Ariana DeBose to lead THE BAKER'S WIFE at Classic Stage Company

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 10:39am

Gordon Greenberg directing; will run October 23–December 14 at Lynn F. Angelson Theater, with opening set for November 11, 2025.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 10:40am

Given how rough her film career has been going lately, it’s about time someone released DeBose from Hollywood.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 10:49am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Given how rough her film career has been going lately, it’s about time someone released DeBose from Hollywood."

Yeah, I'm shocked it's taken her this long to return to the stage.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 11:04am

And from what I've heard, the rest of the cast is an absolute delight. Mostly entirely CSC "musical" veterans

[TylerJia]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 11:07am

Was really, really moved by this production in London (despite some lukewarm reviews) - praying that this gets stacked with some top-tier talent and they give us an equally top-tier cast recording that this musical deserves!

[binau]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 11:16am

A little surprised at choice of show and venue for a recentish Oscar winner - not exactly Jamie Lloyd Evita and would be shocked if it had Broadway prospects. But I guess you have to go where the work is available :). 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 11:26am

Oh, good!  Maybe the show will work this time!

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 11:26am

My god, this production was so bad. Sorry New York. 
Im amazed this is what she decides to do, rather than a better part and musical.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 12:19pm

Falsettolands said: "And from what I've heard, the rest of the cast is an absolute delight. Mostly entirely CSC "musical" veterans"

Can confirm, it’s going to be an event. I love this show and Ariana is perfect for it. Looking forward.

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 12:22pm

ACL2006 said: "Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Given how rough her film career has been going lately, it’s about time someone released DeBose from Hollywood."

Yeah, I'm shocked it's taken her this long to return to the stage."

I mean it's all but confirmed that she was gonna do Spider Woman until the estates and John Kander got a better offer (film adaption with a much bigger star).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 12:25pm

i think it makes sense. Can sell out relatively quick. Stacked cast. Create an event hype.

[inception]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 1:08pm

Monday flying home from San Fran I watched her movie Love Hurts on the plane - what a turd.  She needs a better agent.  Even this - when I finally listened to the London cast recording, with the exception of a couple songs, it really seems like a lousy show.  Who do you root for?  At the end SPOLERS

you really aren't happy she goes back to her husband, he seems like such an a-hole.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 1:25pm

Love her and glad she’s returning to Broadway after some truly god awful film choices. Not sure she’d be my first choice to hear sing Meadowlark but willing to be proven wrong!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 1:28pm

Ke3 said: "ACL2006 said: "Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Given how rough her film career has been going lately, it’s about time someone released DeBose from Hollywood."

Yeah, I'm shocked it's taken her this long to return to the stage."

I mean it's all but confirmed that she was gonna do Spider Woman until the estates and John Kander got abetter offer (film adaption with a much bigger star)."

Isn’t she supposed to do Spiderwoman next year in the UK? 

[Tex5]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 1:50pm

Updated On: 8/8/25 at 01:50 PM

[Tex5]

Posted: 8/8/25 at 1:59pm

Sutton Ross said: "Falsettolands said: "And from what I've heard, the rest of the cast is an absolute delight. Mostly entirely CSC "musical" veterans"

Can confirm, it’s going to be an event. I love this show and Ariana is perfect for it. Looking forward."

I could not disagree with you more. Disappointing news!: I've always found DeBose off-putting and her talent overestimated. When it was announced in June that CSC was doing The Baker's Wife, I purchased a FlexPass for their upcoming season, a decision I now regret.

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/9/25 at 9:42am

rosscoe(au) said: "Isn’t she supposed to do Spider Woman next year in the U.K.?"

So this was the first time I came across this particular rumor. I looked it up, and only really found it discussed in the Theatre Board as well as this.
https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/anna-jane-casey-to-star-in-new-revival-of-kiss-of-the-spider-woman_1689222/

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:19pm

Scott Bakula joins the cast

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:25pm

KevinKlawitter said: "Scott Bakula joins the cast"

Oh that’s fantastic. 

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:33pm

From a 'type' perspective, I think she's actually ideally cast. She's a beauty but also a little flinty and that works really well for Genevieve. I don't know her voice that well, but if she can handle the score (and I think she probably can), I think this is actually an perfect role for her. Plus...Scott Bakula! 

I got to see this production at the Menier...last summer was it? And I really enjoyed it. I have a deep love for this show, having played the baker in college. I got real emotional during the show both because I find the show (as silly as it can be) very moving and also because of the amazing memories I have of that time in college. The only thing I beg of Gordon Greenberg is to put Endless Delights back. I truly believe without it, you don't get the progression of Genevieve realizing, even in the moments of passion, that this relationship is superficial and unfulfilling. Without it, Where is the Warmth comes out of nowhere. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:33pm

Is there anyone who is a CSC member and can report back on how sales are going?  Is this going to be an impossible ticket?

[inception]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 1:49pm

Do members have access to the performance calendar yet?

[itsahopi]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 1:30pm

Gordon Greenberg? Woof. No thanks.

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 1:43pm

I saw this last September at the Menier in London. Lucy Jones was miscast which threw the balance of the show off, but it was as good a version of this little-nothing-of-a-show-with-a-delightful score as we're going to get. Ariana is much earthier thusly a better choice for Genevieve and Bakula is perfect.  And it will not be seen in New York again for a long, long, long time. So if you've ever wanted to see it, now is the time.  

[mtchairs]

Posted: 8/30/25 at 8:57pm

JSquared2 said: "Is there anyone who is a CSC member and can report back on how sales are going? Is this going to be an impossible ticket?"

Re-upping this question. I only have one free slot to see this on Friday 24 October, and am wondering what my chances are going to be of getting a ticket when they go on sale to the general public.