Benanti, Jackson and Hensley to star in MOST HAPPY FELLA at Encores!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:39am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BREAKING-NEWS-Laura-Benanti-Cheyenne-Jackson-Shuler-Hensley-to-Lead-MOST-HAPPY-FELLA-at-Encores-Running-April-2-6-20130822

Exciting!

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:53am

Wow!! I'm very excited for this. Is casting usually announced this early for Encores?

7 and a half months in advance for a five day engagement seems quite early.

[macnyc]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:54am

This will be a hot ticket, I bet!

[mamaleh]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:54am

That is one amazing cast. Really looking forward to this one.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:55am

I actually just said 'wow' out loud at my desk. I guess I'm buying a ticket!

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:55am

Here's a little taste of Benanti's Rosabella.
Laura Benanti and Emily Skinner, "Ooh, My Feet" and "Somebody Somewhere"

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:56am

Hensley's been involved with this for a long time now. I'm guessing once they were able to lock in Benanti, they wanted to make the announcement to drum up excitement for it.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:04am

Let's face it, they could have cast it with Gonzo and Carmella and I still would have bought a ticket. I think the show is a masterpiece.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:07am

I would like a theater company to do a season of shows with only Muppet performers.


But I am so excited for this cast! Maybe I'll break down and get a subscription, because this whole season excites me.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:08am

Laura will be brilliant in this...but who is playing Cleo?!?!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:09am

The season seems good, but I really can't get excited for the Christian Borle LITTLE ME. He does nothing for me.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:20am

Laura Benanti back onstage is reason to celebrate.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:21am

Robbie, I agree. The show is a masterpiece.

Great roles for both singing and acting. Benanti and Hensley should be terrific, and it will give them both a chance to shine.

Jackson has the eye candy role. It's not as meaty dramatically, but he has some wonderful stuff to sing (Joey, Joey, Joey being one of the show's highlights).

I'm also wondering who they'll cast as Cleo and Herman ... and Marie (another great acting/singing part).

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:26am

I have a feeling this will be a longer run and not the 7 days mentioned in the article.

[macnyc]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:32am

That would be good!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:32am

Wow, Benanti singing some of this gorgeous music. How great!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:33am

And this had BETTER get a recording!!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:34am

^ Yes!!

This is exciting news!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:35am

And this had BETTER get a recording!!

They really should just start negotiating with Jo Sullivan Loesser right now.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:36am

Can you imagine the soaring passion that will surely be "My Heart Is So Full of You?"

Maybe they should cast Megan Hilty as Cleo. I bet her Big D would stop the show.

This is my favorite show of all-time. How am I supposed to wait 7 months to see this???

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:37am

Okay, after watching that video clip, Emily Skinner has to play Cleo opposite Benanti. That scene was fantastic (even if the audio quality is lacking).

Really powerful stuff. Skinner totally gets Cleo and her humor, and Benanti comes off as a hopeless romantic without looking idiotic or overly naive.

And their voices match the acting in excellence.

I wish they could have a good-sized orchestra to go with it. Yes, I saw the scaled-down production with the two pianos, and it still works because the material is so strong, but that orchestral sound is so wonderful.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:57am

I so hope this goes from Encore to Broadway. This show is perfect. The score is probably one of the five best ever. I don't think I have ever seen a production that "My Heart is So Full of You" doesn't reduce me to tears. I hope I can get tickets.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 12:02pm

They both sounded wonderful in their respective numbers.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 12:08pm

I realize this is a semi-staged concert and that Benanti may play it youngish and Hensley oldish, but it is interesting that the leads are only about 12 years apart. On one level it may make the love story more believable having a relatively small age difference between them; on the other its quite a change from the plot.

Updated On: 8/22/13 at 12:08 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/22/13 at 12:22pm

Yes, the show is absolutely a masterpiece and it was way ahead of its time. I would love for this to get fast-tracked to a full lush revival. I imagine Hensley will be fine for a concert, but he does seem an odd choice to play an "old man" (I don't want him breathing all over me!).