CONFIRMED: Audra McDonald-led GYPSY to begin previews Nov 2024 — Page 25

everythingtaboo said: "Welp, the final nail in the coffin...

Paul Giamatti Boards ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’

Starts filming late this summer."



What's John C. Reilly up to these days?

If the casting notice had been different, I would have loved to see Jeffrey Wright and Audra together onstage.

Jon Hamm is another person who gets offered everything and turns down everything. They're clearly in the "making big reaches" part of the casting process.

My money is on Brian D’Arcy James.

I don’t see anybody suggesting actors who aren’t?

Mr. Wormwood said: "Yeah, I really feel like this will end up being Brian D'Arcy James or Danny Burstein."

Or Will Swenson.

They are going to be lucky to get a guy on the level of David Schwimmer or David Hyde Pierce or Jason Alexander or Steve Guttenberg or Tony Shalhoub or Jon Cryer: someone who's either an overexposed semi-name in the theatre world, or is a B-C-lister who needs a comeback. Or they settle for a Reed Birney or Danny Burstein or Will Swenson type.

It's fine for the producers to do their due diligence in offering this to bigger stars but they can only do so many of those before they have to be realistic. You'd be surprised at the better-than-Herbie roles that get turned down by bigger actors every day.

The length of contract is also something to consider: if they want this dude for 9 months (start of rehearsal through June 30th) or more, that's going to limit the talent pool. If it's a shorter contract, it's not great to lose one of the 3 leads before the Tonys (and yes, I know that has been done before).

I say "settle" for a Swenson type because theatre actors are not going to move the needle at the box office, if that is a goal of the production. The masses will not care one bit about this husband and wife performing together (especially not in a show where they don't end up together).

Will Swenson on his name alone would not really light up the box office, but I do think a savvy PR team could get some prime coverage of this and get the married duo out there in the press so that it becomes a big story that husband and wife are performing together. That could certainly generate some interest. However, I don't expect Audra and Will to want this. When they were in Beautiful Noise and Ohio State Murders at the same time, both of them remarked how difficult it was navigating their home life (their kids) while doing 8 shows a week at the same time.

The investor papers estimate the weekly running cost at about $1 million a week. So producers are determined to get stars. But I think, as others have said, they will have much more luck getting a big box office draw to take on Louise. And they will probably have to go with a big theater name for Herbie. I'd sort of love to see Brian d'Arcy James take it on. He's played more challenging roles for sure, but he would pair nicely with Audra and if this turns into a hit (which I believe it will) it could be what finally lands him a long overdue Tony win.

Updated On: 6/12/24 at 03:45 PM

BroadwayNYC2 said: "I think it is best we don’t speculate on parenting…"



It was just an observation on their ages and the possibility. The comment made it sound like the kids were young. I wasn't commenting on their actual parenting. Just suggesting a possibility.

Are people only naming Swenson because he's married to Audra...? Otherwise, I don't think he's particularly right for the role at all.

This is also not really a role that requires a musical theatre veteran and it seems like a waste of the vocal talents of gents like Swenson and D'Arcy James to cast them. We can think outside of the box here- a great actor who can carry a tune is all this role requires.

JSquared2 said: "uncageg said: "Boq101 said: "I reckon WIll himself is probably not available simply because Audra is. They've got 4 kids between them with three still living at home I'm pretty sure that for Audra to do this Will isn't gonna be doing the 8 shows a week grind while it's happening."

If 3 are living at home then two of them are young adults now in their early 20's. They can watch the youngest who is, I think, 8 years old now.



Yes I'm sure they are both so very grateful for your (creepy) parenting advice.

Yeah, please stop making this into something it is not. I am a parent myself and am quite offended by your accusation. So let's drop it and move on.

Maybe we’ll get Mandy to come back as Herbie.