Brandi Burkhardt in "Mamma Mia!"

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:52am

It seems that Brandi is going to perform in "Mamma Mia"...that was quite a "surprise" for me...as in totally unexpected! =O
I wonder if it will be only a temporary thing, since Tale might be touring. Then, maybe she will not be touring, but is waiting for a future Monte Cristo possibility in the States?


Updated On: 1/25/09 at 03:52 AM

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:27am

I think it's great for Brandi, because the music will suit her voice so well, IMHO.

But what makes you think that Tale is going to tour?

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 8:12am

They didnt mention the "Tale" tour last night at James' concert--
(It been spoken about after "Tale" closed)

They just said Brandi would be "doing the lead" in "Mamma Mia"
(He mentions it on his blog today as well)

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 9:23am

I will admit that I was and I still am a huge fan of tale. I am sure that most of you on this forum remember me and other fans of the show being called a shill just because we came out and said that we liked the show. That being said, when they announced the tour, from the beginning I knew that it was wishful thinking on the part of the producers and that the chances of it actually happening are next to none.

That being said, I remember talking to Case after a performance of Mamma Mia on the night right before the parade (not only is she very talented onstage she is VERY VERY VERY nice). She spoke to me about how she's doing Hair on Broadway and because of that she is leaving in January. However, she never said when exactly next month she is leaving.

Being that I am a huge Brandi fan (not that I don't trust what Barbour wrote in his blog) and having her in Mamma Mia would make me very happy indeed. I am going to wait until I hear an official word from playbill.com, broadwayworld.com etc about Case's replacement.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 9:55am

<< Being that I am a huge Brandi fan (not that I don't trust what Barbour wrote in his blog) and having her in Mamma Mia would make me very happy indeed. I am going to wait until I hear an official word from playbill.com, broadwayworld.com etc about Case's replacement. >>

Love Brandi as well !!! She looked absolutely stunning last night !! I am not sure which part she will be playing in "Mamma Mia", but she is definitely starting soon. That came straight from her mouth last night, not just James' blog.

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 10:36am

what your saying Testing is leading me to believe that she will be playing Sophie. Which when you think about it makes sense. I mean it wasn't that long ago that they had a minor cast change so I doubt contracts will be expiring soon. And Case is leaving at some point next month (as I sad) to do Hair. Sophie is really the only role open for her.

I do still wonder when Case leaves and when Brandi starts.

[philly03]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:23pm

I saw on another thread that Brandi is too "old" for this role, or something along those lines, but she isn't that much older than what the role should be?

Also as a huge Brandi/Frank Wildhorn fan, I would just like to say in regards to the Tale tour, should it happen (which I'm hoping to the max for, it was my favourite show of this year!), I doubt that many of the Broadway cast would tour with it. Maybe some of the ensemble/understudies moved up, such as Rob Richardson, who understudied Carton, would take it over for the tour, for the fact that he performed it in a few workshops, but what makes you believe that Barbour and Gregg Edelman who both have families would just decide to tour for a year? Brandi I assume is going to get married sometime soon-ish/maybe!?, and has Frank's projects to work on and possibly this (which I'm with Winston3, I'm going to wait for an official word). Aaron Lazar also seems to have no problem finding work on Broadway, so I'm not exactly sure why he'd tour either, and also for a smaller part!

Lastly, I just cannot see Natalie Toro, Nick Wyman or Craig Bennett wanting to tour iwth the show, unless the people are right. They've all spent, what? Atleast 9 years together working on the show and have it come to Broadway finally to flop/get mocked by some of the critics? But I honestly just don't know, and I'm not positive about the tour even happening--maybe much later? Regardless, I still miss Tale and will go to see Brandi in anything!

In regards to Count of Monte Cristo with a US premiere, don't hold your breath...Frank is extremely highly regarded over in Germany/Austria/Hungry that area, which is why nearly all of his premieres are over there. Count.. is due for a world premiere this upcoming March I believe in Switzerland, but I'm not positive it's there. I would not anticipate it, until atleast 2010, perhaps later, for the sole fact that I think Frank's been having trouble finding producers/investors. Anyone with a 0-4 track record on recouping isn't going to get a show done easily. Don't forget, CARMEN & Rudolph.. never made it over here.

Another one of Frank's shows will be getting it's delayed world premiere this Spring as well, atleast it's still rumored to do so: Cyrano de Bergerac ~ The Musical, which is intended to star Raphael, the star of Jekyll & HYDE in Spain, where this will also take place; it's the follow up to the team that brought us Jekyll & HYDE as a matter of fact :). The show was supposed to debut in England, followed by the West End back in 2006 starring Douglas Sills, although I'm not sure why it was canceled. However, I can't really see Brandi being in that show, as a lot of seems to be written for someone with a Linda Eder-esque voice. In February, "Bonnie & Clyde" will have an industry-only reading at Roundabout, to my knowledge.

Lastly, Frank did mention at Tale's opening (in one of his interviews) that there are talks of a production/reading of HAVANA!, which you may recall was "written for Linda," but Frank disregarded that. Also, I believe Camille Claudel is making some revisions (again) and also will try to star Brandi, who does sing Gold from time to time (and is on THAT site).

Good luck to Brandi!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:04pm

Good lord. How many shows does this man have? It seems like every classic story he has turned into some sort of musical. I mean, I'm a semi-fan, but jeez.

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 5:00pm

Testing, I am saying that I have a feeling that it will be announced that she will be playing Sophie because of two things. First of as reported by you it was said in the concert last night that she is going to be playing a lead role in Mamma Mia. Secondly, they just recast some of the supporting roles and some ensemble roles not that long ago so it is too soon for a cast change when it comes to that. The only other female lead roles are Donna and the Dynamos which she is too young for. She is in her late 20's and looks it. But, I don't think that that will matter or make a difference if she is playing Sophie because a majority of the actresses who have played the role were in their mid twenties when they played it. They (at least I don't think) have actually had someone who was 19 play the role on Broadway.

[proptart101]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 9:08pm

Not to mention the current Sophie, Allison Case, is leaving to be in the upcoming production of "Hair"

Or so I've read.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HAIR_to_Move_to_Broadway_in_2009_Theater_and_Dates_TBA_20080910

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 9:10pm

Yes, Allison is leaving.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 3:14am

I've always believed the "age" thing is relative. If someone looks the part, then cast it (provided, of course, they are also good in the part). Why, if you are 30, but look like 20, can't it be?
BTW, I think Brandi could pass for 20...I don't think she looks, necessarily, her age (makeup and dress go a long way...).

As far as the 'touring'...it is what the producers, and Jill, are hoping and most probably working, for. Why not? I still believe in what a great piece of theater Tale was/can still be.
Updated On: 12/27/08 at 03:14 AM

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 12:56pm

bwaybabe2,

I do like Tale of Two Cities. I do. But, there is a better chance of The Islanders playing a hockey game in the seventh layer of hell then there is of Tale touring. Producers always say that they want to tour a show that ended up not doing so well on Broadway. Look at The Pirate Queen. They said that they were going to tour it and of course they never did. And, as it has been said earlier on this thread there is no way that people who did the show on Broadway are going to to the tour. What logical reason would they do that for?

I believe Brandi is somewhere around 27 or so. Like I said that has been the average age of the people who have played her in the past. So she is on par in terms of age for playing the role of Sophie.

[philly03]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 11:48pm

I still hoping for a tour, and I think it could be very successful on the road (similar to SP4: The Scarlet PImpernel's national tour), but I just wouldn't get my hopes up for any of the Broadway stars going along with the ride. Maybe some of the Sarasota leads would rejoin, maybe some Broadway understudies (as I said I'd love to see Rob Richardson take on Carton perhaps!), or just total new cast. (Wouldn't it be interesting if Angela Christian (Anne Catherick/Woman in White in WiW) was Lucie? She was in the ensemble of the concept recording haha)

Not to talk about Brandi's personal life too much, seeing how that's not too right to talk about, Brandi & Frank have been engaged since something like 2006 (with the Jekyll & HYDE major US Concert Tour: Ressurection). When I saw Tale Brandi told me they were engaged (Haha wasn't a shock but clearly she likes people to know! :)!) at the stagedoor so I'd assume they still are. But I also don't think Frank's going to rush into another marriage (I believe Linda Eder was his second marriage), and Frank is rarely in New York, let alone the US. Obviously with ATOTC Brandi was going to [hopefully] been hunkered in New York, and Frank has several world and regional premieres going on throughout this winter & spring; Brandi did one of the international productions I believe..but not positive! Also Brandi had her TV show and some other projects on the side, so it's just two busy people who are unable to settle on a wedding date, or atleast that's how it always seems to be with those 2. But I would not like the spread rumors that those two are no longer together, because it seems to me that they'd still be (especially since Frank has been mentioning Brandi's name in several of the projects I listed above!).

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/28/08 at 12:05am

CREEPY...!!! Where did my post "go"...?! The one you responded to, philly! Seems to have vanished, but I can see you "somehow" got to read it. Weird =O

Well, I was looking up some Wildhorn, and I saw this:
"Wildhorn was engaged to Brandi Burkhardt, best known for playing the role of Siren on Passions."

And then I went to Brandi's sites to confirm and read this:
"Brandi was formerly engaged to composer/lyricist/producer Frank Wildhorn"

...? I'm not one to start "rumors". I detest that. But when I come across some apparently 'legit' info, but that seems so sudden and, as I said in the disappeared post, so out of "left field"...I question.

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/28/08 at 2:37am

I don't know to be honest with you guys about them being together or not. I remember going to a performance of Tale and waiting at the stage door after. When Brandi came out Frank was there. But, he was standing back as if he was waiting for her etc. However, he was nice enough to sign a couple of autographs for the people there that noticed who he was. But, he was there with Brandi. I just took a look at Broadway.com's fresh face that was done with her. The interview was taken around the time that Tale opened so it wasn't that long ago. There she mentioned that she was engaged to Wildhorn and thought nothing of the 20 year age gap.

Updated On: 12/28/08 at 02:37 AM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/28/08 at 3:18am

Right, I know, Winston3. I think even as of the beginning of December they were still together, probably. This info seems to have just been added to their bios. I wish them whatever is best for them...

[Eris0303]

Posted: 12/28/08 at 12:14pm

They're not

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 1/13/09 at 4:41am

It's official. Brandi will play Sophie in Mamma Mia.
I haven't seen Mamma Mia, yet, so I hope to catch this run with her in it.
As a big ABBA fan, I've always kept this one on the burners to see.



http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Brandi_Burkhardt_is_New_Sophie_in_MAMMA_MIA_Starting_127_20090112 Updated On: 1/13/09 at 04:41 AM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 9:58pm

Has anyone seen the touring production of Mamma Mia? I might have a chance to see it in tour, but wonder if I should wait and see it on Broadway...?
Then again, the way things are at the moment, who knows if it will be around much longer on Broadway =I

[winston89]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 10:09pm

Mamma Mia is one of the few shows on Broadway right now that no one has to worry about going anywhere. It is going to be here for a long time.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 11:55pm

I'm excited to see Brandi as Sophie sometime next weekend...

Here's a nice tidbit I thought of last night. Brandi Burkhardt made her Broadway debut in TALE OF TWO CITIES playing Gregg Edelman's daughter. Now, her second Broadway show will be MAMMA MIA! where she will be playing Carolee Carmello's daughter. For those of you who may not know, Gregg and Carolee are married in real life!

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 12:07am

I may see Brandi in April. For those whodon't know, the Mamma-Mia! site is updated with pictures of the new cast.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 4:58am

Wow, WAT...you are right! I never thought of that. Strange how things turn around, and then connect!
Winston, all shows are not above suddenly shutting, there are many reasons. Remember that there's a movie out now for Mamma Mia, so your never know if people might divert to the DVD.
Well, hopefully I'm joyfully wrong.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 5:23am

bwaybabe2, you seem to not realize that Mamma Mia is and has been one of the top grossing shows on Broadway over the past few years. That being said that even though times are tight on Broadway shows like Mamma Mia, Wicked, The Lion King and Jersey Boys and Billy Elliot are showing no signs of stopping.

And, I highly doubt that people would not see the show due to the movie being on DVD. If anything the movie helped out the show and got people wanting to see the show.