I was thinking Benanti and O'Hara.
O'Hara is kind of a snoozefest.
What about Rachel York as Phyllis in 10 years or so? She'd be outstanding!
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
If we're doing future casting, why not our current greatest stage divas in 20 years, Chenowith as Sally and Audra as Phyllis?
Broadway Star Joined: 4/17/10
Kristin Chenoweth as Sally and Idina Menzel as Phyllis. :P
I would say no more than 10 years for Chenoweth and McDonald (though both would be great Sallys). I believe the are both 43.
McDonald is a Phyllis. She is the epitome of elegance. There's not a frumpy bone in her body.
But did you hear her "Too Many Mornings"? It's A-MAZING.
Oh, yeah, she can sing the s*it out of Sally's material. But she lacks the temperament to be convincing in the role in a full production.
Sally is such an incredibly hard role to cast. I think some people fail to realize this, and just suggest random actresses who can sing soprano notes.
Physicality needs to be considered when casting Sally and Phyllis.
Don't shoot me.
Andrea McArdle as Sally. She was in the 70s what the original cast was in the late 30s. As an iconic figure from her time she'd have a greater Pirandellian resonance than any of the current cast. She actually was a touchstone of that time. And sorry to get convoluted, but Annie was a product and commentary on a recession not unlike where we are today.
The symmetry is kind of creepy. Can she sing it and act it? I think that it's pretty well documented that most of the original cast worked like crazy to master their parts. I would love to see what she'd do with it. Yeah she's sort of rough and tumble, but that quality is exactly what Ben would have rejected in favor of a trophy wife. She might have a very unique take on the role.
And the PR opportunities would be endless.
Updated On: 9/27/11 at 11:31 PM
I don't know....I'd love to see Audra as Sally. I know the physical type is all wrong, but she's just such an incredible actress. Maybe a concert version someday...Because it would be REALLY hard, under almost any circumstances, to find a Phyllis who would upstage McDonald in terms elegance, beauty, poise, etc.
Oh trust me, I know Audra is all wrong for Sally. I was just saying her singing that song was incredible.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
I think there's a difference between being completely a natural fit in a role and being able to pull it off. Audra is a Phyllis naturally, but I think she could pull off Sally. There certainly are some actresses that really could only be a Sally or only a Phyllis, but a great many who could really dig into either. I think Andrea McArdle could really be great in either role, though I'd prefer to see her as Phyllis personally.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/17/10
Bernadette is beautiful and elegant and is a very effective Sally. I could see Audra in either role.
But Bernadette doesn't play her elegantly. She does fit the 'cute, little, petite' quality that the script calls for. It really is such a hard role to cast.
ohh lets stop all this replacement drama and just wait til they announce if they're extending or not! I mean REALLY!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
^ Yeah, "random," "claim" and "ATC" kinda says it all.
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