Betty Buckley to Star in TALES OF THE CITY Workshop

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 8:54pm

Heaven

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 10:25pm

I'm not sure what to think of this particular casting choice. from RC in Austin, Texas

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 11:12pm

When I saw the Scissor Sisters recently I was thinking about this show and I have to say, my fantasy Mrs. Madrigal as I thought about it was incredible gender radical/performance artist Kate Bornstein. I don't know if Kate can sing though, she can act up a storm.

But I tend to take Betty pilgrimages, so that's good too. I would expect push back from the transgender community, however.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 11:50pm

I don't know the score, of course. But off hand, I can't think of better casting.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 11:54pm

I think Betty is inspired casting. She needs to be back onstage in a new musical. I hope this show and she make it to Broadway. Betty is a deeply talented and brave actress. I am sure she would have no problem blurring gender for the part. I think she would approach the role with great sensitivity, compassion and incredible technique.

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 12:37am

Well, as Mrs. Madrigal's gender identity is played as a surprise for readers who followed the books/newspaper column (Anna Madrigal -- A Man and a Girl), casting a transgender actor would possibly run counter to this "reveal."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 12:49am

My thought would be that the credit would just be "Kate Bornstein" not "former man Kate Bornstein."

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 12:58am

Did the trans community take issue with Olympia Dukakis, who was exquisite in the role on PBS?

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 1:05am

Namo: You know what I mean. She is known as a "trans actor/activist" so there's no "mystery." It's a plot device that works fine on the page, but is harder to pull off non-politically on film or in the theater.

[The8re phan]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 9:05am

I actually enjoy this casting. I'm very interested to see who they cast as Mouse, Mona and Mother Mucca..........

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 11:00am

I can't think of a better choice, honestly. I think she could do the part justice and be fantastic.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 11:22am

No, bettyboy, the didn't but times are very very different now. I'm not saying I know Kate is right for the part, just that it was a fantasy I had watching the Scissor Sisters for the third time and thinking about how theatrical they can be and how theatrical she is.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 5:26pm

Personally, I was hoping Marianne Faithfull would whip up a nice American accent and give it a go, but Betty is a-O.K. in my book.

[morethan just malice]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 5:38pm

I am so thrilled for this! To see Armistead Maupin's (!) "Tales of the City" (!) made into a musical (!), by the Scissor Sisters (!), previewing in The City (!), with Betty Buckley (!) as one of the lead character (!), Anna (!), oh is just too too electric! I just hate that we can't get tickets now unless we are subscribers. I'm tempted to buy three shows just to get a decent seat.

[mee.who]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 6:00pm

I thought I read that Christopher Hanke was playing Mouse again in San Francisco after doing the readings at the O'Neill last year, but I can't remember *where* I read that, so I can't say for sure.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/25/10 at 6:54pm

Buckley is wonderful casting, but I know several actors who have turned this project down because the score is, how shall we say, sub-par.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:05am

I have a demo, but I've yet to listen to it, in the hopes I'd be able to experience the show for the first time not knowing any of it. I'm giving Jake Shears the benefit of the doubt on the score.

Did the trans community have a negative reaction to Felicity Huffman in Transamerica? I don't remember.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:49am

Buckley's just rockin' up the transgender roles now, what with this and Sylvia in the "Ruthless!" reading (that part was actually written for a woman though, correct?).