BREAKING: Patti LaBelle to replace Lillias White in FELA!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:22pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141230-Will-Grammy-Winner-Patti-LaBelle-Step-into-Broadways-Fela

Surprised this hasn't already been posted. White is doing some concerts in Australia, so this is only for a limited time. LaBelle on Broadway is sure to cause a ruckus. FELA! will see a nice boost.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:25pm

It is a nothing part. I think people going to see Patti will be disappointed in how little the role has to offer.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:30pm

I think Riedel mentioned it in his column today also.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:41pm

"It is a nothing part. I think people going to see Patti will be disappointed in how little the role has to offer"

You are totally right, yet, I am sure she will boost the box office numbers. Now this alleged "arty" musical is using stunt casting!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:42pm

Once again, "stunt casting" would be if they cast Vivica A. Fox in the role.

Not Patti LaBelle.

[theeatah]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:44pm

Any chance she might join Night Music after BP? She already knows Send In The Clowns.

Patti LaBelle - Send In The Clowns (Live)

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 1:54pm

So our own miss patti will lay on her back kick off her shoes and scream...louder and longer that Miss White did....Love patti hate her antics ...to childish

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 2:00pm

I thought it said Patti Lupone initally. That would have been funny.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 2:10pm

The running time of Fela will increase dramatically, with all the riffing Ms. LaBelle will do.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 2:12pm

I, for one, cannot wait to see Patti LuPone in Fela!

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 2:17pm

I actually like Patti's version of Send In The Clowns. I might actually want to see this show now that she's going into it.

[matty159]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 2:21pm

When I worked at Kings Dominion in VA for a summer, I saw Patti as I was peddling glo sticks and other wares for the park. She puts on quite the show. Fela will require taming the "antics" quite a bit...though the kicking off of the heels and the other histrionics are quite amusing. I'm in!

[Brick]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 2:55pm

Love it.

And it wouldn't be stunt casting if she's good for the part. People on this board need to learn the difference between star casting and stunt casting.

(That said, it's not much of a role. Only a vocalist and a presence, really.)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 8:08am

I'm going.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 9:09am

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Miss Patti. (I don't know how my parents were unsure of my sexuality...) My family would often go to her Long Island concerts (Westbury Music Circle was a regular gig for her).

One year (I was maybe about 9 or 10), I decided I wanted to give her flowers. On the way to the theater, we picked them up and I found the perfect moment to walk up to the stage and hand them to her. (It's a round stage with plenty of easy stage access.) WELL! Miss Patti brought me up on stage, sat me on a stool for a good 20 minutes, sang songs to me, asked me what my favorite tune was (I Don't Do Duets, by Miss LaBelle and Miss Gladys Knight) and sent me home with a vase of about 4 dozen roses from her dressing room. After I left the stage, the concert continued. But at the end, she brought me back onstage to dedicate 'Over the Rainbow' to me. I'll never forget it.

Shoot to about a year later, Hammerstein Ballroom, Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross guest for Miss Patti. It's being filmed, recorded, etc. She can't pause the show but sure enough I give her flowers. If you've seen the video, she touches my face,
whispers, "Thank you, Stevie, baby" and keeps on singing.

This was a long, long time ago. I doubt she remembers, and I'm sure I look quite differently. But the idea of getting to meet her at the stage door and see if she remembers that night at Westbury has me all excited. She's an amazing performer, riffing or not.

I've never really told that story to people because I find that most of my friends don't know who she is! Nice to see some fans out there!

[Greatwhiteway3]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 9:48am

I agree it's a nothing part! That's why I still don't know why Lilias White got a TONY nom for it, as great as she is.

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 10:29am

theeatah, that video is hilarious!!! This video is exactly why Stephen Sondheim once said "It was never meant to be a soaring ballad". LMAO!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 5:06pm

That's a wonderful story, iluvtheatertrash. I'm glad you posted it.

[wonkit]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 5:46pm

Anyone know where Lilias White is going?

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 10:32pm

I also enjoyed your story iluvtheatertrash. I have seen Patti close to 20 times in concert since the early 80's and she is the most friendly and generous performer. Looking forward to hearing your stage door story!