New Raul (and his tbcjscpctscroc) thread Part III

By request

• Gracias OP!

• I know Im late on this, but would someone please endulge me and decode "tbcjscpctscroc" just one last time. pretty please...

• Muchas Gracias, OP! I think maybe in future this should be part of the original post: tbcjscpctscroc = thick, big, cut, juicy, suckable Cuban Papi cock that shoots creamy ropes of cum

• waht happened to bisexual. I thought bisexual was in there somewhere.

• Well, no, I don't think it was, because technically it's not the cock that's bisexual.

• Some Leap of Faith shots to finish out the thread in style.

  http%3A//www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/leap_of_faith_rehearsal_100312/jessica-phillips-and-raul-esparza-press-rehearsal_3771977.jpg

• Raul and Jessica Phillips

  http%3A//www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/leap_of_faith_rehearsal_100312/jessica-phillips-and-raul-esparza-press-rehearsal_3771966.jpg

• Hallelujah!

  http%3A//www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/leap_of_faith_rehearsal_100312/raul-esparza-and-company-press-rehearsal-with_3771938.jpg

• Raul and Jessica

  http%3A//www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/leap_of_faith_rehearsal_100312/raul-esparza-and-jessica-phillips-press-rehearsal_3771937.jpg

• Sorry!! I got my Raul threads mixed up!

• I realize I'm in the minority, but I just don't get it. I don't find him hot. This is nothing amazing about his singing. His tremulous vibrato annoys me. Now, perhaps if someone had some pics of his thick, big, cut, juicy, suckable Cuban Papi cock that shoots creamy ropes of cum, I'd be interested.

• There are no pics of Raul's wonderful tcbjscpctscroc, but many saw it when he was in The Normal Heart.

• Who's fucking Raul these days?

• Chris Ashley has done three shows with Raul: 1. Rocky Horror 2. Leap of Faith 3. ???

  Don%27t%20remember

• 3. Taboo

• Of course! Thanks, r15

• Ashley didn't do Taboo. (That was Chris Renshaw) Ashley did Merrily in Washington Kennedy Center with Raul as Charley

• r17 is correct. I got my Chris's mixed up. Not the first time.

• Speaking of which where is Renshaw? Hope he disappeared back into oblivion. King and I was beautiful but after that what a disaster. And funky perv stories about him too

• I'm hoping for a barefoot scene in Leap!

• Renshaw didn't return to Broadway after Taboo. Philip Salon is still my favorite Raul performance, with his Charlie Fox a close second. He should have won the Tony for those roles. Maybe he will finally get his award this year.

• Didn't I leave Leap of Faith because I was busy? Am I still busy.

  Brooke

• Brooke's singing was bad but she got much undeserved hate for her performance in L.A. Her acting was fine. The book and Ashford's atrocious direction were the main problems. Jessica Phillips is a doll and she looks beautiful in all of the press photos. I'm happy she's getting a big break.

• Every Raul thread needs this pic

  http%3A//i51.tinypic.com/10xdn9g.jpg

• Papi BLEEDS for his work:

  http%3A//www.broadway.com/shows/leap-faith/buzz/159946/raul-esparzas-role-in-leap-of-faith-cuts-deep-i-actually-have-blood-on-me/

• And our ears BLEED from his braying.

• Speak for yourself, R26. I love his powerful voice.

• That photo is fantastic, r24 He looks soo hot

• Someone said on the theatre thread that Raul has a shirtless scene in Leap.

• Lets hope he doesn't shave!

• Bump!

• Who's Raul's new bf?

• Anyone?

• Maybe he's too busy with the show? That would explain the lack of gossip.

• .

  http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/studs_on_stage_AFMGav4qjFRFPGLdcuxilL

• RAUL ESPARZA Jonas Nightingale, “Leap of Faith” (previews start April 3, St. James) Mission: As Esparza puts it: “To rob the whole town blind.” Biggest obstacle: a hot sheriff named Marla with an adorable son Manliest look: “A good con man never reveals his secrets,” says Esparza. Offstage: He’s “high on life” — whatever that means. High on life? WTF?

• Either he was feeling snarly about the Post, or....

• bump

• Maybe he's loving the single life again? The pic of Raul on his knees from the Leap of Faith ad: Real or fake/CGI? There's something odd abou it.

• I think that's him

• This should be the ad:

  http%3A//i41.tinypic.com/2ce41td.jpg

• There will be Papi skin! - says Jessica Phillips

  http%3A//www.redlasso.com/entertainment/preview-leap-of-faith/

• Jessica and Raul worked together before LOF? when?

• Previews! Tomorrow! Raul's hairy chest! BARE FEETS!!

• Shirt off, yes; bare feet, no. Sorry.

• Aww

• Just watched the rehearsal video - I'm loving his energy and look!

• Bump for previews!

• Raul's musical highlights:

  http%3A//www.playbill.com/news/article/161441-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Ral-Esparzas-Musical-Highlights

• While people think Raul is great in the role the reaction towards the show is different from site to site. In a strange turn of events the people at ATC ejoyed it more than the kids at BWW. Of course, the same old bitter queens who dislike Raul are trying to turn the BWW thread into a Raul bashing, rehashing the same old gossip. I mean, Taboo? Seriously? it's been almost 10 years and discussed to death, even by the man himself! Haters gonna hate, I guess

• Speaking of haters, WEHT Trollina? did she finally put a gun to her brainless head? And the Spanish/Raul's feets troll? Still remember his "Be happy, Perra" to Trollina. Loved it.

• Raúl está en un pavo

• Trollina disappeared when she found out that Raul was no longer married

• Raul is taking YOUR questions! "How do you pronounce tbcjscpctscroc?" "Is it true that Bobby was the top?" "How often do you get a pedicure?" "Unlike most Cuban men, you are cut. How do you feel about it?" "Are you still seeing The Whore from 74th St.?"

  http://www.broadway.com/buzz/161032/leap-of-faith-star-raul-esparza-is-taking-your-questions/

• [quote]"Is it true that Bobby was the top?" Can you imagine Bobby Steggert fucking Raul? A crazy-hot image [quote]"How often do you get a pedicure?" Raul gets a mani-pedi regularly, that's a fact. His hands and feets are always picture ready. Who's the Whore from 74th St.?

• r55 That is a fucking white hot thought!

• I like Raul but he's not going to be so pretty in a few years.

• None of us are, r57.

• I think he is at his hottest right now. Before he was either too skinny or too bloated.

• Asi parece, R52 Lastima :(

• "Can you imagine Bobby Steggert fucking Raul? A crazy-hot image" Raul is versatile so Bobby probably did fuck The Supreme Papi's supreme ass.

• [quote]Are you still seeing The Whore from 74th St.?" Make that the whore from 70th St.

  Raul loves to have his toes sucked

• And Papi should watch some video of himself in Tick Tick Boom to see what he did when he was a likable honest performer

• This new thread needs more feets

  http%3A//i47.tinypic.com/11se2qq.jpg

• more

  http%3A//i54.tinypic.com/15wp50.jpg

• MORE

  http%3A//i53.tinypic.com/2zr3k82.jpg

• My apologies, Whore from 70th St. I was off by four blocks!

  r 55

• More about this Whore from 70th St./Raul hookup please.

• There was a radio interview a couple of days ago where he talked about his childhood, his dreams of being on Broadway. When he talked about his late grandmother he was about to cry.

• [quote]IT’S NO SECRET the new Broadway musical “Leap of Faith,” which stars hunky Raul Esparza, climaxes in a rainstorm. What isn’t known is how the stage crew at the St. James Theatre waterproofs the production’s sensitive body mics. The show’s rainmaker, associate technical supervisor Sam Ellis, tells Daily News theater critic Joe Dziemianowicz that there are “two grosses of condoms” in the house. “So far,” he added, “none have gone missing.”

  http%3A//www.nydailynews.com/gossip/anchorman-director-judd-apatow-ferrell-keeping-mum-sequel-article-1.1057652%23ixzz1rZcEjhzv

• Well, it was only the first week of previews ;)

• [quote] When he talked about his late grandmother he was about to cry. r69, its called acting. probably more convincing than anything he does in LOF.

• R72 = A jaded, cynical bitch

• I think she raised him

• F**k off and die, r72 and take your cynicism with you. r74 is correct - his parents both worked so his grandmother raised him. She's the one who taught him all the old Cuban folk songs, she's the one he performed for as a child. Her language was his first language. She died shortly after he debuted in Rocky Horror. He's talked about her many times, always with great emotion.

• Yeah, I remember reading about how it was mostly him and his grandmother when he was a little boy, and how she would only speak spanish so that's his first language. He said something about learning english when he was 4 or 5.

• RAUL SHAVED HIS BEARD

  Nooooooooooooooo..........

• Raul and his leather pants (before he shaved the beard).

  http%3A//s3.broadway.com/photos/large/5.173110.jpg

• Most of Raul's photos don't do him justice. He's a thousand times better live. Still nice, though.

• When will Broadway.com post the 'ask a star' video?

• Raul's beard has a twitter account!

  http%3A//twitter.com/%23%21/Rauls_Beard

• Raul's beard is an [childish epithet posted by a bigoted tool]

  Or%20a%2016%20year%20old%20girl

• His long hair and beard during the L.A. run made his character's evilness too obvious. Maybe that's why he shaved.

• Get over to Playbill on line! Production photos of Raul (and his tbcjscpctscroc) in nicely fitted LEATHER pants!!! Raul in a tank top!! Raul POSING!!! Raul crossing his legs.. sorry no feets pics The show may be a DUD but Supreme Papi looks fabulous..

  The Little Girl Raul slapped during Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

• Link:

  http%3A//www.playbill.com/news/article/164999-PHOTO-CALL-A-First-Look-at-Broadways-Leap-of-Faith-Starring-Ral-Esparza

• Another flop and no Tony for Raul. How unfortunate considering he's a bit... long in the tooth.

• Heard from a friend that Raul and Nick are over. Raul is dating outside the B'way circle, and has been spotted walking around town with a handsome businesslike fellow who seems around 40.

• He's not pretending to be a twentysomething

• And you are younger than springtime, R86?

• They are over becaue Nick is a whore.

• Raul's not any better, r90.

• They're both whores especially Nick.

• They've been over for almost a year and a half.

• Nicky's with press agent Mikey Hartman who reps How To Succeed, which Nick is chorus boy in.

• Is Fred Rose older than Raul? Nick Mayo and Bobby Steggert are like 10 years younger than him.

• Raul was a nun compared to Nick. That boy gets around!

• Producers of Leap of Faith think Papi looks too fat in production photos! In today's Michael Riedel column NY Post.

• Ridiculous!

• Wouldn't surprise me if Riedel made up the whole "fat" thing.

• What does Papi have lined up next. Doubt he'll be a-Leaping for long.

• Raul got an Outer Circle whatever nom for best actor in a musical!

• It sucks that after all these years LOF will crash and burn so quickly. We already know that the reviews will be bad. At least Raul still shines, considering everything else around him. The good thing is that once LOF is gone he will finally be able to do more interesting (and GOOD) projects. In many ways LOF was holding him down.

• Raul, his tbcjscpctscroc and his rain soaked nips in the final scene won't save this show!

• The reviews were bad but DAMN, he is looking really good:

  http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/04-2012/photo-flash-raul-esparza-mariska-hargitay-liza-min_55730.html#1

• I like how Jim Dale is always there for Raul on opening night. And LIZA was there!!

• Kudisch too

• More pics, including Raul with Liza, Raul with Kudisch, Raul and Jim Dale:

  http%3A//www.broadway.com/shows/leap-faith/photos/raul-esparza-and-the-stars-of-leap-of-faith-step-into-the-light-on-a-starry-opening-night/174138/leap-of-faith-opening-night-raul-esparza-jessica-phillips

• Raul and Marc Kudisch seem very close, they are always hugging each other.

  Interesting...

• No nomination for Raul but Best Musical for the show? Weird. They have no chance of winning, but will they try to hold on until Tony time?

• No way they stay open until the tonys. Maybe a week more to see if there's any boost but that's it.

• The Gypsy Robe ceremony. Not the best pics of Raul but scroll down to see his full outfit ;)

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-Inside-the-LEAP-OF-FAITH-Gypsy-Robe-Ceremony-20120501

• He looks really tired Flip-flops!

• Ask a star: Raul Esparza

  http%3A//www.broadway.com/shows/leap-faith/video/154061/ask-a-star-raul-esparza-of-leap-of-faith/

• OMFG!! HE'S BAREFOOT!! 11 minutes of Raul and his feets, for all the world to see! THANK YOU BROADWAY.COM!

  Fred%20Rose%2C%20hard%20as%20a%20rock

• God, he looks good. All the fat trolls can suck it.

• Call me crazy but I think he knows about this thread. No reason for him to be barefoot other than to show his feet because he knows about the Raul's feet love on DL. He wasn't even wearing flip-flops! And he was very flirtatious.

• r116: I'm 90% sure you are right. But if there were flip-flops beside the couch instead of sneakers I would be 100% certain.

• He wants to play Giorgio. Maybe Doyle will give him a call? I do agree with him that he's too old for the role.

• He's too old and too ugly. Fosca is supposed to be the unattractive one.

• Somebody please shit in my mouth!!!

  R119

• He did it on purpose. He could've done the interview with his socks on (you can see them right there with the shoes) but chose to bare his feets instead. Not that I'm complaining!

• I also think the part where he is face down on the couch with his fine papi butt in the air is a shout-out to the "Raul is a bottom" troll.

• R116 I totally agree with you. I never would have thought of his feet without this meme on DL, and can't imagine him making a conscious decision to do it. Raul, if you're watching, the hello to gay fans is cool and sexy. Not a feet fan, but it was sexy.

• Paul Wontorek loves him. Raul's broadway.com videos are always great.

• [quote]I also think the part where he is face down on the couch with his fine papi butt in the air is a shout-out to the "Raul is a bottom" troll. My favorite part!

• Cute interview but he looks really tired.

• He is. He meant it when he said this show is kicking his butt. But he's getting the hang of it. I figure he'll finally hit his stride just about the time the show closes.

• The bare feets? Totally intentional and I loved it!

• I agree. Raul (and his bare feets)with a shout out to his DL fans.

• Raul has BIG feet.

• to go along with his BIG nose, his BIG hands, and his tBcjscpctscroc.

• leap closes Sunday

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/LEAP-OF-FAITH-to-Close-on-Broadway-Sunday-May-13-20120508

• {sigh] no more Raul heading to the St. James stage door in cargo shorts, flip flopped feets and carrying his Starbucks coffee!

• Expected

• RAUL! "Simple Joys" PIPPIN!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hPkQT_6GhM

• I love that clip One of his best

• Me too R136.

  R135

• LEAP is closing just in time - now Raul can go play Giorgio in the CSC revival of PASSION downtown this summer. The director, Raul's buddy John Doyle (they did COMPANY together), has been hoping LEAP would close quickly and has been holding the part open for Raul, casting all the other roles first. Judy Kuhn, who played Fosca in DC 10 years ago, will do it again, and Melissa Errico will play Clara.

  Bernie%20Telsey%20Casting

• Will Raul show his ass and will Melissa bare her breasts like Jere Shea and Marin Mazzie in the original production?

  Raul is the only reason I would sit thru that crap show again.

• I am one of the few who loved the original production. Murphy's Fosca is still the greatest musical theatre performance I've ever seen. Loved Mazzie as well. Raul as Giorgio could be very interesting. And he has plenty of chemistry with Errico, they were lovely in Sunday. Kuhn is fantastic. I wouldn't be so sure about nudity, after all this is a Doyle show.

• Will LOF be recorded?

• I doubt it. There is a bootleg video out of a preview althugh the first few minutes are audio only. A school group came in late and the St. James usher seated them in the wrong row! So the taper had to hide the cam so to speak.

  Bootleg Roxie, Bettie's sister

• He's so cute in the ask a star video! I like how fidgety he is. He also looks young, not 41 at all so that might work for Passion, if it happens. And I want to tickle his feets!

• The sweet smell of Raul Esparza

  http%3A//tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/the-samurai-shopper-the-sweet-smell-of-raul-esparza/%3Fpartner%3Drss%26emc%3Drss

• There is also a bootleg from the L.A. tryout with Brooke Shields and several audios from Broadway. A proper cast recording is not out of the question. Menken wants one.

• So Raul and Nick are over. What about their dog?

  Screw%20the%20pooch

• who has the 411 on Raul's new bf

• Does he have one already?

• RIP LOF

• [quote]bobby cannavale @jakybaky Ok. I go see ALOT of theater. This I know: Leap Of Faith should NOT be closing today. Just saw it.Absolutely great.That closing's confusing.

  http%3A//twitter.com/%23%21/jakybaky

• Good luck to the cast of LOF. They are truly an energetic and talented group. Papi (we know you are reading this), can't wait to see what's next for you: Passion? more TV or film? more barefoot vids?

• Raul in the Kevin Kline role in ON THE 20th CENTURY starring Kristin Chenoweth. next season

• did they do a video recording for Lincoln Center library? [quote]There is also a bootleg from the L.A. tryout with Brooke Shields Yes but it so different from what landed on Broadway.

• No, r152, the only role in On The Twentieth Century that he'd play is Oscar Jaffee.

• If Raul were taller and had a richer voice he'd be the perfect Oscar Jaffe.

• A KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN with Raul as Molina! MAKE IT HAPPEN!

• In general I'd agree with you, r155, but he's the perfect height for Oscar Jaffee when the Lily Garland is Kristin Chenoweth.

• No, with Raul as Alfred Molina--even better!

• What R155 said.

• Bruce Granit is a tony winning role in a beloved musical. I'm sure Raul will be happy to do it even if it's not the lead (was Valentine the lead in Arcadia? Philip Salon in Taboo?). His age could be an issue, though.

• Anyone know what's happening with The Golden Age, the new McNally play? He did a couple workshops of it in between Leap LA and Broadway.

• .

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Alan-Menken-Says-LEAP-OF-FAITH-Cast-Album-Happening-Soon-20120517

• Bobby Steggert was in The Golden Age workshops with Raul, wasn't he? that's when the fucking probably began.

• Wow LOF closes and this thread sure get quiet. NO sightings?

• He's doing the AIDS walk tomorrow.

• He will need a good foot massage afterwards.

• Esparza doesn't have nearly a good enough voice for legit musical theater. He can do in between like Sondheim, but that's the extent of it.

• He's got the pipes, what he doesn't have is the proper training, he said so himself on that video. It's a good thing LEAP closed because that role could have done permanent damage to his voice, just like Alice Ripley in NEXT TO NORMAL.

• Encores! 20th Anniversary Season to Feature FIORELLO!, IT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE...IT'S SUPERMAN, ON YOUR TOES & Gala with Esparza & O'Hara!

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Encores-20th-Anniversary-Season-to-Feature-FIORELLO-ITS-A-BIRDITS-A-PLANEITS-SUPERMAN-ON-YOUR-TOES-Gala-with-Esparza-OHara-20120521

• Raul joins Meryl and Kevin Kline in the ROMEO AND JULIET reading. I loved his Orsino at the park and really wanted to see him do more shakespeare. Too bad I won't be seeing this.

• Raul as Mercutio? Tybalt? Benvolio? The Nurse?

• Raul: Giorgio in PASSION? or The Baker in INTO THE WOODS? You choose

  Giorgio

• Why can't he do both? One is in July, the other starts February.

• Giorgio, but I don't think it will happen.

• Leap on Tonys.

  http%3A//artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/leap-producers-keep-the-faith-by-underwriting-tony-awards-number/

• oh good god....I can't believe that piece of shit was nominated for a Tony..

• What is Raul doing now? What does a Broadway actor do until the next gig? They can't be at auditions ever day. Does Raul even audition anymore?

• Bump!

• Will Papi Raul be at the Drama Desks tonight? Nick was by his side the last couple of times he was nominated.

• Is he performing with the rest of the LEAP cast?

• Yes, r180, he is performing with the rest of the cast of LEAP OF FAITH on the Tonys.

• I wasn't sure because of what happened when he was nominated for Company, with him being the only one from the cast to perform on the telecast. Will they do the title number or one of the revival numbers?

• I don't think he will be doing musicals anytime soon. He's said before that musicals are extremely hard and exhausting, and how much time did he waste on this one? six years? just for a run of less than a month and his first bad review on the NYT. He will, however, keep doing more and more concerts. He has a few "Raul sings Sondheim!" shows lined up for the rest of the year. His next Broadway show will be a play, where he is always great. It will be sooner than you think.

• Where is he doing these Sondheim concerts? Any idea what he's singing in them?

• Despite the terrible reviews for the show I still feel that Raul should have been nominated for the tony over Ron Raines (WTF!) or Norm Lewis. Raul was great. Brantley is an idiot.

• Here, R 184:

  http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/calendar/raul-esparza/

• Thanks, r186. But....Cabaret is a Sondheim revival?? Don't think I want to be the one to tell Mr. Kander that bit of news. You mentioned "a few" concerts - is he doing this show anywhere else? (hoping...)

• This is the only Raul/Sondheim concert that's been announced (I think).

• And I can't find official info about the LOF cast recording, only some tweet from Menken.

• r187, it only says he has performed in Cabaret, not that it's the concert. Read more carefully next time.

• I read it very carefully, r190. Perhaps you should go read it again. This is what the blurb said: "performing in works such as the revival of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia and three Sondheim revivals: Cabaret, Sunday in the Park, and, most recently, Company." That sentence clearly states that "Cabaret" is a Sondheim show. Which it is not, it was written by Kander and Ebb. It seems my rather lame attempt at humor failed. They are recording the cast album next week. There won't be any official announcement until after it's recorded and mastered and they have a release date.

• r187 / r191, you're right. I should've read more carefully. Sorry about that.

  r190

• Raul didn't walk the red carpet or anything, right? Only there to perform/represent the show.

• He was great and looked yummy! Who's the lucky bitch that gets to fuck that fine cuban ass and blow that tbcjscpctscroc?

• Thank god he wasn't wearing that ridiculous jacket.

• Who cares who gets to fuck that ass. The only thing Papi should put behind him is this damn Leap show.

• Leap of Faith came off extremely well last night and he looked fantastic but I agree with r196. At last Papi can move on.

• Nobody can growl as good as Raul. Josh Young could have used some tips for his JCS performance.

• Bump

• Leap of Faith recording official. They go into the studio tomorrow:

  http%3A//www.playbill.com/news/article/166997-Cast-of-Leap-of-Faith-Will-quotRise-Upquot-to-Record-Cast-Album-June-13%23.T9e3R6B9LFk.twitter

• Jessica Phillips, Leslie Odom Jr and Raul at the studio:

  http%3A//twitter.com/%23%21/FullipsonBway/media/slideshow%3Furl%3Dpic.twitter.com/wJy2xFoW

• More pics:

  http%3A//www.broadway.com/buzz/162467/raul-esparza-and-the-cast-of-leap-of-faith-rise-up-in-the-recording-studio/

• I bet he was wearing flip flops

• OMG! look at that grayish beard :(

• He looks 10 years younger when he shaves.

• Nick was in a video with Brent Corrigan! NSFW:

  http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DZF-dEQbJ0QI%26oref%3Dhttp%3A//www.youtube.com/results%3Fsearch_query%3Dnick+mayo+brent+corrigan%26oq%3Dnick+mayo+brent+corrigan%26aq%3Df%26aqi%3D%26aql%3D%26gs_l%3Dyoutube.3...258.3584.0.4007.17.15.0.0.0.0.195.

• He's cute

• Misleading!

• That is incredibly old, r206, and Raul and Nick are no longer together.

• Now Raul can be with Bobby again! No?

  wishin%27%20and%20hopin%27

• Raul is no prince but Nick is a huge whore

• Does Raul really fool around as much as it is suggested here on DL?

• He used to, r212, but he's become a lot more settled in the last couple of years.

• Bobby was Raul's hottest bf (so far) Bobby > Fred > Nick

• Thanks, r213 It seems like his whole persona has mellowed over the years.

• The closet made him miserable, bitchy and whorish. By the time he was doing Twelfth Night you had a slightly neurotic but generally cool man, funny, a little shy, self-deprecating, intelligent. He can be moody but not vicious like some of the cunts that get a pass just because they are "divas" that have been on the stage since Euripides. I quite like him. He deserves another vehicle like Company or Speed the Plow, not something like Leap of Faith. And pictures don't do him justice. He's very attractive in person, more so onstage.

  Sunday at the Park with Raul

• r213, how the hell do you know what he does in his bedroom?

• [quote]He deserves another vehicle like Company or Speed the Plow, not something like Leap of Faith Absolutely. I hope the Glengarry Glen Ross rumors are true.

• From the bit on the Tonys Leap didn't look as atrocious as I'd thought. It would have been helpful had it not been a virtual frame for frame ripoff of The Music Man, substituting religion for music, but there you go.

• [quote] He's very attractive in person, more so onstage. An orchestra pit does wonders.

• Leap wasn't as bad as Brantley and the hysterical BWW and ATC queens said. I found it more enjoyable than the bland Newsies or the boring Nice Work. Raul should have been nominated, he was much better than pretty "it boy" of the season Jeremy Jordan and the awfully wooden Ron Raines (How the fuck did that happen?). I'm looking foward to the cast recording.

• Pics from yesterday

  http%3A//www.broadway.com/photos/kevin-kline-meryl-streep-headline-romeo-and-juliet-at-public-theaters-star-packed-central-park-gala/176163/romeo-and-juliet-in-central-park-phylicia-rashad-christine-baranski-raul-esparza-michael-stuhlbarg/

• Bump

• [quote]not vicious like some of the cunts that get a pass just because they are "divas" that have been on the stage since Euripides LOL!

• For this sunday morning

  http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D4-jsqZQ4OOY

  Me%20encanta

• R216, that’s a very astute description of Raul. Do you have any more insightful thoughts to share about him?

• Yeah, I liked r216's post too. Give us more, please.

• It's been primetime for AGES! A question: Was Company taped before or after the tonys?

  Watching%20Raul%27s%20marry%20me%20a%20little%20on%20youtube

• After. It was recorded on Saturday, June 30th, 2007, at both the matinee and evening performance and the final result was a compilation of the best shots from each show. Company closed the following day, July 1, 2007.

• Thank you, r229. Can't believe that it has been 5 years already.

• Get the bootleg of the final performance if you can, it is wonderful!

• I can't really add much to what I said before, just that working with him pre and post Company was like working with two different people.I was talking about him with a couple of mutual friends recently and we all reached the same conclusion: coming out changed him for the better, that is obvious, but also, believe it or not, losing the tony for Company. I don't know if that makes sense but it is true. He is still very aware of the talent he has, meaning that he still has an ego (wich actor doesn't?), but much under control. There's a fair amount of jealousy around him (it's the theatre after all) People that act as friends only to trash him whe he turns his back. There were plenty of happy hypocrites when Leap of Faith was trashed by most critics, and those who rejoiced when his alleged "weight problem" made the Post. Riedel probably made that up, knowing that he was hitting a nerve with Raul. I believe he's more aware of this now, or probably just doesn't care. As for partners, I only saw him with Nick. Despite the gossip they looked like a happy couple, and Nick had a big part in the creation of this "new Raul"

  216

• Interesting, r232

• He sounds fabulous as Che! Who saw him?

  http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D05v6gKxORf4

• He was a great, powerful Che. He blew Natalie Toro out of the water.

• More Raul in Evita:

  http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DkygB28jOksc

• Frankly I'm surprised that no one has made a ton of screencaps and gifs of Raul and his feets from the ask a star video, especially now that you know that he's aware of his feets being a 'thing' on DL. You bitches are slipping.

  Hi%20Raul%21

• Maybe the "Raul's feets troll" is bussy.

• Bump

• Nobody loves a bussy troll, r238

• Raul and Cherry Jones at Sundance!

  http%3A//www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-cherry-jones-raul-esparza-give-sundance-theatre-lab-star-power-20120709%2C0%2C1962170.story

• R241 Cherry Jones is doing two roles in two plays and Raul is doing a musical based on a graphic novel. Very nice!

• Too bad they're not doing anything together. He's a HUGE Cherry Jones fan.

• Go to (approximately) the 12 minute 25 second mark over on what I am linking to. It is from 2005 and it is an American Theatre Wing roundtable with Cherry Jones, Raul, and other folks. Here is the point... At 12:25 Raul just has an absolute fanboy moment over Cherry Jones and it is just delightful. He is articulate and yet just truly an absolute fanboy over her.

  http%3A//americantheatrewing.org/wit/detail/performance_05_05

  So%20cute.

• Is he really into feet?

• Thanks for the link, r244. I loved that!

• It seems like he's also a big fan of Elizabeth Marvel.

• I watched "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and noticed that Raul gets a "special thanks" at the end of the credits. Turns out he was part of a reading of the script, I can only imagine him doing the John Hawkes part. I wish he would do more movies and TV. Maybe now that Leap crashed and burned?

• Hope Raul's enjoying the sun and fun at Sundance.

• R249 and Cherry Jones as well, eh? She is doing two plays. I have checked the Sundance site to see if they will maybe record and upload the plays but have yet to find anything. If I find anything I will link to it here for everyone.

• Thanks, r250! Fingers crossed you find something!

• Pics would be nice too!

• [quote]Is he really into feet? I think he likes it when his boyfriends or fb are into his feets. Remember Fred and the Westway Diner? The video is also a treat from Raul to his gay fans. Does that count as foot fetishism? When you want people to notice and worship your feets?

• it counts, r253

  Raul%27s%20f.a.f.f.t%20%232

• This could be awesome!

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Creator-Bryan-Fuller-Hints-at-PUSHING-DAISIES-Broadway-Bound-Revival-20120716

• This thread needs more Raul:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfrF-_DccUg

• That Raul/Kelli O'Hara Encores! concert has been announced like 20 times already. I want to see him in one of the shows, not just that concert.

• BOX OFFICE POISON!!!!!

• Is he single?

• Yes

• LOF news:

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Twitter-Watch-LEAP-OF-FAITH-Cast-Album-Coming-in-September-20120731

• Raul in L&O Again!

  http%3A//www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/law-and-order-svu-guest-stars-357833%3Futm_source%3Dtwitterfeed%26utm_medium%3Dtwitter%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%3A+thr/television+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Television%29

• Since the other one got shut down (damn trolls), can our beloved Theatre Gossip OP please start a new thread? Hopefully this one won't get infested with alien cockroaches.

• Great news, r262! And it looks like he finally gets to play a good guy this time!

• Any good Raul gossip? Or any gossip at all? What about Nick? And Bobby? And I second r263. Can't believe the level of crazy on the last theatre thread.

• Raul's first L&O role led to his first official DL thread.

• On the set:

  http%3A//twitpic.com/af3fyi

• LOL!

• GUUURRL!

• WOW, MARY X 1000! The fact that people thought he was straight for so long baffles me.

  But%20I%20still%20love%20him%21

• Another SVU pic:

  http%3A//twitter.com/warrenleightTV/status/231543113259307008/photo/1

• R267's pic is PRECIOUS!

• Esparza is a failry common mexican surname. Does he have mexican ancestors too? It also means "spread"

• [quote]The fact that people thought he was straight for so long baffles me. Oh, I don't know, that might've had something to do with the fact that for years he was married to a woman.

• I wonder how did that marriage work. Do you think he tried to stay faithful and hide his gayness due to his religious upbringing or was he cruising for cock all the time? His wife always seemed like the typical fag hag. Maybe she thought she could change him? She must have known something about his past male relationships when she married him, or at least suspect.

• He might've tried to hide his bisexuality... I don't think he's ever adopted the gay label, has he?

• Are we sure he's bisexual? Has he ever been linked to another woman? He seems like a gay man to me.

• [quote]“There was a part of me that was trying to get rid of it,” he says of his relationship with a man. “That was saying: ‘That was interesting, that was part of me, but it’s not all of me. I choose, because I love this woman, to marry her.’ It was a little bit naïve of me: That was then, that’s that city, that was an experience and wasn’t that interesting back then? When the truth is, it’s not a person, not a place, not an experience. It’s you, who you are.” Sounds gay to me.

  http%3A//www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/theater/26wadl.html%3Fpagewanted%3Dall

• Sounds completely bisexual.

• [quote]You meet instead a funny, self-deprecating man who arrives in jeans and an old sweater and kicks off his shoes. Some things never change!

  http%3A//i47.tinypic.com/287d9ps.jpg

  Raul%27s%20f.a.f.f.t

• How so, r279?

• No r259 he's not single these days. someone new not in the business.

• He got tired of dealing with chorus boys

• R273, Raul's family came to Cuba from Spain. I don't believe there is any connection to Mexico anywhere in the family. And a more precise definition of the usage of "spread" as translated from "esparza" would be to scatter, like you would scatter birdseed or grain.

• I love that, R280!

• Do you think Raul watched fellow Cuban-American hottie Danell Leyva's performance and cheered enthusiastically? I like to think so. And by cheered I mean masturbate.

• Raul is shooting an episode of L&O: SVU this week.

• Is SVU the only L&O left for Raul to appear?

• Of course, R286

  http%3A//cdn03.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/levya-shirtless/danell-leyva-shirtless-photo-shoot-05.jpg

• That boy is beautiful

• People said he was bisexual because at the time he was still legally married, even though he and his wife were separated. Since the Times article he has lived as a gay man, dating only other gay men. Remember that he comes from an extremely religious and homophobic community. I can only imagine how awful it must have been for him when his parents found out about his relationship with the NYU professor.

• but they're still married

• Doubt it.

• Raul was at the Marvin Hamlisch's funeral today.

• He did some concerts with him, didn't he. Was he there alone, or with wife or bf?

• He did, one with Kristin Chenoweth and I think the other one with Audra and Martin Short.

• He told this story at the funeral: Esparza remembered auditioning for “Sweet Smell of Success” as a young actor. He didn’t get a part, but Hamlisch stopped him later at a restaurant and told him he wished they had cast him and thought Esparza was going to be huge. “You know what? For a guy who is starting out, to hear that from Marvin Hamlisch at a diner, that’s huge.”

• That's sweet

• r292. Nope. They were divorced some time ago.

• 300!

• He is extremely hot, I would lick him from head to toe. No other actor makes me feel this way and I can't explain why. It's strange. All my friends think he is very talented but not hot. Cute maybe, but not hot.

• Bump

• Raul is too old for cute.

• I still believe that he can play Che. Of course it won't happen but he's always been the ideal choice. Too bad he is not a name. What's he doing next?

• or more important here, who?

• I wonder what went wrong between Raul and Nick. I doubt it was the fact that they were sleeping with other people, since thay had an open relationship. Does Nick have a new boyfriend?

• yes theater press agent Michael Hartman

• They were constantly breaking up and getting back together. After more than a while it got old. They realized it was not working anymore. Raul moved out of the apartment they shared and it was over. Bobby Steggert was already in the picture.

• [quote]They were constantly breaking up and getting back together The sex must've been amazing.

• Raul and Bobby......sigh The only pairing that could be more perfect is Raul and Paulo.

• It's been said before, r305. Apparently someone not in the industry and closer to Raul's age than Nick or Bobby.

• Bump!

• Is he still maintaining his marriage or did they finally seperate/divorce?

• They divorced.

• No word about the Leap cast recording?

• Probably by the end of the year. Maybe January/February of next year.

• [quote]All my friends think he is very talented but not hot. Cute maybe, but not hot. He shows up naked with his tbcjscpctscroc hard as a rock and they'll be all on their knees in no time.

• check your facts r314

• Check your references, r318. Check Wikipedia and IMDb. Both state they are divorced, as well as anecdotal comments made here over the past few years.

• Why would he stay married? It makes no sense, unless it involves some legal/money issue. Everyone knows by now that he sleeps with men. He doesn't wear a wedding ring anymore, I'll go with the divorce claims.

• huh? wikipedia says 'Married to Michele Esparza, his high school girlfriend, since 1993, they had been separated "off and on", the actor has said, but are still married as of 2012.'

  http%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%FAl_Esparza

• I wouldn't trust wikipedia.

• Entries to Wikipedia can be made and changed by anyone. That being said, the statement that they were divorced in 2008 had been on his Wikipedia page for years. Somebody with the handle "JonNightengale" (really? that's pretty lame, using "JonNightengale" right after Leap has closed) went in and changed it in July, arbitrarily deciding that because there weren't any "verifiable sources" that of course they couldn't possibly be divorced. Sounds like the trollina who insists that Raul isn't gay made up that name and that entry into Wikipedia. He is in no way a big enough celebrity for a report of a divorce to make the news in any way. Unless Raul issues a press release saying "we're divorced" (which he will never do, he's way too private a person) there never will be a "verifiable source" that "JonNightengale" would accept. Oh, and messing with Raul's Wikipedia page is the only thing "JonNightengale" has ever done on Wikipedia. A really lame troll.

• Trollina is ALIVE? Dios Mio!

• so is Papi doing the Passion of the Doyle with Judy Kuhn and La Errico?

• When does it start?

• Forget Giorgio, he wants to do Sweeney and I think he would be simply perfect. Maybe not right now but in 5 or 6 years.

• Passion is set for February at the Classic Stage Company.

  http%3A//www.classicstage.org/season/passion/

• From the main thread: [quote]Saw Raul the other day looking really good (how can you call him fat? unless your name is Calista Flockhart). He was with a hot older stud, clearly older than him, and taller. The man looked a bit like Thomas Hampson. They were all smiles and seemed quite comfortable with each other. Is this the new bf? the mysterious businessman according to the Raul thread? definitely a step up from Nick Mayo, looks wise.

• bump for papi's new bf

• Thomas Hampson the opera singer?

• Not Thomas Hampson (yes the opera singer), just someone who bears a slight resemblance to Thomas Hampson.

• Now I'm REALLY curious! Hampson used to be a hottie, BTW

• Interesting that he's dating older men again.

• one sighting and you know they're dating.

• Bump

• What I really want to know is what is his next move. A musical? A play? He must have something lined up besides bit parts in various L&O.

• He's been hitting the tanning beds, that's for sure!

  http%3A//twitter.com/Baayork/status/248526202250330112/photo/1

• Papi doesn't need a tanning salon, a quick trip to his hometown will do the trick.

• I'm still hoping for a spanish album, r337.

• You can't tell from the photos but he is actually going gray. Very soon he'll have a full salt'n'pepper beard.

• Haha, r341. That's not gray, that's blonde. His beard has always been a much lighter color than his hair, and his eyebrows and beard turn blond when he gets a lot of sun. Notice you can barely see his eyebrows in that picture, they're so light.

• He's with older men because his boyfriend before 'Bobby baby' was a WHORE!!

• Tales of Nick's whorish behaviour, please. No one ever gives examples. And unless Raul is dating 60 year olds then 'older men' should not be used. The man is in his forties, not a twentysomething.

• I'm not talking about the photo at 338, r342. I saw him up close recently and he was most definitely sporting some gray around his chin and sideburns. You are right about the eyebrows.

• Ann Hathaway doing Cabaret at Joe's Pub. Think her old 12th Night costar and experienced MC Papi will join her on his cumpleanos?

  http%3A//bit.ly/TC9VLP

• That would be GREAT!

• More Raul news: He will be in more than one episode of SVU [quote]I have a new D.A. this year – Raul Esparza is coming in as a D.A. and he’ll be coming back for several more episodes,” says Leight. “I like the different combinations I get to play around with. It’s nice to see Ice-T [as Fin] with Danny, Mariska with Raul.

  http%3A//www.assignmentx.com/2012/interview-paget-brewster-and-warren-leight-talk-law-order-svu/

• [quote]Mariska with Raul. 4 years ago this would have broken DL

• Raul at the grand reopening of the Atlantic Theater Company's main stage today.

  http%3A//www2.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumnpics.cfm%3Fcolid%3D411106%26photoid%3D371989%23sthash.WtwlJJyR.dpbs

• Ay papi, what are you wearing?

  Not%20a%20great%20Raul%20pic

• I hate the way he poses at this events, it's weird and unflattering.

• I agree, R351/352

• New interview:

  http%3A//starrymag.com/content.asp%3FID%3D6995%26CATEGORY%3DInterviews%26PAGE%3D1

• Bump for Papi on TV Tonight!

• Video clip from SVU.

  http%3A//allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com/2012/10/raul-esparaza-discusses-his-svu-role.html%20

• I'll watch but only because of Raul. The whole thing sounds terrible.

• I liked it. Raul was great! Elizabeth Marvel was a nice surprise and Rory O'Malley had a bit part too.

• And he looked GOOD. A Papi's feets scene and it would have been perfect.

• Agree R359.

• The whole thing was ridiculous, but I loved it. Raul taking off his belt, Roger Bart choking him, all of it! I hope Raul sticks around.

• He will be. He'll be on again on November 14, and Warren Leight has said he'll be in "several" episodes. I sure hope that means more than 2!

• Correction - the November 14th episode has been moved to October 31st. Raul for Halloween!

• Looking much better at the "Hyde Park On Hudson" screening:

  http%3A//www.wireimage.com/search/%23events%3Fq%3Draul%20esparza/%5B154110586%5D%26ep%3D1/60/1%26s%3D3

• Somebody else dressed him?

• Ha! Probably

• He has a crappy personal style. When he wears suits all is well but he seems to fuck up every other choice of outfit somehow. Naked is probably his best look.

• Papi in flip-flops a crappy look? Never

• I believe he values comfort over style.

• He looked dashing on SVU and the part with the belt, when he was yelling "Show me how you liked it!Pull it!", was hot.

• Raul will join friend Anne Hathaway tomorrow at Joe's Pub:

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Audra-McDonald-Raul-Esparza-and-More-to-Join-Anne-Hathaway-in-CABARET-Concert-1024-20121023

• It looks like a Twelfth Night revival! I hope they all remember to sing "Happy Birthday" to him tomorrow night.

• That would be sweet!

• The stuff they recorded for Twelfth Night is really good. "Come away death" with Raul and Anne? Beautiful

• Feliz Cumpleaños!

• Birthday cake at SVU:

  http%3A//instagram.com/p/RLV0nVuhjH/

  nice

• Pics of last night? song list?

• If they even had a cake ready for him at the L&O set then he is definitely going to be in more than a couple of episodes. Raul on TV is always a good thing.

• Pic of last night.

  http%3A//instagram.com/p/RNPVyawWYt/

• Raul with his cake:

  http%3A//www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/4566/Anne-Hathaway-and-Friends-Including-Audra-McDonald-and-Rauacutel-Esparza-Sing-Cabaret-at-Joes-Pub/%3Fpnum%3D15

• Raul missed the first show Songs from CABARET at Joe's Pub cause he was filming L&O SVU. But he made it to the second show. And was fabulous.

  From70thStreet

• aaah, that makes sense.

• The T-shirt makes it look like Raul has moobs....that or he just has perky nipples. He got two cakes in one day and both looked almost the same!

• For several years now there has been talk of a remake of CABARET (for TV) using the stage libretto and all the songs.... if it EVER happens, maybe Anne Hathaway for Sally and Papi for the Emcee? He was great in the Roundabout revival.

• Raul was a fabulous Emcee, but if that movie ever happens (wich I doubt) they will cast a name, probably someone much younger.

• [quote]“Les Misérables” star Anne Hathaway set her sights on a different musical, “Cabaret,” when she wowed the audience at a show at Joe’s Pub Wednesday night. “Anne vamped like Audrey Hepburn and sounded like Liza Minnelli,” said a spy, adding she “dressed as Sally Bowles in tiny black satin shorts, black undershirt, a bow tie and boots, with dark, cropped hair and green nail polish.” In the audience were “Silver Linings Playbook” producer Harvey Weinstein, “Lincoln” screenwriter Tony Kushner, choreographer Kathleen Marshall and 85-year-old “Cabaret” composer John Kander. Hathaway was joined on stage by “Les Miz” co-star Eddie Redmayne, Audra McDonald, Linda Lavin and Raul Esparza. A second show was added after the first sold out. At an after-party at the Public Theater’s new restaurant-lounge The Library, a birthday cake was brought out to surprise Esparza, and the golden-piped guests sang “Happy Birthday.”

  http%3A//www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/anne_changes_tune_7DO3Dn89FdRpKxzeqxZdqN

• Raul would be a brilliant Frank-N-Furter, don't you think?

  Listening to the revival cast recording

• R385- Not a theatrical film, CABARET would be a TV version. If it ever gets the go ahead.

• Leap of Faith cast recording being released December 18.

  http%3A//www.amazon.com/Leap-of-Faith-The-Musical/dp/B009XY1WAQ/ref%3Dsr_1_3%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1351694761%26sr%3D8-3%26keywords%3Dleap+of+faith%3A+the+musical

• And Raul on SVU tonight.

• That was almost a cameo

• r388 He still wouldn't be cast for a TV version.

  Barry%20Dennen

• Bump

• More TV for Raul!

  http%3A//tv.broadwayworld.com/article/Whoopi-Goldberg-Raul-Esparza-to-Guest-on-ABCs-666-PARK-AVENUE-122-20121112

• At least he can't complain about not being cast as latin. That's all he does now! And why can't he be on a show that I watch, like Revenge or Homeland.

• Looks like he's only doing stuff that films in New York.

• He's doing his Sondheim concert on 11/17 at the Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge.

  http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/calendar/raul-esparza/

• Not surprised by Raul doing more TV. Leap must have been a painful experience so he will probably take a break from the stage. The exception would have been Ricky Roma in the Glengarry revival. I know that he was close to being cast.

• Do you know why he wasn't, r398?

• I'm sure that Leap of Faith bombing was one of the reasons, if not the main reason. Cannavale is also a semi-name and Raul has played variations of Roma before. All of you can imagine how Raul's Roma would have been. I can almost hear the lines clearly. It would've been a good performance, no doubt, but more of the same. Not much of a stretch. If he's really taking a break from the stage then that's a wise move. Let the stench from Leap fade away while he keeps doing TV and more concerts, where he always excels. I'm actually surprised that he hasn't done 54Below yet. I'm sure it won't be long now and hopefully with a recording deal. His album is long overdue.

• Raul looking good last night at the Encores Gala.

  http%3A//www2.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumnpics.cfm%3Fcolid%3D427132%26photoid%3D382679%23sthash.ZMUBy7uH.KWbcbPaH.dpbs

• Guess he really is taking a break from the stage if he's not playing Giorgio in Passion for John Doyle at CSC. Though he had mentioned that he thought he was getting too old for the role, he certainly could have brought some spark to that role. Ah, well.

• Absolutely, r402

• Raul's "Her Face" from the encores gala is STUNNING. It almost made me cry.

  Get the bootleg if you can

• Any reviews/photos/audio/video from Raul's Sondheim concert last night?

• Last night's playlist: ACT 1: Something's Coming, Not While I'm Around, Talent,, What Can You Lose, Another Hundred People, With So Little to Be Sure Of, Everybody Says Don't, Franklin Shepard Inc. ACT 2: Take Me to the World, Lesson #8, I Remember, No More, Marry Me a Little, Happily Ever After, Multitudes of Amy, Being Alive ENCORE: Finishing the Hat, Goodbye for Now He also sang a tiny bit of Not Getting Married Today, joking that he should've prepared that song. He was very relaxed and told many stories about working with Sondheim. Music director Mary Mitchell Campbell spoke a lot too; they have a great rapport. It was a very enjoyable evening.

• I would love to hear Raul sing "Goodbye for Now", that's a beautiful song.

• Raul's really building up that tv resume:

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/Raul-Exparza-to-Recur-on-New-NBC-Drama-HANNIBAL-20121119

• Holy Shit! Raul and Mads Mikkelsen together in one show? Words cannot describe how awesome this could be. Don't fuck it up, NBC!

• More about the concert:

  http%3A//www.lamag.com/laculture/culturefilesblog/2012/11/20/msq-review-raul-esparza---valley-performing-arts-center

• the 'critic's' name is Macho Show Queen really

• LOL! Nothing "Macho" about that review. Sounds like a great concert. I really want to hear his 'Another Hundred People' and the Evening Primrose songs.

• Raul on his break from the stage:

  http%3A//blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/11/law-order-svus-raul-esparza-i-have-been-part-of-critically-acclaimed-glories.html%3Futm_source%3Dtwitterfeed%26utm_medium%3Dtwitter

• [quote]it was the best time to step away from a place where my heart was broken. It would be very hard to fall in love with the next musical right now. Sad, even though we all knew this.

• Good job on SVU tonight. He seemed a bit...'heavy' during his first scene and it wasn't the shirt, but this L&O crew knows how to make him look good. When he played that killer reporter a couple of years ago he looked terrible.

• Just saw him on SVU. You guys are right...he's hot. But he speaks too fast in his scenes, and he's hard to understand.

• Yes, he was talking too fast during some scenes last night and he needs to tone down his walk a little bit - it's like he was on a runway! - but he'll get there. And I think he looked great, it's been a while since he looked this good on TV.

• Bump

• Brian Fuller really wanted Raul back on Pushing Daisies, but I can't remember if it was The Homecoming or Speed The Plow that kept him from shooting more episodes. Sad, since it was clear that he was going to end up with Chenoweth's character at the end. Until SVU, Pushing Daisies was his best TV role. I'm excited about Hannibal, it sounds great.

• GWB is now Trouble in the Heights

  http%3A//www.uptowncollective.com/2012/11/27/gwb-prepares-for-release-as-trouble-in-the-heights/

• Every movie he makes takes like three years to come out!

• Wow! When did he do this?

  http%3A//youtu.be/CwFTApXNGyw

• R422 Did you not read the text under the video?

• Last year. We talked about that performance in the previous thread. Only a couple of posters liked it. He was trying way too hard.

• Guess I need new glasses, r423.

• Audio from the "Raul sings Sondheim" concert:

  http%3A//www.sendspace.com/file/ra0yws

• "Things go REALLY BAD on Broadway REALLY FAST!" Awww Papi

  Love%20his%20sense%20of%20humor

• This was new to me:

  http%3A//i48.tinypic.com/349dor7.jpg

  Smoking%20Hot

• Speed The Plow, 2008

• What Raul has to do, besides staying as the new DA on SVU, is get his sexy ass back to Off-Broadway. Take risks, show his great range again, like almost ten years ago when he went from Georges to Charlie to Philip Sallon to Ned Weeks very successfully in less than two years. A new play could do wonders for him. Restore some of that faith he seemed to have lost with Leap.

• 54 Below!

• Is that just wishful thinking, r431, or do you know something the rest of us don't?

• Wishful thinking

• And now Gillian Anderson joins the "Hannibal" cast. This is too good to be true.

• So Raul as Che was a possibility....

  http%3A//artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/might-have-beens-in-evita-include-banderas-iglesias-esparza/

• Of course it was. Was there ever any doubt? But Raul has sworn off Broadway for now so no matter how much they begged he wasn't going to do it.

• He was the best thing in the Evita tour. He knows that he is a great Che and this could have been a great chance for him to sort of redeem himself after LOF. I thought he was excellent in Leap and deserved not only a tony nom but the win, others didn't think so, even Raul (at least it seems that way). It's sad that he feels that way after LOF. He came out on top after Taboo and Chitty.

• He didn't spend 5 years of his life preparing/working on TABOO or CCBB. Big difference. And is not like he quit and disappeared. He's doing just fine with his semi-steady gig on SVU and the upcoming HANNIBAL.

• Almost every week since October there's been a little Raul on TV. That's a good thing. When is Barba coming back?

• His next appearance on SVU will be January 9th.

• Sweet

• Raul and Mariska Hargitay having fun on the L&O set:

  http%3A//gallery.mariska-online.com/thumbnails.php%3Falbum%3D1559

• Are they turning him into the love interest?

• Looks like the photos were taken off-camera, and so aren't representative of any on-camera relationship.

• I thought Hargitay was tall? they seem like almost the same height but she's wearing heels. Raul looks hot.

• Why does he hate L.A.?

• Leap of Faith cast album now on Spotify.

  http%3A//open.spotify.com/album/4IBWJRvTOZ7b9F6HMFkSbh

• Thanks for the link, r447. At least he sounds well.

• Feliz Navidad!

  http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DGbwybRJnYCM

• Mmmmm

  http%3A//2.bp.blogspot.com/-uf7cUJVP5ao/UNtm-2awGGI/AAAAAAAAMqo/MoVomsI2zeA/s1600/NUP_153972_0676++law+%26+order+svu+Beautiful+frame+hargitay+ice-t+pino+giddish.JPG

• I bet he's loving all those fabulous suits. Work it Papi!

• 450 post about Raul Esparza? i dont get it

• Age, booze and smoking are finally catching up to him. Next time they show him up close on L&O take a good look at his neck, you can see it right there. And yet I'd still do him, r452. I just watch his great barefooted interview at broadway.com or r24's pic and I get it once again.

• booze, r453?

• It is no secret that Raul likes to drink, one of the reasons why he often looked bloated during Company. It seems like he slowed down. Apparently he was also a bit of a pothead when he was younger but I don't buy it. He was also starving himself for Leap of Faith. You can't survive just drinking Starbucks. All of that must've been hard on his body, and he's not 25 anymore.

• I thought he quit smoking?

• He'd quit, he'd start, he'd quit, he'd start again. I think he finally gave up trying to quit. The physical demands of Leap of Faith practically killed him. He's not a dancer, but was expected to have the stamina and limberness of a dancer with a lifetime of daily class behind him. He was on a weird sort of all-protein, low/no-carb diet to try and build and maintain that sort of stamina, and between that and the intense physicality of the show, he lost way more weight than was good for him. For the sake of his health, it's probably best that Leap of Faith closed when it did.

• He talks a little about how the role was kicking his ass in the ask a star interview.

• Listening to the leap cast recording, Raul would have lost his voice if the show had ran for more than a month.

• So he didn't quit smoking for Leap, r457? That's a shame.

• Raul! Tonight on PBS

  Happy%20New%20Year%21

• R461 PBS? Is he the new Elmo?

• what program r461?

• Tickle Me Papi

• [quote]8pm- Live From Lincoln Center (PBS) The New York Philharmonic pays tribute to conductor Marvin Hamlisch in this live concert hosted by Private Practice’s Audra McDonald and featuring performances from Megan Hilty and Law & Order: SVU’s Raul Esparza.

• I guess SVU's Raul Esparza is better than Leap of Faith's Raul Esparza.

• Watched the Marvin Hamlish concert. Raul seemed under rehearsed, or maybe he was under the weather. He looked like he put on a few pounds. But, he still looks good.

• Very dapper but I also thought he had a cold or something. Not bad but not one of his greatest performances either, though that could be said of almost everybody involved with that concert.

• From BroadwayWorld: "Recent LEAP OF FAITH lead Raul Esparza gave great gravitas to the sumptuous SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS ballad "I Cannot Hear The City" and imbued it with his characteristic persuasive charm in his sensuous and sensitive reading. Scintillating."

  http%3A//broadwayworld.com/article/SOUND-OFF-New-Years-Eve-Live-From-Lincoln-Centers-Marvin-Hamlisch-Celebration-20130101

  Muy%20Caliente%21

• I agree with that comment 100%. He was one of the best parts of an otherwise mediocre concert.

• Here's the concert. Raul sings at the 30 minute mark

  http%3A//video.pbs.org/video/2322359038

• Debbie Allen, Raul Esparza, Yo-Yo Ma Among Kennedy Center's New Artist Advisory Panel for Kennedy Center Honors

  http%3A//playbill.com/news/article/173786-Debbie-Allen-Rul-Esparza-Yo-Yo-Ma-Among-Kennedy-Centers-New-Artist-Advisory-Panel-for-Kennedy-Center-Honors

• And he'll perform too!

  http%3A//www.playbill.com/news/article/173802-Chita-Rivera-Ral-Esparza-Rita-Moreno-and-More-Set-for-In-Performance-at-the-Kennedy-Center-Event

• I still don't really understand what they will do on that Kennedy Center comitee, but I guess he made a good impression when he was there ten years ago.

• He's back on SVU tonight.

• His scenes with Kaczmarek were good. Who's the hunk that played the bad guy? He looks familiar.

• His name is Enver GJokaj. Here's his IMDb page:

  http%3A//www.imdb.com/name/nm2222175/%3Fref_%3Dfn_al_nm_1

• A recent pic of Raul

  http%3A//www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/01-2013/olympia-dukakis-raul-esparza-sam-rockwell-celebrat_64119.html

• Holy Crap, Papi got FAT!

• Lots of photos of Raul from last night's SVU are at the link.

  http://allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com/2013/01/law-order-svu-beautiful-frame-recap.html

• When did they shoot yesterday's episode? I assume before christmas, right?

• Looks like Papi had plenty of Lechon y Moros this navidad. ADA Barba never took a bite of his sandwich!

• [quote]Looks like Papi had plenty of Lechon y Moros this navidad. What are those?

• "Lechon" is roast suckling pig (roast pork). "Moros" are black beans. "Moros y Christianitos" is a traditional Cuban side dish of black beans and white rice (think about it) and is usually served with the pork, along with a dish of fried plantains.

• R484 is exactly right! Besos! [quote]along with a dish of fried plantains. Which are the "maduros" (when the plantain is ripe). The little fried green plantain discs are "tostones", also a very popular side dish.

  Raul%27s%20f.a.f.f.t/Spanish%20Troll

• I love Raul on SVU, they should make him a regular until the series ends.

• Agreed but whats with those odd monotone line readings.

• I think it works for the character.