Best Little ___ house in Texas revival?

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:35pm

Just been watching the movie with Dolly Parton and wanted to know your thoughts on if there was a revival. Could it work and who would you cast?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:41pm

There is a revival in the works but I understand its been a challenge finding a suitable leading lady who will commit to the leading role.

Reba, the most obvious choice, has already turned WHOREHOUSE down several times before, which is of course a shame.

Feel free to throw your inspired (outside of the box) suggestions into the ring!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:43pm

This has been discussed endlessly on this board on various different topics.

Yes, a dated revival CAN work and the unanimous choice to play Miss Mona is the deliciously perfect Reba McEntire.

[newintown]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:44pm

Have you ever seen the show? It has almost nothing in common with the movie. It actually has almost nothing in common with its own sequel. (Grease is in the same boat there.)

I loved the show, have great memories about the original (as well as some regional productions I've seen), and fear that, were it revived commercially in New York, it would be turned into a travesty of itself, as revivals of Grease all are.

Everything smart and offbeat about the show would be replaced by generic pop blather, to change it into a mild glop that would be easily digested by masses of tourists.

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:48pm

Yeah Reba is so perfect for it, she sort of diminishes everyone else. I think Betty Buckley would be great but not much of a draw.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:51pm

Reba has said no....its futile to keep dreaming about it, alas.

I wonder (if she could tone done her seemingly initial instinct to play everything as sex pot and really go for the earthy warmth of the part) if Jane Krakowski might not be a really good Miss Mona...

The character is after all only (supposed to be) about 40.


Updated On: 9/14/10 at 04:51 PM

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:56pm

Yes I know. I guess I didn't make myself clear- Since Reba has said no (repeatedly) it sort of diminishes anyone else.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:56pm

Why the self censorship? The title was used in tv commercials during the dark ages, and the sign way above the 46th Street (now the Rodgers) simply read "WHOREHOUSE" in big block letters.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:59pm

What about a little non-traditional casting...like Latifah?

Or keeping it in the family with Mary Stuart Masterson?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:03pm

Mary Stuart was offered the Actors Fund performance and I guess didn't want to be compared to her mother. I think she'd be amazing amazing amazing in the role though.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:08pm

Totally understandable. But it makes me a titch sad cause I adore her on stage.

Is Martha Plimpton (besides busy with a TV show) just too quirky?

What if Sandra Bullock could sing?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:09pm

"The title was used in tv commercials during the dark ages, and the sign way above the 46th Street (now the Rodgers) simply read "WHOREHOUSE" in big block letters."

For the original, the publicity was all over the place regarding censorship. I remember ads on buses reading "Best Little *house"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:12pm

I like both of those suggestions Robbie. They are also supposedly developing a film remake (though its not clear if its going to be a musical or not). Maybe Bullock would consider the role in that if not the stage.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:17pm

Would someone please just give the role to Bernadette and be done with it.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:23pm

Wasn't Carlin Glynn wonderful in the original?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:23pm

She certainly is on the cast recording!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:38pm

"What about a little non-traditional casting...like Latifah?"

I kind of like the idea of Queen Latifah. My question to anybody who knows the script fairly well, would that throw the balance off between Miss Mona and Jewel? I love the cast recording, but only read the script once, many years ago, and I don't remember if there is any racial subtext/subplot in regards to Jewel that would be thrown out of whack with an African-American Miss Mona.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:43pm

I just saw Laura Linney on the street - can she sing?

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:50pm

If you're going non-traditional, cast Lillias White. And she can sing 24 Hours of Loving, too.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:54pm

Lillias White would sell ten tickets.

In truth, I don't really think its a good idea for Miss Mona to be black. I'm not sure there is anything in the script to necessarily negate it, and I am normally all for non-traditional casting but something about it doesn't feel right.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 8:14pm

Megan Mullally might be interesting as Mona.

[once a month]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 3:42pm

I loved seeing this on Broadway with the orignal cast!

The infommercial for Whorehouse Goes Public was HORRENDOUSLY bad. I taped it, and then taped over it.

Ann Margaret and Gary Sandy did a tour a few years back.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 3:51pm

Has Reba stated why she is not interested in this ideal role for her?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 4:43pm

When she turned down the Actors Fund staging, Reba said she loves the show but its not a show she wants to perform. As others have said before, she apparently is a lot more interested in entertaining roles that are a little more outside of the box of what people expect.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 7:31pm

She would be an older Miss Mona, but after one of her Lurleen Lumpkin tracks from the Simpsons came up on shuffle in iTunes, as well as one of those episodes just airing tonight, I would be interested in seeing Beverly D'Angelo.