Daphne Rubin-Vega as the witch. I have faith, she could totally do it.
The best total ensemble I could come up with...
Witch- Sherie Rene Scott
Narrator/Mysterious Man- John Lithgow
Baker's Wife- Carolee Carmello
The Baker- Daniel Evans
Cinderella- Jennifer Damiano
Cinderella's Prince/Wolf- Mark Kudisch
Rapunzel's Prince- Tom Hewitt
Jack's Mom- Kathy Najimy
Ironically enough, Carolee Carmello was down to Final Callbacks for ITW Revival.
Stand-by Joined: 4/28/09
Kathy Najimy as Jack's mom... inspired
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
I think Sherrie Rene Scott would be an excellent witch, but she doesn't do revivals.
When are people going to realize that Julia Murney isn't as talented as she thinks she is?
Stand-by Joined: 1/12/06
Just a few leads/key roles:
The Witch: Audra McDonald
The Baker: Marc Kudish
The Baker's Wife: Jennifer Laura Thompson
Cinderella: Kelli O'Hara
Cinderella's Prince/Wolf: Cheyenne Jackson
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
I would like to see a Baker and his Wife who are NOT pushing 50.
Thompson is 39. She's hardly "pushing 50."
"Ironically enough, Carolee Carmello was down to Final Callbacks for ITW Revival."
I know. Apparently she was too similar to Gleason in Lapine's mind. So he got the boring Kerry O'Malley instead? I love Porter's "Last Midnight".
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
BobbyBubby,
That sums up the main problem with the revival in one line - Lapine was too worried about being "different" than the original and not worried enough about just serving the piece. I am a firm believer that a director can have two very different vies of a show and excute them equally as well, but Lapine, as the libterrist, was TOO deeply ingrained in the creating and in formulating the piece, all resulting in that original staging, that he isn't a place to offer a wholey different, valid, and well executed view.
What's with the revisionist history of everyone liking Laura Benanti in this production?
The revival was far from a mess. The reviews I read just shortly before seeing the show led me to believe it had been rebuilt to make Cinderella the star. It wasn't, of course, but Benanti gave a terrific performance. But the Baker, Baker's Wife, and Jack's Mother were far less effective. The set design was (I thought) quite brilliant although since then the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario went one better with a stunning visual design for their 2005 production. (A shame THAT version could not have been taken to Broadway if only for a limited engagement.)
I don't think WOODS has as large an audience as people would think. It is not really a show for children but many adults assume it is because of the fairy tales.
Maybe the NYCO should give it a try?
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Stand-by Joined: 11/7/07
Eamon Foley would be PERFECT for the role of Jack. It would be great to see a very talented teen on stage instead of adults faking their ways as children.
He was incredible in "Everyday Rapture".
Updated On: 8/8/09 at 05:54 PM
I wonder if "Into the woods" could ever be revived successfully, I get the impression it belongs in community theatres and on DVD.
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