What's your opinion on a male playing Annie?- Page 2

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 9:41pm

No. Just no.

[broadway_star_tomorrow]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 9:49pm

a world of no.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 9:54pm

Danny?

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:00pm

Um No. But here's the bigger question: Will MTI, who license Annie JR., allow you to do that?

[Falsettoland]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:47pm

Agreed. No doesn't have enough letters to express all the no-ness of it all (Wow, I don't make sense).
I was going to make the same suggestion about the Star-To-Be though.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 8:25am

This is the worst idea I've ever heard. If he's it, for talent, then why the hell are you doing ANNIE?! Do OLIVER!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 8:34am

everyone interested in this thread should Google (or search engine on Playbill Online or here) for "That's Andy" which is a wonderful new musical based on the same concept, but cleverly (for trademark purposes most likely) never mentioning the title of the Charnin/Meehan/Strouse show. i believe there is to be another workshop of it in the NYC area soon, but i'm not sure it's a public one.

And if we're playing, "What I'd Do", i'd make the orphans co-ed (despite the presence of the number LITTLE GIRLS), and feature the boy on MAYBE. Spread the wealth. If the parents can't get over the boys competing with the girls for the orphan slots, they are not the type of families you want to be working with anyway.

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 8:50am

Only if the male is 45, THEN it could work!

"Maybe there's a waaaaayyyy.."

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 8:51am

I actually want to second the suggestion that you make the boy the Star-to-Be. That's a perfect chance to give him a big number, sort of "introduce" the boy to your audience as a great little singer and also let him know he's someone you want to use.

[Glebb]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 8:55am

Come on! My Betty Hutton joke was funny!

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:27pm

Without a doubt, no. I too admire you for being so open minded, and when I was this kids age, I would probably love you for it, but there is no way he would ever live it down and what parents would let someone subject their child to that? Let alone, what director would subject a child to that? If you know you want to work this kid in somehow I think you should make the orphanige coed and double-cast him as the Star-to-Be also, so he could have solo's in all the orphan numbers and be in all the orphan scenes, and also have a part of a big number to himself. Out of curiosity, were young boys urged to audition even though Annie doesn't have any in it? And also, if you did cast this poor kid as Annie (God forbid), what are you planning on doing? Changing the part to a male or dressing the kid up as a girl?--Both, in my opinion, equally inconsiderate and unfair to the child, as much as he probably thinks he wants the role.

And about all the "turning him gay" jokes, come on.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:33pm

I think that next year, in order to top your Victor/Victoriaesque version of ANNIE you should get your elementary school to put on THE LIFE.

[ElTico68]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:36pm

I'm all for creative, non-traditional casting, when it works. In this case... not so much.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:41pm

Come on! My Betty Hutton joke was funny!

No, Glebb, it was downright MEAN! No one slams the Betty! Hear me?

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:45pm

Is it too late to change shows? I know a small theatre group that was going to do Honk! Jr. but had to switch to Dear Edwina Jr. instead due to the number of kids.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 4:49pm

" Um No. But here's the bigger question: Will MTI, who license Annie JR., allow you to do that?"

As long as the character was still female the casting would be legal.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 4:59pm

I think its just fine. I played Oliver! when I was around 9 years old and I am a girl. Acting is pretending to be something you're not. I wasn't a little orphaned London boy, but I played one. As long as you think he can pull it off, then I don't see what the problem is.

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:34pm

Thank you Littlefish8386, I did offer the part to him but his parents declined. The whole embarassment thing got to them, but they were very flattered. I offered him the part of a newyorker, a servant, and Drake. One of the boys had dropped out so there were parts open for him. Thank you for all the concern and suggestion. But you have got to hear this kid sing! He'll blow you away. Next year, we're doing Oliver!

[ElTico68]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:54pm

Hm... now that I read LF's post... why is it ok for a girl to play a boy, but not the other way around? I mean, I'm guilty of this (see my previous post). When I choreographed "Fiddler..." last year, we didn't have enough men audition, so some women were cast in male chorus parts. We had a little girl play a jewish boy... And that's fine. But the only time men are cast as females is for *comic* relief or as stunt casting. I just wonder...

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:48am

don't forget Peter Pan! but sometimes for opera and some musicals, "breeches roles" are meant for women playing men who still sing in a female register.

Did anyone see the infamous Paper Mill PETER PAN with La Robert playing the title role?!?!?

i agree with EL TICO, however...what is that prejudice that women-as-boys-or-men is fine, but the reverse has to be ludicrous in some way?!?!!?

straight (so to speak) plays don't have it...look at I AM MY OWN WIFE....