I think Ramirez is quite a good actress. She's got the diva thing down.
Again, MATURED!
I'd love to see another actress not known as a singer take on the role, a la Tyne Daly. Someone earlier suggested Kathy Bates, and I think she would make an interesting Rose.
To throw another name into the mix, how about Megan Mullally?
You need to have more than the "diva thing" to play Mama Rose. That's not the only facet of the role.
And jrb, while some were unhappy with Bernadette's casting, she showed in the past that she could play dramatic roles well.
Hm, I would be really interested to see Megan's ROSE'S TURN.
Well, how many things have you seen Sara do? Now that she's a Tony-winning television star, she can better choose the roles she would like to play on the stage.
I think that's when an actor can show people what they are made of. Until then, you are pretty much stuck in the box of what your type is. If she wanted to try this role--let her. If she fails, fine. But what if she succeeded? Wouldn't that be fascinating to watch?
jrb-in another 15 years or so Sara Ramirez would be a really interesting choice. I totally agree. Sometimes the element of surprise is there-in a positive light.
God Forbid someone in a post (yes I am talking to you Thebijean) can't have a decent conversation without acting like they are on a playground in grammer school... doing the whole childish put down act.
In 5-7 years I say cast Donna Murphy & Beth Leveal. I Love and adore them both and think they are 2 great theatre actors, but with Donna's vocal issues she'd need a strong standby - so each do 4 performances a week and we're all set! It'd never happen, but I'd love it!
I would say Leavel could do it today.
Donna would be inspired.
Oh!
And how about Audra...
I think Audra McDonald, Sara Ramirez, and Christine Ebersole would not make for a good Momma Rose. As I said, I was expected to be blown away by Ebersole's "Everything's Coming Up Roses" but she didn't seem to get the larger-than-life, desperate, overdramatic quality of Rose. McDonald's voice doesn't suit the role and I don't see Ramirez bringing anything interesting.
Donna Murphy would be an actress Rose and that's why I think she would be so incredibly fantastic, I can see her making very bold delicate choices.
Tonya Pinkins would just be unstoppable, it'd be like Caroline Thibodeaux gone deranged! I would just love to hear her "Rose's Turn."
Yeah, you're probably right about Audra.
But she could possibly in many, many years.
As I said before Tonya Pinkins as Rose and Anika as Gypsy would be tour de force! I also think Barbra streisand would be a great Rose.
When did Christine Ebersole do anything from Gypsy?
I do think Ramirez has the stuff a few years down the line.
As I said before Tonya Pinkins as Rose and Anika as Gypsy would be tour de force!
If this were to happen I would hop on a plane and be there for every performance for two weeks. Anika Noni Rose's Louise would be GENIUS and well, Pinkins as Rose is dreamy....
Christine Ebersole sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" at an Encores! concert a few years ago that celebrated the music of Jule Styne, Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields, and a couple other songwriters.
ray-okay now I remember reading about that.
was it recorded???
Not legally
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
As I said before Tonya Pinkins as Rose and Anika as Gypsy would be tour de force!
Now that would be killer.
How about Mary Testa?
Alix Korey would be another choice. Though her EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES isn't the best (isn't dramatic enough) - I bet she could tear up the role in performance.
Ohhh, I'm surprised we hadn't thought of Mary Testa any sooner. Now THAT would be a killer performance.
A staging with Tonya Pinkins as Rose, Anika Noni Rose as Louise, and Nikki M. James as June would be thrilling.
A couple people have mentioned Kathy Bates--- while she'd be an interesting choice, remember what was stated earlier: Rose has to believably be the mother of two very young children in the begining of the show. I'm afraid Bates wouldn't pass muster for that visual.
"A staging with Tonya Pinkins as Rose, Anika Noni Rose as Louise, and Nikki Renee Daniels as June would be thrilling."
Even just a concert would do. It just sounds too wonderful!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/05
"I think you missed the point baby."
- KJ, rather condescending aren't we? I did not miss the point, what I meant to say was that it seemed as though she was struggling to get through the song (gasping at every other word, for instance.)
And if you had said that to me in person, I would have punched you in the face.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Trish VanDevere
OMG LIKE DEF LEA MICHELLE!
kidding.
I never thought of Leavel! She would rock that show!
Kathy Bates would be amazing.
I agree with Lea Delaria. I've known that woman for 25 years, and she would be grittier and edgier than any of the "Broadway divae" mentioned in this thread thus far... and probably the closest, from what I understand, to the *real* Mama Rose.
But if we're *really* thinking outside the box, I'd dearly love to see Chenowith take it on in about 20 years. She'll be about the right age, and it'd be interesting to see a matured version of that Chenowith giggly charm in a role like this. Its really not as much a stretch as you might think... and bear in mind that I'm not a huge fan of hers. But it's still an intruiging concept to consider, assuming, of course, she's still around in 20 years.
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