Ariana DeBose to lead THE BAKER'S WIFE at Classic Stage Company — Page 6

Is this transferring to Broadway?

As a member of gen z I only knew about the idea of Meadowlark as overplayed because it was mentioned in some book I was reading. I think millennials grew up hearing it was overdone at auditions and so by the 2000s it was dead.

BroadwayBox used to do this series where performers would sing cuts from their dream roles and Jai'Len Josey sang it in her episode. It was the first time I had ever heard it and I found it so affecting knowing nothing about it. It really is such a beautiful art song that I think can still be powerful when heard without the baggage.

Whether Bentwood Chair is BroadwayFlash or not, I do appreciate the two frames of reference in their review being DEAR WORLD and THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES. I hope that every review of any show on this board from here on out first tells us how it compares to DEAR WORLD, and then how it compares to VERSAILLES.

wiggum2 said: "Is Ariana's meadowlark anywhere online?"

Anyone hear any updates on our getting a cast recording? It’s an itch I’d like to get scratched!

mar6411 said: "Really quizqueen, crusty bagel, Broadway flash, Philly pinto, etc etc etc

And taking another shot at quizking.

"

Eh. They’re just petty because, under the alias of “Snake Skin”, they slid into my DMs looking to start a podcast with me and I purposely ignored it.

Anywho, I saw this yesterday and, like any good croissant, it’s light, warm, uncomplicated, and quite flaky.

The lion’s share of DeBose’s arc happens in Act I, and she is absolutely luminous and in great voice, even if the material isn’t up to a talent of her caliber. I do appreciate her making a bold choice for a return to the stage with this. She pretty much becomes absent in Act II save for a few select scenes, but it leads to a tidy ending - kind of like a Hallmark movie.

Bakula is pretty fantastic. I’ve never seen him in a musical theatre role before and he plays Amabile as very, well, amiable and quite a bit clueless about how he emotionally neglects his wife until she’s gone. The story is thin at best, but it goes does nicely (even with some of the misogynistic elements of the town labeling her a wanton woman for running off with the town hunk).

Kuhn remains in beautiful voice with “Chansson” and its reprises. The rest of the cast is basically a murderer’s row of character actors having a ball as the different denizens of the village, ranging from gruff to goofy to suave. I thought Kevin Del Aguila was squarely in his bag as the town drunk and thought he was a hoot. (Although I am bitter that I lost to him and Manu Narayan in a pre-show game of pétanque - which is harder than it looks). I will agree that Kevin William Paul, while pretty of voice, is playing a romantic paramour in a way that would’ve been dated even in the 1970s, and his Act I “love song” is patently absurd

It’s not the greatest thing I’ve seen all year, but I think it’s worth it for the cast, some of the songs, and the overall environment (THAT SET!) and vibe of theatre experience offer.

Falsettolands said: "I confirmed on this thread longago that a cast recording has been confirmed internally, but for some reason the post was ignored by all."

I'm grateful for your reminder.

I think this would be a perfect production to be filmed for broadcast on PBS. (There's much in common with She Loves Me.) Sadly, now most likely an impossibility due to Trump's defunding of the CPB*.

*On the season 12 finale episode for "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver", he announced an online auction in aid of Public Media. The auction will run through November 24th, and features many of the outrageous props used on the show. Items up for auction include Russel Crowe's jockstrap from "Cinderella Man" (Lot 2), "LBJ's Balls" (Lot 5), Wax Presidents (Lots 6-10), and in an unusual, one time only exception made by Bob Ross, Inc., an original Bob Ross Painting (Lot 1) called, "Cabin at Sunset".

The auction can be accessed @ johnoliversjunk.com

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 09:54 AM

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I really want to understand why Ariana after winning an Oscar is returning to the theatre to do a small obscure off-broadway musical

she really needs new management"

It is my understanding that there is no guarantee of future employment after winning an Oscar. Plus, Ariana has said herself in various interviews that she wanted to go back to the theatre. I see no downside in taking a role where she gets to work with Stephen Schwartz and belt out Meadowlark for a limited run. What other current Broadway role would have suited her better?

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I really want to understand why Ariana after winning an Oscar is returning to the theatre to do a small obscure off-broadway musical

Did you SEE the 3 or 4 films she did following WSS?? Neither did anyone else.

Also Rita Moreno has been open about the fact that her career struggled immediately after she won an Oscar for the same role, partly because she was only offered stereotypical roles she turned down. Things may be somewhat better, but are there a lot of roles DeBose would have been right for that she's missed out on? Being an Oscar winner doesn't go far if the roles simply aren't there.

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 12:55 PM

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I really want to understand why Ariana after winning an Oscar is returning to the theatre to do a small obscure off-broadway musical

she really needs new management"

Given how rough of a filmography she's so far had since West Side Story, she arguably needed this.

Sutton Ross said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I really want to understand why Ariana after winning an Oscar is returning to the theatre to do a small obscure off-broadway musical

she really needs new management"

She clearly has great management, a sold out fantastic show in a role she's wanted to play forever. For a theater actress, that's incredible. Ridiculous statement."

America’s Sweetheart strikes again!

Latest review (Two on the Aisle)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDm4fHm66uA

Updated On: 11/21/25 at 11:23 PM