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

[quizqueen101]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 8:00pm

Is this transferring to Broadway?

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 9:29pm

Was it Ken Davenport? 

Falsettolands said: "Springtime said: "A producer is now promoting this show as ‘Broadway bound’ on social media. Opening is tonight."

And they're most certainly not wrong."

 

[Ke3]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 2:24pm

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. 

[Bentwood Chair]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 7:19pm

It's a sweet show.  It doesn’t have the loveliness or political statement of Dear World, and it’s not as exciting as The Queen of Versailles, a superior score than this, but it’s cute.  It really loses steam in the second act with the lack of drama. It all gets resolved too easily as she ends up back in town after one song. It kind of reminds me of a Sondheim show contemplating love and life.

I didn't like the priest at all, Will Roland plays it in a satirical kind of way which defeats the point of the character being there. Kevin del aguila had the same smiley amused drunk face on the entire time, the guy playing Dominique's singing voice was as pitchy as his accent and only seemed to be there because he's tall and handsome. Judy Kuhn was lovely as always, beautiful voice. It is a wonderful performance by Scott Bakula, Ariana does a nice job but there's simply not much there for her to work with. Another terrific Jason Sherwood set.

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 07:19 PM

[mar6411]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 7:28pm

Really quizqueen, crusty bagel, Broadway flash, Philly pinto, etc etc etc

And taking another shot at quizking. 

 

[wiggum2]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 8:17pm

Is  Ariana's meadowlark anywhere online?

[halfhourcheckwithmerman]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 9:01pm

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. 

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 9:40pm

I've been defending Queen of Versailles' score (mostly because I think it's stronger and more interesting than it's gotten credit for--not that it's top Schwartz) but... compared to Baker's Wife?

Ummm...

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 09:40 PM

[HJ2]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 7:18am

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!

[HJ2]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 7:28am

I finally finished reading all the reviews en toto (many of the review snippets, esp on this site, do not seem to accurately reflect the entire article).  
 

Anyway, I note that Judy Kuhn and Scott Bakula are both raved about. Is that accurate/worthy?

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 8:35am

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]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 8:36am

HJ2 said: "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!"

I confirmed on this thread long ago that a cast recording has been confirmed internally, but for some reason the post was ignored by all.

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 9:54am

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]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:31am

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 

[HJ2]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:52am

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?

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 11:15am

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"

Ariana is a theatre actress. Her Oscar was for a performance in a musical. Musicals are her thing, and they are what she wants to do. It's likely her management is doing exactly what she is expecting them to do. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 11:43am

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.

 

 

[smidge]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 11:59am

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"

This is an odd statement. Plenty of big names have appeared in small off Broadway plays and musicals.It’s not considered a step back to do so.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:55pm

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

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 1:16pm

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.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 1:24pm

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.

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 8:12pm

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

Conversely, I need DeBose in this role.

From what I've read from those who've posted after seeing the show, I'm excited for Judy Kuhn, Scott Bakula, and the ensemble, also.

I don't consider The Baker's Wife to be a "small obscure off-broadway musical" as described by another poster. At the very least, and although not perfect, I consider it a "gem" of a tiny musical - similar to She Loves Me.

I've been a fan of the show since the mid-70s when I first heard "Meadowlark" sung at an open-mic night in Chicago. I listen to both the 1976 OC album (Patti LuPone and Paul Sorvino) and the 1990 London cast recording on a regular basis.

I've adored Judy Kuhn's voice since Metropolis (1989), Scott Bakula's since Romance/Romance (1988), and now Ariana DeBose... I could not be more pleased that I will be able to add a third recording with these actors' voices.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 8:39pm

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! 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:47pm

Yeah, this is "Prestige" theater and makes perfect sense for her to do. It's a hit, it got good reviews. Makes total sense to me. I mean, Tom Hanks is doing off-Broadway.... is he really hoofing it? No. It's theater. Broadway doesn't mean everything. 

[HJ2]

Posted: 11/20/25 at 11:23pm

Latest review (Two on the Aisle)

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

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