Let's Play The Kissing Cousins Game!!!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:45am

1. Ethel Merman played 'Reno Sweeney' in the original Broadway production of ANYTHING GOES and 'Annie Oakley' in the original Broadway production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Eileen Rodgers played 'Reno Sweeney' in the 1962 Off-Broadway revival and was the standby for 'Annie Oakley' in the 1966 Lincoln Center Revival.

2. Mary Martin played 'Nellie Forbush' in the original Broadway production of SOUTH PACIFIC and 'Maria von Trapp' in the original Broadway production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Florence Henderson played 'Nellie Forbush' in the 1967 Lincoln Center Revival and 'Maria von Trapp' in the National Touring Company.

3. Alfred Drake played 'Fred Graham' in the original Broadway production of KISS ME, KATE and 'Hajj' in the original Broadway production of KISMET. Howard Keel played both 'Fred Graham' and 'Hajj' in the film versions.

4. Julie Andrews played 'Polly' in the original Broadway production of THE BOY FRIEND and played 'Eliza Doolittle' in the original Broadway production of MY FAIR LADY. Anne Rogers played 'Polly' in the original London production and played 'Eliza Doolittle' in the National Touring Company.

5. Carol Channing was the understudy for 'Maggie Watson' in the original Broadway production of LET'S FACE IT! and played 'Dolly Levi' in the original Broadway production of HELLO, DOLLY! Eve Arden played 'Maggie Watson' in the original Broadway production and played 'Dolly Levi' in the National Touring Company.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:48am

6) Zero Mostel played Max Bialystock in the original movie of The Producers and originated Pseudolous in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum on Broadway and on film. Nathan Lane originated Max Bialystock in the Original Broadway production of The Producers and will play Max in the movie of the movie turned musical and originated Pseudolous in the most recent Broadway revival of Forum.

Is that how the game works?

Updated On: 3/16/05 at 12:48 AM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:49am

Priest, as usual, you play PERFECTLY.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:54am

7) Tom Aldredge originated the roles of the Narrator in Sondheim's Into the Woods on Broadway and Doctor Tambourri in Sondheim's Passion on Broadway. John McMartin played the Narrator in the Revival of Into the Woods and played Doctor Tambourri in the 10th Anniversery Concert of Passion this past October.

Updated On: 3/16/05 at 12:54 AM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:55am

GO, Priest!!!

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 1:07am

8. Dorothy Loudon originated Miss Hannigan in Annie and Dotty Otley in Noises Off. Carol Burnett snatched those two roles for their respective film versions. Loudon still owns the definitive interpretation of each.

Updated On: 3/16/05 at 01:07 AM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 1:10am

I see we've added a little editoralizing to the game, Priest, but I always encourage creative thinking...

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 2:57am

Gwen Verdon played Claudine in CAN-CAN and Charity Hope Valentine on Broadway. Juliet Prowse played Claudine in the film of CAN-CAN and Charity Hope Valentine in London.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 5:06am

Chita Rivera starred in CHICAGO and KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN on Broadway, and played Nikki in the movie of SWEET CHARITY. Bebe Neuwirth did KOTSW in London and the revivals of CHICAGO and SWEET CHARITY.

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 10:44am

If I'm not mistaken, Celeste Holm and Eileen Heckart co-starred in Arthur Laurents' play INVITATION TO A MARCH. Years later Celeste Holm replaced Eileen Heckart out of town in THE UTTER GLORY OF MORRISEY HALL.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:31pm

Karen Ziemba played Roxie Hart - a role played on film by Ginger Rodgers. KZ also played Polly Baker in CRAZY FOR YOU - essentially a rewrite of the role Ginger Rodgers played in GIRL CRAZY. Early in her career, KZ played the ingenue lead in a summer stock production of BABES IN ARMS that was directed by - you guessed it - Ginger Rodgers.

P.S. - the last known photograph of Ginger Rodgers shows her visiting with KZ backstage at CRAZY FOR YOU.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:39pm

Ethel Merman played 'Annie Oakley' in the original Broadway Production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and 'Mama Rose' in the original Broadway Production of GYPSY. Bernadette Peters played 'Annie Oakley' in the 1999 Broadway Revival and 'Mama Rose' in the 2003 Broadway Revival.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 1:03pm

Ethel Merman played 'Mrs. Sally Adams' in the original Broadway Production of CALL ME MADAM and 'Mama Rose' in the original Broadway Production of GYPSY. Tyne Daly played 'Mrs. Sally Adams' in the 1995 Encores! Concert Revival and played 'Mama Rose' in the 1989 Broadway Revival.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 1:19pm

Tallulah Bankhead played 'Judith Traherne' in the original Broadway Production of DARK VICTORY and 'Regina Giddons' in the original Broadway Production of THE LITTLE FOXES. Bette Davis played both these roles in their respective film versions.