All-Female 1776

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:18pm

Kansas City is doing an all female version. I always thought Ben Franklin was a butch lesbian.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141331-Tony-Winning-Musical-1776-Will-Get-All-Female-Staging-in-Kansas-City

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:23pm

This just sounds like such a good idea. I mean it's so edgy, Y'know. They're so brave to try something so radically new. I just HAVE to fly there and see this groundbreaking, daring take on a classic.

[Director =)]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:26pm

Meh. They're hardly the first to do an all female staging of some show. Takarazuka Revue in Japan does it all the time.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:26pm

Oh, Jordan, you're such a traditionalist.

There used to be a theatre company in St Louis that would do a gender reversed 1776 concert each year. It was okay - and actually the only time I've ever seen the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:32pm

I saw that theaters childrens company staging of The Cemetary Club last Spring and found it to be a revelation.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:35pm

It's okay to be traditional and unyielding in your views on theatre, baby. Just own it.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:36pm

An all-female staging of 1776 was done in Chicago during the spring of 2002. Check out the linked story...

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/68570-Chicagos-Concert-Version-of-1776-Features-Founding-Mothers
Founding Mothers in 1776 Updated On: 7/20/10 at 12:36 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:39pm

Lol. A far as traditional goes, on a scale of 1-10, I'd say I'm a 6. I don't mind at all seeing nw stagings of well known works. The Roundabouts recent MENAGERIE was possibly the highlight of last season to me. However things like this are just weird to me and I don't see the point. Not saying they shouldn't be done, I just don't see why it is being done.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:43pm

I'm not sure I get any point to this, other than the sort-of novelty.

But, unless they change keys, there's going to be a lot of hooty sopranos, aren't there? (Given that men's tessituras generally sit higher than women's.)

Still - wouldn't you love to see Mary Testa try to howl her way through "Molasses?" Stritch as Franklin? Patti barking out "The Lees of Virginia?"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:48pm

Crawford, along with MTH executive director George Harter and associate producer Chad Gerlt, conceived of the production as a way to showcase the talent of female actresses in the Kansas City area. Though they were initially concerned that audiences may not accept women portraying the political figures in 1776, Crawford said, "When feelers were sent out to our actresses, the response was a resounding 'Oh yes, I would love to tackle that role.' This is what we expected and it gave us more reason to consider it further.

Essentially they're doing it just do it, which doesn't bother me.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:53pm

This sounds stupid.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 12:57pm

So don't go.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 1:02pm

It's probably a budget thing: much lower wig-rental costs.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 1:05pm

And, of course, you can pay women less than men.

[raker]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 1:33pm

Did they move April Fool's Day to July? That would make as much sense as an all-female 1776.

Posted: 7/20/10 at 1:46pm

Are Abigail and Martha women too? So Joan Adams and Thomasina Jefferson are lesbians? Rush Limbaugh ain't gonna cotton to that.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 1:55pm

When I saw a concert with women as the founding fathers, they had their wives and other women played by men. It reads like that's how it was in the Chicago concert, too. This current one seems to imply that everyone is played by a woman.

Posted: 7/20/10 at 1:58pm

Since she seems to be the artist of the day I'll say it would be OK as long as Lauren Bacall plays Abigail Adams. Then you really couldn't tell.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 4:06pm

"Though they were initially concerned that audiences may not accept women portraying the political figures in 1776, Crawford said, 'When feelers were sent out to our actresses, the response was a resounding 'Oh yes, I would love to tackle that role.' This is what we expected and it gave us more reason to consider it further.'"

Wait, so how does the actresses' enthusiasm ease their concern about what the audiences might think?

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 4:34pm

Not that revolutionary. It's been done. I actually know of a benefit production in Chicago that was done with terrific transgendered cabaret star Alexandra Billings as...Rutledge, I believe?

And on the subject of a female Rutledge, Kate Shindle...ALL THE WAY.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/20/10 at 7:34pm

I think Martha and Abigail should have been men in this.

Racist, chauvinistic haters.

[byebyebaby12]

Posted: 7/21/10 at 9:55am

Well, I plan on producing all female versions of Glen Gary Glen Ross andTwelve Angry Men.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/21/10 at 9:57am

What's wrong with an all female twelve angry men?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/21/10 at 9:57am

And I plan on producing an all Chinese Ragtime.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/21/10 at 10:02am

I'm telling you, Jordan - you want strict gender and racial lines when it comes to casting. I don't know why you can't just admit it.