Angela Lansbury - Mdme Armfeldt in ALNM Revival

[paradox_error]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:29pm

With the A Little Night Musical in the works, I think the best choice for Madame Armfeldt would be the one and only Angela Lansbury.

Can you imagine her wrapping herself around "Liasons"? The thought of it alone gives me chills...

Angela Lansbury in her big Broadway Return. I think this is inspired casting.

Anyone agree?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:40pm

Lansbury would be marvelous, but and it pains me to say this, she seemed very frail during her appearence at WALL TO WALL Sondheim. I honestly don't know if she's got an eight performance a week show in her at this point.

Zoe Caldwell is probably the natural choice to play the role, as she actually resembles Glenn Close and has already done the role, though part of me would love to see Lauren Bacall do it.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:41pm

My Dream Cast:

Desiree-Michele Pawk
Frederik-John Dossett
Mme. Armfeldt-Angela Lansbury
Frederika-Daisy Eagan
The Count-Marc Kudisch
Petra-Michelle Federer
Charlotte-Kate Burton
Henrik-Neil Patrick Harris

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:41pm

MEF, your casting is a gay man's wet dream!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:43pm

MEF, I so hope Marc doesn't do the revival. He's done this show nine thousand times (and I've seen them all) and I really want him to take the lead in a show. A BIG musical theatre event with his name over the marquee.

He deserves it, already.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:44pm

I would wet myself over your dream cast MEF!

OUCH!!!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:44pm

He was all I can think of for the Count. If you can come up with a better idea, feel free to post it.

Bad, I aim to please (no pun intended)

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:44pm

Doug Sills as the Count.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:45pm

If they cast Doug Sills, you'll have to come up as a replacement for him when he gets fired.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 4:56pm

Great casting list - except for NPH. Definitely couldn't sing Henrik very well. Although, he can pull off the frail and timid very well - his voice is overrated IMO - and he's not a high tenor. Who else would be a great Henrik?

[musicgal04]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:04pm

What about Anne?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:10pm

Jessica Boevers played Petra in the 2003 production, but I could also see her as Anne.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:12pm

No, Neil Patrick Harris could not sing it.
But he's hot.
Gavin?
I'm sure he could sing it!
And he's hot too.

Eh. Federer as Petra?
She wasn't THAT good in Wicked.

I say Emily Skinner.
Her voice is SO voluptuous.
And she could tackle the comedic side of Petra, all while being extremely sexy.

I think she did "Miller's Son" on one of her shared albums with Alice.
And it's wonderous times.

You forgot to cast Charlotte!
Pawk is too young for Desiree, but just right for Charlotte.
But I dunno, she seems to play these jaded, know-it-all, "I'm really hurting inside, but I rarely let people see it" characters, and I'd like to see her move on.

If she weren't frail, as previously reported, I think she could still do Desiree?
Hell, she could still do Lovette!
And MAMA ROSE!
And JESU--

Er, I'm getting excited forgive me.
I like Sir Sills, but he is a bit of an overactor, which might work well with Magnus.
Depends on the director.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:13pm

and actually MEF on second thought, I'm not keen on much of the cast list. I'm not a Michelle Federer fan, and am unfamiliar with Kate Burton's work. We couldn't get a better Frederik than Dossett? I guess he a pretty great actor - but I don't know. The show is so dear to me, that I'd hate to see any weaknesses in the casting.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:16pm

"You forgot to cast Charlotte!"

No, I didn't. I cast Kate Burton.

And have you seen Michele lately? Although she is still beautiful, she certainly has aged. She has short, grey hair.

[Justice]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:25pm

Other choices for Armfeldt - Carol Channing, Elaine Stritch

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:27pm

Speaking of aged -- so has Daisy Egan. She's a little out of Fredrika terriorty now!

[Justice]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:29pm

Fredrika - Christy Carlson Romano

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:32pm

Justice, for shame!

[LostLeander]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:34pm

Eep!
Sorry, I totally missed that.

Kate Burton, nice.
Can she sing? I just know what she looks like.
Charlotte's singing isn't all that difficult though.

Yes, Michele does look older with the grey hair and all, but still, I think her demeanor is still a bit young?
I dunno, It's hard to explain.
Merely just the impression I get of Pawk and her recent work though, but I'm she would be good if she did it.
Just not *perfect*.

Glenn seems a bit too intense for Desiree.
I'm afraid she'll break into Cruella and/or Norma, and start overenunciating, and cackling, and smoking long cigarettes, and using THAT voice that divas supposedly use a la Dianne Wiest in Bullets over Broadway.
I ramble.
Forgive me.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:42pm

Kate sings very well (for proof, listen to the COMPANY revival cast.)

Regarding Michele, she and John did "Send in the Clowns" together at WALL-TO-WALL, and it was incredible. Her voice fit the song like a glove.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 5:52pm

What about Kelli O'Hara for Anne?

[flamingo]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 6:11pm

:sigh: Not popular, but important to get it out:

Desiree: Bernadette Peters--it's time (after hearing and seeing her sing "Send in the Clowns" --on tape-I want the rest)

Charlotte: Randy Graff (I saw her at the Kennedy Center in this role and she was simply terrific)

Henrik: I don't know, but not Neal P. Harris--he's too old.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 6:18pm

Michael Cerveris for the count. He played it in Chicago before Assasins and was wonderful.

[Justice]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 6:21pm

Desiree: Donna Murphy

Petra = La Chanze. There couldn't be a better casting choice!
I would kill to hear her sing The Miller's Son