Bette Midler in Hello Dolly Revival?

Tonight I heard from a friend who works on her vegas show that Bette has been approached to star in a revival of Hello Dolly. I am not sure where this offer came from or what her response was but rumour backstage is that is what could be next for the divine miss m. I would assume it woud be in a few years after her vegas show ended.

I for one would love this to be true. I would kill to see her in Dolly. Hell, I would kill to see a revival period!

Any thoughts on this? Has anyone else heard anything about it?


Disclaimer: Before I get attacked I would like to re-emphasize that this is just a rumor I heard. I have no idea if anything will come of it and the reason I posted this is to see if any of you had any more info or had heard anything about this.

Updated On: 8/24/09 at 04:07 AM

I doubt this will ever happen. She still has to finish her Vegas contract. Then the production would have to begin to come together. Too many hurdles to jump through. Not impossible but improbable. If it happens, I'll be first in line to buy tickets.

---

She was asked in a recent interview about whether she would consider a Broadway show, and she said she couldn't see herself doing eight shows a week ... she doesn't do that now with her Vegas act, and couldn't imagine having the stamina to do it on Broadway.

Remember too, she will be 65 when the Vegas show closes. She may just want to rest!

"and she said she couldn't see herself doing eight shows a week ... she doesn't do that now with her Vegas act, and couldn't imagine having the stamina to do it on Broadway"

If only more performers were honest with both themselves and their fans about what they can and can not do in terms of stamina.

Remember too, she will be 65 when the Vegas show closes. She may just want to rest!

Okay, I'll be the first to mention that Carol Channing did the 30th anniversary revival in 1994/5 when she was 72! But then Miss Channing's stamina is legendary. Not that Bette Midler isn't a trouper, but being on stage for nearly 3 hours, and in almost every scene, eight times a week, is an almost superhuman task for someone that age. Plus, it isn't just you on stage with a few backup dancers. The concentration level in that show is extremely high. One missed cue and you run the risk of knocking a waiter off the passerelle into the pit!

---

Bette Midler prizes her downtime and said she likes Vegas because she is "protected and pampered" by Caesars. Bette does about 10 shows a month. She would not do 8 shows a week at a Broadway House and contend with crowds and the cramped quarters. Those days are really over for her. Plus, the pay would be miniscule for all of the hassles she would have to endure. Also, Midler is an international icon, recording artist, and film star, and in a far different league than Channing and Lansbury. One of the reasons you pay your dues, like Midler did, is so that you don't have to return to busting your butt like that again when you're old and taking any offer that comes.

---

I agree with Hanna. If anything, I see Midler coming back to do a non-musical play she really loved for a character she would love to act. Bette's singing voice is no longer up to an 8 show week.

---