Benanti & Radnor to Lead Revival of She Loves Me in 2016!- Page 2

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 8:56am

I can't help but feel that Laura Benanti is a tad too pretty for this role. George and Amalia need to be average-looking people for this show to truly work. I hate when it's cast with a couple of hotties in the leads. It's like, "Lonley Hearts Club? Yeah right!"

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 9:08am

Good point. Except she's an actress. A damn good one.

next!

(sorry to be snarky but I haven't slept well and just can't resist the urge)

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 9:22am

I can't help but feel that Laura Benanti is a tad too pretty for this role. George and Amalia need to be average-looking people for this show to truly work. I hate when it's cast with a couple of hotties in the leads. It's like, "Lonely Hearts Club? Yeah right!"

I was waiting for someone to say this, and I was wondering how often productions of She Loves Me actually star average-looking people. There are plenty of reasons besides their looks that people feel hopelessly single.

Plus, I don't know if you saw Disgraced, but the way Radnor was dressed and directed made him by far the least attractive man in the show.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 9:28am

This just made my day! I love her and I love the music from the show!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 10:19am

20 years! Wow, I feel so old. I guess Scott'd production was so great it's still fresh in my mind (as is the original). I wonder if the design will resemble the last Roundabout version? Amelia can be pretty, that's not her problem, she's feisty and uncomfortable with men. Barbara was very attractive in the original. I would love to see Paolo Sotz (sp) as Kodaly. Ilona should be a bit older than Amelia which would count Ashford out.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 10:38am

I'm beside myself. I think SHE LOVES ME has one of the most gorgeous scores ever written for Broadway, and Laura Benanti one of the most talented musical theatre actresses working today. She's going to nail this role. An immediate must-see. If only Jane Krakowski was up to reprising her role as Ilona from the benefit staging.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 10:55am

Benanti returning to Broadway is reason enough to rejoice, but this is an excellent vehicle for her and a very worthwhile show to revive.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 11:08am

I love this show! I hope they get a great Ilona.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 11:48am

Neither Kuhn nor Frantantoni from the last revival are what I'd call classically pretty. Benanti is a knockout...but I'm sure she'll figure out a way to pull this off.

And, all due respect, but Georg is not that hard a sing. At all.

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 11:56am

This is one of the more exciting announcements to come along in a while. Wonderful show, wonderful casting. I can't wait for this!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 12:02pm

henrikegerman - her acting ability has nothing to do with it. Like it or not, all actors are going to be at least somewhat limited by their appearance. When it comes to this role, Benanti is in the unique position of having the opposite problem of most actresses: she's actually TOO pretty.

It's a matter of personal taste, I guess. I think Georg and Amalia should be average looking (but still pleasant to look at and people we want to see get together - it is a play after all). And yes, there are people who are as beautiful as Laura Benanti who can't find a man. But come on...MOST OF those people are not so lonely that they have to join something literally called The Lonely Hearts Club.

Again, just my preference. She'll sing the role beautifully, I'm sure.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 1:12pm

All I can think of when people have been saying Laura Benanti is too beautiful (and she usually is stunning) is when she dressed as Fosca from Passion in Times Square for some web series. Maybe they'll add a mole!

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 1:15pm

Are we all forgetting that Benanti won a Tony for playing Louise in Gypsy and looked pretty darn plain in the beginning of that show (as she should have)?

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 1:35pm

i was hearing a lot of the numbers from the OBC recording on sirusxm the broadway channel...and even wondered out loud if they should revive this wonderfully marvelous show...our thoughts and prayers were answered...:)

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 3:14pm

I'm a bit confounded by the idea that someone is "too pretty" to play a role famously originated by the gorgeous Barbara Cook. And yes, Laura Benanti had no issue transforming from plain Jane Louise to bombshell Gypsy in front of our eyes. She couldn't be more ideally cast, why do we need to wait so long to see this?

Updated On: 1/20/15 at 03:14 PM

[Enjolras15]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 3:34pm

This is awesome news. A number of years back I had the extreme luck of being able to appear in a production of this jewel of a musical. I do think Laura will sing amazingly in this role.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 4:11pm

Which revival recording is better? 1993 Broadway or 1994 London with Ruthie Henshall? Was the London production the same as Broadway? Did the production just transfer with the same creative team and a new cast?

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 4:17pm

I prefer the London recording.

[lida rose]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 5:04pm

sooo excited about this. is it too much to ask for krakowski back as ilona, taran killam as kodaly, and jk simmons as maraczek?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 5:04pm

Thank you, Ray--since when was Barbara Cook a dog?

It is Amalia's values that isolate her, not that she is ugly. The same may be said of Georg (though of course it is Kodaly who is the pretty boy).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 5:19pm

Not to mention, Henshall was quite the stunner when she played Amalia in London to much acclaim. My parents saw the London production and raved.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 5:23pm

I am soooo excited and yes Barbara Cook was beautiful...so I doubt that being attractive would be a problem at all.

I mean seriously..it's called "make up" and "acting".

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 5:48pm

Sidebar : Doesn't Ruthie Henshall look like Laura Osnes in that photo? Good resemblance, I think.

I'm so glad Josh Radnor is doing more musical theater. His speaking voice is pleasant enough and NOW we get to hear him sing more!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 6:45pm

Yes, yes, many beautiful women have played Amalia in the past. I just don't agree with casting the role that way.

And by beautiful, I mean classically so. Barbara Cook was attractive, but not a knockout. "Cute" as opposed to beautiful is the way I'd cast Amalia.

Anyway, Benanti will be fine. At least they're giving it to someone who can actually sing the role! "Ice Cream" is a killer. Radnor, based on the bootleg, sounds like he has a "good enough" voice for Georg. It's got a rather high tessa tura for an untrained baritone, but for a higher voice like his it's not a hard role to sing.

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 1/20/15 at 8:46pm

But one could argue that Margaret Sullavan, Barbara Cook, Meg Ryan et al are also attractive, but were effective in the role nonetheless.