Alex Newell wants to play Effie!

[chanel]

Posted: 6/7/23 at 9:25pm

And not for one night only.

https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2023/06/07/alex-newell-wants-to-play-effie-and-other-drama-desk-winner-revelations/

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/7/23 at 9:35pm

Casey Nicolaw, PLEASE MAKE THIS A REALITY!

The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince

[silent]

Posted: 6/7/23 at 11:33pm

Make it a double whammy and cast Alex and Amber Riley (I know she played the part in London already) in the role! Effie needs to be played by two performers anyway. 

Updated On: 6/7/23 at 11:33 PM

[Sauja]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 8:05am

I MEAN… 1) we’re way overdue for a broadway revival, and 2) TAKE MY MONEY.

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 8:12am

Pass. Amber Riley deserves the first crack at it (she won the Olivier for goodness sakes) and Alex, historically, misses a LOT of performances

Casting Newell would feel like when they cast Beanie for FG and skipped over Lea…

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 8:30am

They can sing the heck out of it, certainly...but act?  No thanks.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 8:46am

quizking101 said: "Pass. Amber Riley deserves the first crack at it (she won the Olivier for goodness sakes) and Alex, historically, misses a LOT of performances

Casting Newell would feel like when they cast Beanie for FG and skipped over Lea…"

 

So did Amber in London to be fair. I'd have thought they'd want someone more reliable.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 8:47am

quizking101 said: "Pass. Amber Riley deserves the first crack at it (she won the Olivier for goodness sakes) and Alex, historically, misses a LOT of performances

Casting Newell would feel like when they cast Beanie for FG and skipped over Lea…"

Well, Amber was very criticized for missing a lot of performances too. Marisha Wallace was on many many times during Amber's run.

I saw with Amber and she was perfection tho.

My only question is if it's not past her time, she is almost 40, right? When she did the show (7 years ago!) she was in her late 20's or almost 30.

[Zingingtobway]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 11:34am

quizking101 said:Pass. Amber Riley deserves the first crack at it (she won the Olivier for goodness sakes) and Alex, historically, misses a LOT of performances

Casting Newell would feel like when they cast Beanie for FG and skipped over Lea…"

 

First of all, I agree that Amber should have the 1st right of refusal to play Effie on Broadway. Being that the Broadway nod was supposed to immediately follow the London run but that didn't happen. Amber is Incredible and So is Alex and Marisha!

Now with that said, you are entitled to your opinion no matter how left it may be. Comparing Alex Newell in Dreamgirls to Beanie is FG is not only misguided it's the farthest thing from fact. For Benie she had amazing acting chops but the material didn't sit well in her voice. For Alex, We all know they can sing it And, as we have seen in Shucked, Alex has great comedic timing and can act. 

So instead of pitting black actresses against each other how about we all rally around the fact of this show Finally making it's Broadway return. I for one would be happy to see Alex in the role 

Give Alex a chance to show what other tools reside in that incredibly talented tool box.

 

There is nothing in the world better than Live Theater.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/8/23 at 11:58am

And before anyone comes in with some bull about Alex looking bored any time it wasn't their solo in Once on This Island, crack open the script to Dreamgirls and look at Effie's actual stage time. Enough of Act I to keep Alex lively, and little enough of Act II that we don't have to see Alex sitting around waiting for their turn.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 12:34pm

Newell can keep putting it out there, but I don't see it happening.

Just because someone can modulate loudly doesn't mean they're right for Effie White.

Bringing down the house with one number is one thing.  Carrying the show and doing it in multiple numbers is quite another.