Bernadette Peters as 'Dolly' in HELLO, DOLLY- Page 2

[apdarcey]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:35am

i think shaiman/whittman should write the score to the first wives club with a book by terrance mcnally and bette should make a glorious comeback with bernadette... together! along with a third powerful woman... maybe carolee carmello in goldie's part, bette in bette's and bernadette in diane's? what you think? maybe david yazbek could handle it too...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:36am

Hello?

"The First Wives Club: The Musical" is perfect. She created the role of Brenda and she'd be perfect to come back and do the stage show. Shaiman already wrote music for the movie...so I'm sure, at her request, he'd right some for the stage show.

Meh, maybe it'll just be a dream of mine.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:38am

foa, are you my twin or what?

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:39am

They could always musicalize HOCUS POCUS - god, I can't believe I just typed that

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:40am

Ooh, fun game.

How about Todd Graff's USED PEOPLE? With Midler in the Shirley MacLaine role. Although it's not a movie from the 60's, it does kind of have that sensibility about it. And there's the whole Marcia Gay Harden character who dresses up like Barbra Streisand from different musicals. Plus it adds Todd Graff to the mix, which just makes it that much more Broadway-friendly.

It certainly passes the "great movies don't make great musicals, but mediocre movies can make great musicals" test. Updated On: 1/21/05 at 01:40 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:45am

I thought about First Wives Club, but

1) for some reason, I doubt she'd reprise that role in any context without Hawn & Keaton;

2) it's not enough of a solo vehicle for Midler (let alone Peters as well). If you're paying Midler $100K+ per week -- which is what it'll cost if Nathan and Matthew got that much a piece -- there won't be much left for any big name co-stars (unless you plan on charging $150+ a ticket). Midler, Peters and Carmello is a fun fantasy, but weekly payroll alone would make for a weekly nut that's all but impossible to cover with ticket sales.

[jim coleman]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:47am

I think that Bette Midler would be great as MAME. I have done the show many times and she would tear the house down with the comedy and break your heart with the tender moments, and "If He Walked into My Life" would be unbelievable. She has the rough edges that Mame needs, after all she was a former chorus girl.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:49am

DGRant,

I want to be in the meeting where you propose doing HOCUS POCUS -- The Musical to Midler. I'd be curious to see just what sharp object she'd throw in your direction.

But then, her doing "I Put A Spell On You" eight times a week (with those TEETH) would be classic!

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:50am

Bette and Betty (Buckley) in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.

I know, I know - you all are taking this seriously - I just can't think of anything off the top of my head!

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:51am

Not sure she'd throw anything, Margo.

Midler says that HOCUS POCUS is her favorite performance she's ever given on film. While she acknowledges it's a terrible film, she feels that it is her most realized character, and claims to be very proud of the piece. Updated On: 1/21/05 at 01:51 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:52am

Herman is dying for a real movie version of MAME and Midler's name has always been on the short list. I think it would be great casting.

According to Herman there will definitely be a MAME revival on Broadway sometime in the next season or two. Baranski, Ebersole and others have been mentioned -- I'm curious to see who they pick.

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:53am

Veuve - are you SERIOUS? That's incredible to me!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:55am

Baby Jane The Musical would be WAAAAAY too much fun. I'll be in the front row for the first preview (and probably every week afterwards). Marc Shaiman HAS to write that score (if he could ever stop laughing long enough to put his hands on the keyboard).

[apdarcey]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:59am

maybe we'll just have to create a completely original story for the divine miss m?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:00am

Then again, there's always "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte," as well.

And "Straight Jacket"
"Lady In A Cage"
"Die Die My Darling"
"Trog"

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:01am

I am going to have very sweet dreams about Bette's version of "Did You Eat Your Din-din?"

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:01am

Margo...I just cracked up that was so funny.

I know Midler would never reprise her First Wives Club character one stage...but I still want the show to be done. LOL

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:02am

I would love to see Faith Prince as Dolly!

Christine Ebersole for Mame!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:03am

Isn't it obvious then...BEACHES: The musical!

Oh how the crowds will stampede!

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:05am

Margo, do you really think Midler would be right for MAME? I know her name has been short listed for years, but it never struck me as a good match.

While Midler certainly embodies the whole "life is a bowl of cherries" philosophy, Mame Dennis Burnside, at her core, radiates class. Midler radiates vulgarity. While I'm not underestimating Midler's formidable acting ability, I just can't imagine that working.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:12am

While not ideal, she's far better than Cher, and Midler has been growing more and more refined and less overtly vulgar as she has aged. She'd have been totally wrong decade ago, but now, she's actually in the ballpark, persona-wise. She's a mellowed, wealthy, former wild-child but still a bit madcap (who's right at home both downtown and uptown), nouveau-riche, who eminates warmth and magnetism and doesn't suffer fools gladly -- a pretty good fit for the role.

Updated On: 1/21/05 at 02:12 AM

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:14am

Re "Baby Jane," it's already been done, unfortunately. Lee (TOVARICH) Pockris and Hal (MINNIE'S BOYS) Hackaday owned the rights for decades, and actually got it produced in Houston a couple of years ago, with Millicent Martin starring as Jane. Updated On: 1/21/05 at 02:14 AM

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:21am

I like the idea of Bernadette in Hello Dolly

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 3:14am

Don't kill me for saying this, but...

Speaking of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, I always thought Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel would be perfect in 20 years or so. Just imagine the scene where Chenoweth would scream to Menzel, "but you are, Blanche...you are in the chair!!!"

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 6:57am

It would be worth it just to hear Cheno bark out "I've Written a Letter To Daddy".

Joey Arias in TORCH SONG - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL.