brettarnett said: "I'm sure it is nothing, but this won't help the rumors of Patti's jealousy of Bernadette.
Patti wanted to replace in SUNDAY but Sondheim didn't like her voice for the score.
Patti was almost cast as the Witch in the original INTO THE WOODS but negotiations broke down and Bernadette ended up "getting everything I was denied."
Patti lobbied herself as a replacement Desire in the Nunn revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.
Patti was also heavily rumored for a new revival of HELLO DOLLY a few years ago.
All that to say I am ecstatic to see Bernadette finally play this role and be in a show again. As much as I love her, her concerts are as stale as they come. She performed the exact same concert down to the "house banter" 5 years ago and again this year. If anything maybe she'll put some Dolly into her act."
Guess this is might be a little off topic for this thread, but since you mentioned Patti...
I've always had the feeling Rudin is probably eying Patti to close the production. Everything just seems too similar to the original here. A musical theatre legend who was considered early on to play Dolly, has never been a replacement in a Broadway show, and claims she wants to retire and focus on film and TV and was. Sound a lot like the situation with Merman.
I don't know though, this is really all just wishful thinking I guess, but it'd be a much better way for her to end her Broadway career than War Paint and a really fun way to close out the show.
Updated On: 9/7/17 at 09:21 PM