There is an opening sequence with Ariel spying on Eric and the men on the ship, sung with the "Fathoms Below" music and new melodies as well. Then there is also a song between Sebastian and Triton called "That Oughta Show Her," which of course happens in Act I and is about how unruly Ariel is. Psh!
So did I totally channel God when I predicted Sherie Renee Scott?
eb412--agreed with Ursula's voice thing..but if they had a talented enough Ursula she could easily go from the big, belty, brassy sound, to the beautiful ingenue voice needed to be Vanessa.
I LOVE Kari Butler, but not for Ariel. She really is hard to listen to on the demo, so squeeky and nasally. It's not right for her.
and all that I could do because of you was talk of love...
yeah i dont think the ursula thiing is impossible...but i just dont get the concept...or the need to have someone play both...i doubt money is an issue with this one...and a puppet??? o god...there are plenty of people who can look like ursula...and ursula is human size...if they were gonna use puppets bandb was the one
this makes me throw up. everyone is just so plain rude on here. well... i take that back, not everyone, but many people are so conceded and think they know everything. so many people think that they have such an inside scoop, and everything that they say is different from the next person. Why don't you just wait for the official annoncement and for now just post your predictions and/or "knowledge" or shut up and don't say anything. Have some class and just keep your mouth shut when you know something and don't be a dumb-a**. You aren't the only people who have "inside information" and you very well could be damn wrong, so shut it.
As much as stunt casting isn't always pretty, I was really hoping Ursula's track would just play Ursula so we could get some musical theatre or even movie legends back on stage doing month-long stints or what-have-you. Starting with Pat Carrol of course, but then there would be so many possibilities for replacements...not necessarily "fat" actresses, but the older ones who couldn't really glam-up to Vanessa's age. I can't think of good examples right now, but maybe you guys can. Eartha Kitt? Jennifer Holliday? Patti Lupone? Bernadette Peters? I dunno, but the possibilities would be endless. I guess this isn't something Disney has ever really done though, to that extent, so I shouldn't have hoped.
Although I am still excited about the possibility of future Ariels, as I thought it was cool how they brought in Toni Braxton, Deborah Cox, etc. I care much more about who the next Ariel will be than the next Elphaba...
Seriously, I really wish Sara Ramirez was playing Ursula, I cant say it enough- she has the voice, the personality, and just would be incredible I LOVE Sherie, but if the rumor is true, I just dont imagine her as Ursula
and yeah, I also agree- the songs I heard on the demo for the show that weren't in the movie...sorry, but I think they sucked I hope they rework the score a bit in the coming months
I love Sherie Rene Scott and have enjoyed her work in everything from Aida to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but I just cannot see her as Ursula.
The song "Poor Unfortunate Soul" (and most of Ursula's material) is in a lower key. Sherie is a high belter, and even her speaking voice is a bit high pitched. I don't see how that is going to transcend to the deep voiced Ursula?
I understand them wanting the same actress to play both Ursula and Vanessa (visually, it is neat for the audience,) but I too think it limits quite a bit the realm of casting they can take the role.
I know Laine Kazan was rumored back when that Broadway.com blind item appeared, and I think she would have been absolutely wonderful. Sara Ramirez is one of the few younger actresses I would have liked, but she is contracted to Grey's Anatomy forever, so I don't think we'll be seeing her back on the boards for quite awhile.
I guess we just have to trust the production team and hope it works out for the best, but this first bit of casting (if it turns out to be true) already has me a bit concerned.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.