Jennifer Lopez’s Heartbreaking Audition Stories for Iconic Movie Musicals Revealed!

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After battling back emotions and having just received two standing ovations, Jennifer Lopez shared with a Sundance Film Festival audience on Sunday evening that playing in Bill Condon’s film musical “The Kiss of the Spider Woman” fulfilled a lifelong aspiration. However, this wasn’t due to a lack of effort. Instead, it was a long and challenging journey to make it happen.

Stepping out onto the vibrant red carpet outside Park City’s Eccles Center Theatre, I shared with The Hollywood Reporter my journey that led me to this world premiere. I confessed that in my quest for stardom, I had put myself out there, auditioning for some of Tinseltown’s most iconic modern musicals. However, despite my best efforts, those coveted roles eluded me.

Lopez recounted trying out for shows like ‘Evita’, ‘Chicago’, and ‘Nine’. He came very close to landing the part in ‘Nine’. Speaking at the premiere, he was dressed in a fitting ensemble – a shimmering spiderweb dress designed by Valdrin Sahiti. He mentioned that there were many roles he had long aspired to play but the timing wasn’t right. However, he believes this is the perfect opportunity.

In the year 1996, the film “Evita” emerged, marking a transition point for Jennifer Lopez from her days on “In Living Color” to movie stardom through “Selena” the following year. Starring Madonna and directed by Alan Parker, it was followed by “Chicago,” written by the creator of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Condon) and helmed by Rob Marshall. This production boasted the talents of Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture at the 2003 Oscars. Another notable film, “Nine,” directed by Marshall once more, showcased a star-studded cast that included Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, and Daniel Day-Lewis, among others.

Even though Lopez didn’t mention which roles she auditioned for, it’s no wonder she was a contender for such popular musical projects given her past. Her ambition to star in a major movie musical has been a long-held dream since childhood, ignited by her infatuation with West Side Story. She always thought Broadway was her fate.

Lopez shared with THR that his passion for musicals was what initially sparked his dreams of becoming a singer, actor, and dancer. He fondly remembers watching musicals at home with his mother and two sisters, often singing along together. He even believed he would end up on Broadway since he started out as a singer and dancer, performing in Europe and Japan. However, things took an unexpected turn when he was sent to Hollywood, and his career path shifted from Broadway to the silver screen.

To verify the facts, Lopez explained, “Feel free to revisit my interviews from when I was in my twenties. That’s always been my dream. When [Bill Condon] proposed this idea, I was nearly stunned. I thought, could it be that he wants me for this role? Or, am I required to meet him? Is singing part of the plan?

According to initial responses and critiques, Lopez’s portrayal in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” was spot on, fulfilling a lifelong ambition for her. During the post-premiere discussion at the Eccles, she expressed, with moments of emotion, “I’ve been longing for this moment my entire life.

Initially, the character Spider Woman emerged from a 1976 novel penned by Manuel Puig, which later inspired a 1985 film and a Tony-winning 1993 Broadway musical adaptation. The narrative revolves around two inmates, Valentíno (portrayed by Diego Luna) and Molina (Tonatiuh), the latter convicted of indecent public acts. As they spend their time together in captivity, Molina shares the storyline of a popular Hollywood musical featuring his favorite actress, Ingrid Luna, played by Lopez, who takes on a double role as both the film’s titular character and another role.

Lopez not only landed the dream role in Spider Woman, but she was also given the chance to sing a song written by the original composers of the show, John Kander and Fred Ebb. This forgotten track, titled “Never You,” was discovered by Bill Condon when he delved into the Kander archives.

Lopez shared, “During our Sundance press day, I discovered from Bill that he delved deeply into the Kander and Ebb songs. I initially believed they composed this for Kiss of the Spider Woman, but what he actually did was explore all the unreleased and unused songs they had ever written. He uncovered ‘Never You’ and included it in the movie, which happens to be my most cherished tune. Oh my goodness — it’s just so enchanting!

Jennifer Lopez shared that taking on the first on-screen performance of the song brought a “massive responsibility.” She added that Kander, who is 97 years old, accompanied her in the recording studio when she sang it. “It was incredible,” she said, “because he was there, and I didn’t expect him to be part of the pre-records or filming. He was listening to me sing, tears in his eyes, and it was a surreal moment for me. It felt like a dream come true.

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2025-01-28 01:25