea of "casting the most talented" will take its place as the norm.

Check out the comments after the article. I was pleasantly surprised myself to read some really great comments from people who appear not to be Clay fans.