Bettyboy72 said: "I love this show, but I'm gonna wait until after previews start to buy. This could go either way. I love Ashford, but if she's gonna trot out the same old mugging, I'll pass. I'd really like her to continue to play against type for a bit. We shall see."
Agreed, and I'm also desperately hoping she's done some work on her British accent since Kinky Boots. Her vowel sounds on the recording of History of Wrong Guys still gives me an involuntary twitch.
George Hearn is my friggin idol, but the man is 88 years old. I also saw him sing "Epiphany" live at a Sondheim concert sixteen years ago and it was pretty rough. Not his fault, most people's voices don't last into their 70's. But although he was possibly the greatest Sweeney of all time, I agree with him that taking on the Judge might not be such a good idea.
Interesting that Patrick Page might do it, as he has said in the past that Sweeney is one of his dream roles. He is too old for Sweeney now, so maybe doing Judge Turpin is better than never doing the show at all? It's also a lucrative Production contract and he's gotta be tired of playing Hades by now.
As for "going BIPOC," well, I hope that if Page is the Judge that they cast most of the other principle roles with non-white actors...except maybe Johanna. It always looks weird when a woman of color plays her and they stick a bright yellow wig on her head.
The Distinctive Baritone said: "George Hearn is my friggin idol, but the man is 88 years old. I also saw him sing "Epiphany" live at a Sondheim concert sixteen years ago and it was pretty rough. Not his fault, most people's voices don't last into their 70's. But although he was possibly the greatest Sweeney of all time, I agree with him that taking on the Judge might not be such a good idea.
Interesting that Patrick Page might do it, as he has said in the past that Sweeney is one of his dream roles. He is too old for Sweeney now, so maybe doing Judge Turpin is better than never doing the show at all? It's also a lucrative Production contract and he's gotta be tired of playing Hades by now.
As for "going BIPOC," well, I hope that if Page is the Judge that they cast most of the other principle roles with non-white actors...except maybe Johanna. It always looks weird when a woman of color plays her and they stick a bright yellow wig on her head."
Ah, yes -- but they can go with the alternative lyrics supplied by Mr. Sondheim, quoting dark hair -- sartorial problems solved!
TheatreMonkey said: "Ah, yes -- but they can go with the alternative lyrics supplied by Mr. Sondheim, quoting dark hair -- sartorial problems solved!"
I didn’t know about this. I mean, her yellow hair is sung and spoken of like seventeen times during the course of the show and I’ve never see photos of a Johanna that isn’t blonde. That said, I agree that the lyrics and dialogue could easily be changed to accommodate non-white actresses. There’s no actual reason why Johanna needs to be blonde.
Re: Gaten, yes Stranger Things is filming the final season, so I don’t see it working out unless he does a pretty limited run.
While we are waiting on this production next year, an intimate staging is going on in a small Chicago theater right now in case anyone is traveling there soon. Here is the Tribune 4-star review by Chris Jones.
I recently paid an obscene amount of money for a Friday night ticket in April. I know it's unlikely that would be an alternate day, but still... wish we would know these things sooner. (Although I understand why we don't. And I'm sure whoever they'll get to alternate will be more than competent).
"I feel safe with you, and complete with you / I'm always finding money in the street with you."
-Sheldon Harnick
The Distinctive Baritone said: "TheatreMonkey said: "Ah, yes -- but they can go with the alternative lyrics supplied by Mr. Sondheim, quoting dark hair -- sartorial problems solved!"
I didn’t know about this. I mean, her yellow hair is sung and spoken of like seventeen times during the course of the show and I’ve never see photos of a Johanna that isn’t blonde. That said, I agree that the lyrics and dialogue could easily be changed to accommodate non-white actresses. There’s no actual reason why Johanna needs to be blonde.
Re: Gaten, yes Stranger Things is filming the final season, so I don’t see it working out unless he does a pretty limited run."
And apparently if any filming is happening Gaetan may not be involved as I saw him attending a show this past week in NYC.
Maybe we can be lucky and get an alternate Mrs Lovett, too :)?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
uncageg said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "TheatreMonkey said: "Ah, yes -- but they can go with the alternative lyrics supplied by Mr. Sondheim, quoting dark hair -- sartorial problems solved!"
I didn’t know about this. I mean, her yellow hair is sung and spoken of like seventeen times during the course of the show and I’ve never see photos of a Johanna that isn’t blonde. That said, I agree that the lyrics and dialogue could easily be changed to accommodate non-white actresses. There’s no actual reason why Johanna needs to be blonde.
Re: Gaten, yes Stranger Things is filming the final season, so I don’t see it working out unless he does a pretty limited run."
And apparently if any filming is happening Gaetan may not be involved as I saw him attending a show this past week in NYC.
BCfitasafiddle said: "Are we possibly getting an alternate Sweeney for 1 day a week?"
I'd take Patrick Page or even Michael Cerveris as the alternate.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.