All That Jazz musical in the works?

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 9:35pm

Heard from a pal today that an All That Jazz musical was being prepped for Broadway.  Anyone heard anything else about this or know if it's more than a rumor?

I'm really torn on if I want it.

I know that I'd love Leslie Odam Jr in Ben Vereen's role.

And can Raul Esparza dance?  

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 10:33pm

Sondheimite said: "And can Raul Esparza dance?"

Could Roy Scheider?

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 11:08pm

Sondheimite said: 

And can Raul Esparza dance?"

 

He can dance if he wants to.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist)

 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 1:04am

So Nine with Fosse choreography thrown in?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 9:23am

I know that I'd love Leslie Odam Jr in Ben Vereen's role.

The role in the film is basically a TV announcer and only appears in certain moments.   It’s not a character involved in the plot of the story in any capacity, unless they make him a “narrator” of the show, which has been a popular formula.  Only this “narrator” angle would interest any name actor.  

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 9:40am

Could this just be within the Fosse/Verdon FX series world? I wouldn't be surprised if some of that material bleeds over to the stage.

[TNick926]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 9:55am

Valentina3 said: "Could this just be within the Fosse/Verdon FX series world? I wouldn't be surprised if some of that material bleeds over to the stage."

That's what I wondered as well...seems very unlikely they would do a series on Fosse and Verdon without touching on some of the great projects they were both involved with over the years, including All That Jazz and Chicago, etc.  Exciting to think of who would play these parts in the series, even tangentially...(In addition to Rockwell as Fosse and Michelle Williams as Verdon, seems Allison Williams is cast to play Ann Reinking?  Imagine Leslie Odom Jr. or Usher as Ben Vereen!  Lindsey Mendez as Chita?...) 

On the other hand, a stage production of the movie ALL THAT JAZZ seems unnecessary - the movie is so freakin' brilliant and bizarre.  Yet we live in an age where bringing derivative shows based on movies and tv shows to the Broadway stage is all that rage, so what do I know?

 

Updated On: 7/26/18 at 09:55 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 10:13am

Lindsey Mendez as Chita?...

Hahaha.  With all due respect, aside from both actresses having Hispanic heritage, Chita Rivera is a dancer.  Has ALWAYS had a lean dancer’s body, which is the norm for any active dancer.  Casting Mendez as a legendary dancer is like casting Rebel Wilson as prima ballerina. 

Not body shaming but casting needs to be realistic in all forms.  

 

[TNick926]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 11:01am

I agree Lindsey is not physically right for it, but just trying to think of young hispanic/latin woman who might be right for the part (if it even exists!)....Lindsey could sing the hell out of those Velma songs, though! :)

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 11:52am

I don’t want to be THAT guy who throws a Glee name in the ring, but thinking of that and who FX or Lin would have connections with: Naya Rivera, Ana Vilafañe or someone from the HamFam and theatre-world getting their TV break... I would hope with LMM involved, they’d get some theatre talent in there who haven’t done much TV work.

[TNick926]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 4:45pm

I like your thinking! :)

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 5:01pm

I'm sure there are tons of actress-dancers they could find to play Chita that would be more fitting than Mendez. We just may not be familiar with all of them yet. When casting for stage productions, posters tend to just stick by the same familiar names and not think anybody else exists.

Updated On: 7/26/18 at 05:01 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 5:03pm

Also, time to return to the topic here. This thread is about a possible musical adaptation of Bob Fosse’s 1979 film ALL THAT JAZZ and not the upcoming FX limited series FOSSE/VERDON.  Actresses for Chita Rivera apply to FOSSE/VERDON not ALL THAT JAZZ.  

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 5:07pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Also, time to return to thetopic here. This thread is about a possible musical adaptation of Bob Fosse’s 1979 film ALL THAT JAZZ and not the upcoming FX limited series FOSSE/VERDON. Actresses for Chita Rivera apply to FOSSE/VERDON not ALL THAT JAZZ."

Ah. I think I misread something and somebody suggested the All That Jazz stage version would be a mix of the movie and Fosse/Verdon where they make it actually biographical rather than fictional but actually autobiographical and that Chita would somehow be a part of All That Jazz. As for Fosse/Verdon, I don't think Mendez would be the best choice for Chita.

[bear88]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 4:21am

I think All That Jazz, the film, is a twisted, self-indulgent masterpiece that works because it's so personal and of its time. 

I wouldn't want to see anyone try to make it into a musical now. I can't imagine how it would work, artistically or commercially.