Betsy Wolfe, Alexander Gemignani and Margaret Colin Join CAROUSEL on Broadway; Full Cast & Theatre Announced!- Page 2

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/4/17 at 10:36pm

CurtainPullDowner said: "I'd rather see Jesse repeat as Carrie and Betsy as Julie.

But it is a very strong cast."

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not convinced that Jessie has the right voice for Julie and Betsy certainly does. But I'm excited regardless. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 12:26am

CurtainPullDowner said: "I'd rather see Jesse repeat as Carrie and Betsy as Julie.

But it is a very strong cast."

Same. I wish it was a Little Foxes situation. Still, Betsy Wolfe and Alexander Gemignani have me a lot more excited about this. Still waiting to see if My Fair Lady will top this casting. I'm still excited about Joshua Henry and hoping for the best with Jessie and Renee. 

[notalwaysontime]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 1:52am

Daaaang, I'm already coming to the city next month, but I might have to consider another trip next year, this cast is fantastic! 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 1:54am

Having never seen Carousel I'm stoked. Just curious the design and direction. 

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 10:05am

I missed the previous announcement of Amar Ramasar as Jigger. He's a beautiful dancer, a principal for the New York City Ballet. I guess Jigger will be kicking up his heels in the Hornpipe - very exciting.  

[raddersons]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 10:24am

I'm wondering if this is going to be so popular they won't send out discount code flyers. The cast is stacked. That's the only thing I'm waiting for at this point before I buy a ticket.

EDIT: That and the fact that tickets aren't on sale yet. My point still stands. 

Updated On: 9/5/17 at 10:24 AM

[Valentina3]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 10:37am

raddersons said: "I'm wondering if this is going to be so popular they won'tsend out discount code flyers. The cast is stacked. That's the only thing I'm waiting for at this point before I buy a ticket."

While I agree that this is superb casting, apart from Jessie Mueller and Renee Fleming (to an extent), this is not a box-office driving cast. Jessie's surprisingly popular with irregular theater-goers because of excessive (well deserved) Tonys exposure from the get go in her stage-career, and NYers know Renee rather well because of her extensive opera career. But Joshua Henry is still not a box office commodity (as established by Shuffle Along), and I don't know anyone outside these boards who know Alex Gemignani and Betsy Wolfe enough to shell $$ to see them. That being said, show's brand is in itself a star, and next to My Fair Lady, this is the biggest show of this season. I do think it will need some better advertisement once the tickets are on sale, I doubt many people know the revival's even happening.

Summary : there will definitely be discount codes for previews, before word of mouth picks up.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 11:08am

Valentina3 said: "raddersons said: "I'm wondering if this is going to be so popular they won't send out discount code flyers. The cast is stacked. That's the only thing I'm waiting for at this point before I buy a ticket."

While I agree that this is superb casting, apart from Jessie Mueller and Renee Fleming (to an extent), this is not a box-office driving cast. Jessie's surprisingly popular with irregular theater-goers because of excessive (well deserved) Tonys exposure from the get go in her stage-career, and NYers know Renee rather well because of her extensive opera career."

So far, Jessie Mueller has only proven to be successful in musicals associated with popular singer/songwriters (Carole King and Sara Bareilles). Let's not forget that the last time Renee Fleming was on Broadway (which was in Living on Love), no one saw it.

"But Joshua Henry is still not a box office commodity (as established by Shuffle Along),"

Can you really blame the failure of Shuffle Along on Joshua Henry? He was in an ensemble consisting the likes of Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Billy Porter.

"That being said, show's brand is in itself a star, and next to My Fair Lady, this is the biggest show of this season. I do think it will need some better advertisement once the tickets are on sale, I doubt many people know the revival's even happening."

I'm not sure if the title of Carousel alone will be enough to sell the production. Even Nicholas Hytner's acclaimed production ran a little under a year on Broadway. I think given the subject matter, it probably is going to be a tough sell to the general public.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 11:15am

It will have the Scott Rudin publicity machine behind it, which can't hurt, but I do think it will be review-dependent to become a smash. (Rudin parlayed Doll's House 2's reviews into great box office until the original cast left and it was doing NOTHING in previews.) With My Fair Lady coming right on Carousel's heels, the question will be, "If I only see one classic musical revival this year, which will it be?" Reviews may help many decide, unless MFL does land big-time star casting.

[raddersons]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 11:19am

^^All good points. Also, let's be honest... anyone who only knows Carousel from an amateur production probably thinks it's immensely boring. R&H only works well on a grand scale, or else it will seem dated (see: The King and I, Cinderella, South Pacific, which were all wonderful productions of shows I used to roll my eyes at). Also, while I agree this is probably the most exciting show happening on Broadway this spring... don't underestimate the power of Disney or Nickelodeon. With tourists heading to Spongebob and Frozen in droves, this could get buried.

EDIT: Although, despite the name, I don't think anyone is planning on bringing their kids to Carousel. Maybe the Disney/Frozen aspect is a moot point.

Updated On: 9/5/17 at 11:19 AM

[rg7759]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 11:31am

i had barely put a single stitch in my gaping comet wound, and this immediately tore it out.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 1:02pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "But Joshua Henry is still not a box office commodity (as established by Shuffle Along)"
Can you really blame the failure of Shuffle Along on Joshua Henry? He was in an ensemble consisting the likes of Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Billy Porter."

I am not blaming Shuffle Along's failure on Joshua Henry (it was genuinely the producer's fault IMHO for not promoting the show outside of Audra McDonald), but people didn't buy the tickets because Joshua Henry was in the cast - which speaks to his clout or lack thereof. Your Renee Fleming point is good, but the fact remains that she is a bigger star than Henry or anyone else in the cast, barring Mueller.


"I'm not sure if the title of Carousel alone will be enough to sell the production."

I think it will, assuming the posters and TV ads scream opulence and big production. It is one of R&H's biggest musicals.

[dianamorales]

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

I am beyond thrilled for this near-perfect cast. I didn't think about it getting buried by Frozen and Spongebob until now, but a year ago I would have worried about CATCF burying Hello, Dolly! so I guess we'll just have to see. I'm assuming this isn't a limited run?

[Valentina3]

Posted: 9/5/17 at 5:20pm

Spongebob is not burying anything without major changes. The unanimous review from from Chicago production was "meh". Frozen is another story, but these are completely different theater-going crowds.

[jtishere]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:11pm

Forgive me if someone has already posted, but marquee is up and looks gorgeous. Love the artwork. https://instagram.com/p/BYtSYYTHiwO/

Updated On: 9/6/17 at 01:11 PM

[Valentina3]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:32pm

jtishere said: "Forgive me if someone has already posted, but marquee is up and looks gorgeous. Love the artwork.https://instagram.com/p/BYtSYYTHiwO/"

I like the artwork too. It's very classic. I hope they add a white background for the names though, I could barely read Jessie or Renee and only could make it out because I knew they were there.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:43pm

I really love the artwork. It's very classy and old-fashioned. I also love how it somewhat resembles the original artwork for Carousel and Oklahoma; it gives the production a timeless look. 

[Margo319]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:49pm

I LOVE this casting and I cannot WAIT for this show, how exciting!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:52pm

jtishere said: "Forgive me if someone has already posted, but marquee is up and looks gorgeous. Love the artwork.https://instagram.com/p/BYtSYYTHiwO/"

Since they are already putting up carousel posters, should it be assumed there won't be a show going in the imperial during the interim of now and February? 

[Margo319]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:55pm

Oh dear, I hate that art work.  It's awful.  

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 2:02pm

So classic and old-fashioned and elegant. I'm already obsessed.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 2:24pm

Oh, dear. I love this so much. I LOVE the symbolism of Julie being the only one in black. I have a feeling this "Carousel" will be done right, and frankly, be the definitive. Gosh, I cannot wait.

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 4:32pm

Killer ensemble!! Ryan Steele, Leigh-Ann Esty, Garett Hawe, Jess LeProtto, Amy Justman , David Michael Garry!

 

Wow

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 4:57pm

Am I the only one who doesn't like the style of this artwork? It looks like it's for a production of Antigone. 

[Margo319]

Posted: 9/6/17 at 6:45pm

No, I hate it.  

Oh, and Joshua Henry has had quite the following since Violent and of course since he has been Aaron Burr in two different companies of the biggest show in the world.  He will see tickets, of course.  Jesse will sell tickets, of course.  Renee will sell tickets, of course.  The name alone will sell tickets.  Basically, IT WILL SELL TICKETS! :)