Liza Minnelli

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:37pm

What's the latest with my favorite diva?

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:40pm

I believe that she is back guest-starring on Arrested Development.

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:46pm

Any chance she could land the Norma Desmond role in Sunset Blvd. For a while there was some talk of it. I'm hearing now that ALW is leaning to Glenn Close. I think with the right director, Minnelli could win a second Oscar.

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:47pm

I would love for her to play the part. I saw Glenn in the original Broadway production and she was horrible. I think Liza would be perfect casting.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:52pm

Horrible? Glenn Close was FANTASTIC!

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:52pm

I missed Glenn (thank God) but saw Buckley and Elaine Paige. I thought Betty sang it better but Paige acted it better. Neither, of course, has enough star power for the movie.

[Marquise]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:52pm

Glenn Close SUCKED THE BIG ONE!

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:54pm

I don't even like Close's recording. Lupone's towers over it.

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:56pm

I saw Close, Buckley and Paige. Of the three, Paige was the best. I have LuPone's recording, and I wish I could've been able to see her performance.

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 9:58pm

Liza, if you're on line, I want you to call ALW and actively pursue this. You're the best movie actress who sings. The role belongs to you. Sincerely, your best beau.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:33pm

She's going to perform at Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, MS at April 25. I'm so happy that Liza is performing so close to where I live.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:49pm

Dear Liza,
Do you need a houseboy for the summer?????? I'm available, and could be considered a twink, so I'm sure the man of you life would enjoy my company too. I can sing and dance too.
Let me know,
MTVMANN

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 11:16pm

I think Liza would be fantastic in Sunset Blvd. I saw her in February at Westbury Music Fair. She was great but did not do the whole show. It may have been a case of nerves. Ben Vereen did practically the first half. I did not pay to see Ben Vereen but what she did do, was great.........

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 12:21am

How do we reach ALW by email to start a Liza for Norma Desmond campaign?

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 12:23am

She's speaking at my acting school Thursday. Should be amazing!

[JBSinger]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 10:02am

I suppose you could start e-blasting the Really Useful Group website to try and get Liza cast - but its looking like Glenn (and hopefuly Hugh).

[sparky310]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 10:20am

sorry glenn was horrible..and quite embarrassing to watch..it was like fatal attraction met a musical score..she has very little range.

[sparky310]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 10:21am

wow..i hope that was a joke

[camthom]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 11:19am

That could not be further from the truth. Glenn was incredible! If you've ever SEEN the original Wilder film, you'd see that her portrayal was dead-on. I saw Paige, Buckley and Mason as well..all wer very good but none of them captured the "manic" side of Norma Desmond the way Close did. The woman is on the brink for most of the film, teetering on the edge of sanity. To translate that to the stage is a HUGE challenge. One that Close managed far better than any of her counterparts.

She doesn't have LuPone's voice, no...but she's playing a 60-something silent film star-she's not supposed to be a brassy belter-that doesn't fit at all with the role. I, for one, thought Close was the best of the Normas.
Updated On: 4/4/05 at 11:19 AM

[sparky310]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 11:38am

actually the character..and i could be wrong was suppose to be about 50
and i did see everyone including diahnn carrol in canada...glenn was the worst..her lack of subtly and inability to make the audience feel anything for here made you feel nothing for her at the end..and in turn you really could not have cared less about the character..
only my opnion..you are entitled to yours..that is why it is art there are no rights or wrongs..or "truths"

[DefyingGravity123]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 11:57am

She's going to be performing in Cohasset, MA on July 17-I will so be there! Oh, and this is my first post here-hello everybody!

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 12:19pm

COHASSETT??? At the South Shore Music Circus?!? That's brilliant. I am from that area...actually I can be seen in the church scene in Witches of Eastwick (filmed in Cohassett) in my Sunday best at the age of 11! The beginning and end of my illustrious film career!

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 1:21pm

Liza started a new concert tour a couple of weeks ago, with Ben Vereen as her opening act. Prior to that she completed two new guest appearance episodes of the tv show ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.

I have posted many times about Liza being the ideal choice for Norma Desmond in the SUNSET BOULEVARD film. In addition to her being the MOST suited actress/singer for the part, her appearing in the film would be reflective of the ORIGINAL Sunset Boulevard film on which the musical was based. The original, nonmusical film starred Gloria Swanson,(who got an Oscar nomination)one of the "founders" of Hollywood in the silent screen era; at the time Billy Wilder directed her as Norma Desmond, Ms. Swamson was, herself, somewhat faded and considered, shall we say, somewhat quirky, had a famous relationship with Joe Kennedy Sr., her career was not at its height and her casting was controversial at the time.
This is SOOOOOOOOOOO VERRRRY similar to what it would be like CASTING Liza Minnelli in the film version of the musical SUNSET BOULEVARD. This certainly could be another Oscar'd performance for Ms. Minnelli.

I saw the original Broadway production of SUNSET BOULEVARD and the thing that blew me away was the performance of George Hearn. He was rivetting and his singing was mesmerizing. His Tony award was richly deserved. In my household when we discuss seeing SUNSET BOULEVARD the week after it opened, we primarily talk about Mr. Hearn's unforgettable performance. I remember the sets were great and there was an awesome "body in the pool effect" when the show started. And--- There was a fabulously staged moment--When Ms. Desmond returns to the film studio after a long absence and is recognized by a lighting technician atop a ladder--I believe the character's name is Hawkeye or something close to that, he says to her in astonishment something to the effect of, "Ms. Desmond, Ms. Desmond is that really you," Ms. Close as Norma Desmond replied rather coquetteishly, "Hawkeye!Well, Hello" and he replied "Let's get a Look at You," and she was bathed with blazing "star-only" spotlights to the strains of WITH ONE LOOK. It is a stunningly staged moment in the show.

The set was great with its famous huge staircase and its emergence into a two level set. The score is very good. As If We've Never Said Goodbye and She's the Greatest Star of All being the obvious standouts.
Ms. Close delivered the performance expected from her and reaped the Tony against only one other nominee in the Best Actress in a musical category that year, Rebecca Luker from SHOW BOAT.
To many the part seemed somewhat similar to others Ms. Close had played. Many think she played Cruella Deville (sp?) the villain of 101 DALMATIONS as a kind of first cousin of Norma Desmond.
Her singing was quite bad, with her "operatic register" being particularly unpleasant. Of course she was good or great when performing "As If We've Never Said Goodbye." This is a song that is it not difficult for any reasonably competent stage performer to do well. The graduer, drama and "release" are all built into the music.
I purchased the cd with Ms. Close primarily for George Hearn's voice. It was worth the price. When I listen to SUNSET BOULEVARD, I listen to Patti Lupone's cd. Except, when we are in for a Hearn "fix," we listen to his tracks on the original Broadway cast recording with Glenn Close.
I remember Glenn Close as being good in the show, highly "effected," and very over the top nuts. But again, her performance was not the standout in that production for me. Many of us who saw it will never forget the haunting performance of George Hearn.
Glenn Close is one of the great actresses of her generation. As a singer, she is fine for most musicals you might say, but, not too many would rush out to buy a Glenn Close cd of Sinatra's greatest hits.
Patti Lupone gave the ultimate performance of SUNSET BOULEVARD's Norma that I have ever "heard." I didn't see it, I only heard her recording. Obviously Ms. Lupone sang the part better than Ms. Close. Patti Lupone would sound better gargling than most people would sound singing.

Updated On: 4/4/05 at 01:21 PM

[ElphieZ]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 2:59pm

Glenn Close had better acting. Betty Buckley had better singing. Petula Clark did both well, but did not do either singing or acting better than Close or Buckley. Liza...I don't know, she's a legend, but I'm sure studios are wary of having her in the role due to production concerns. She has on many occcasion had to cancel, call in sick, etc. On a big budget movie, that is a HUGE issue.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 3:01pm

Liza will be in Denver doing the Orchestra's Pops series for one night, Nov. 12th. She is bringing her own band with her. Can't wait.

G