Brooke Shields in LEAP OF FAITH?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:31am

So says several posts on ATC.

Shields would certainly be... interesting casting. She's about fifteen years older than most of the other actresses who previously played the female lead in the developmental process, but she has charisma to spare.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:40am

And she's yet to originate a role. And it tries out in LA. Sounds very possible.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 3:40pm

Sheilds lives in New York, but you're correct in that I'm sure LA exposure would be a definite plus for her.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 3:44pm

She lives in NYC, but has an LA home as well.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 3:45pm

That would be fantastic news! I've been hoping she would be able to originate a role for a long time now. :)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 3:48pm

Yes, I'd be thrilled if she gets her well-deserved Tony Award!

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 3:49pm

Yes. She's been dying to originate a role since Wonderful Town. I adored her in Wonderful Town and Chicago.

But I do wonder how her singing will be? I mean...to go from Sutton Foster to Brooke Shields?
Updated On: 6/7/10 at 03:49 PM

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 3:55pm

I'm not too familiar with the material, but does Shield's presence warrant re-casting of the Martin role with someone older and/or more starry than Esparza?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:02pm

No. For the past few years, the show has been developed specifically around Raul. He's not going anywhere.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:03pm

ljay, the score is definitely within Sheilds' capabilities as a singer.

In fact, I think it will suit her quite nicely. Marva's big number, "Long Past Dreaming," is very folksy and melodic. This definitely isn't a role that requires a big belter by any means, even though Foster's involvement may make some think otherwise.

Remember that Kelli O'Hara and Elizabeth Stanley were previously involved prior to Foster, so I would think more along the lines of their voices for a frame of reference.

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 04:03 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:25pm

I like her very much, but I'm not sure this is the best fit for a lot of reasons, one being the age difference because I always envisioned Marva being a bit younger than Jonas, and just... something very different from what I imagine Brooke Shields would bring to the role. But the more I think about it, the more I feel like I could come around to the idea, and I'm starting to think they could find a way to make it work. If this is true, I certainly hope so. But it is what it will be. I saw the January reading; I really like this show a lot, and I want it to be great.

As for whether her presence would warrant re-casting the male lead, Raul is and has been set to play the role, at least for LA. That I know for a fact. I would be very disappointed if the powers that be decided to re-cast for Broadway to accommodate for their star name, and I would certainly prefer they cast the female part to accommodate Raul, but I would rather see them try to make it work together than, hypothetically, him not do it at all. He is so perfect in this role, and I think it's his best performance since Company.

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 04:25 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:27pm

Having seen Brooke in GREASE, WONDERFUL TOWN and CHICAGO--and enjoying her immensely in all three vehicles--I'd see her in anything.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:50pm

Wow, hopefully if they went from Kelli O'Hara and Sutton Foster to Brooke Shields, they're re-conceiving the role. The difference in actress' is so big, it's kinda funny. Reminds me of the time I read that Mariah Carey was cast in PRECIOUS after Helen Mirren became unavailable!
I like Brooke Shields, I'm quite surprised she's choosing to do this show instead of something that's more of a star vehicle for her.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:52pm

Brooke is 45
Raul is 40
right?
Seems off, and the demos I heard call for a more legit voice than Ms. Sheild's.
Will be interesting.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:58pm

I honestly don't remember much about her voice, but I have been thinking that too, though it's not the biggest of the curiosities unless they have suddenly gone and totally re-conceived the part. Could someone suggest a good clip to listen to/look for?

[wonkit]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 5:47pm

There is a duet with Jonas' sister called "People Like Us" that requires quite a serious belt. I suppose it can be reconfigured to fit Brooke's voice, but that would be a shame. I have to take my own "leap of faith" that the creatives know what they are doing. But Emcee is right - the casting of Esparza as Jonas is perfect and they need to support that choice, too.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 6:15pm

Brooke would not be playing Jonas' sister, if this is correct. She would be playing Marva, the love interest and the mother of the boy around whom a major plot line is constructed. I am assuming Jonas' sister, Sam, will continue to be played by Kenda Kassebaum, as she's been the person playing the part in the workshops for many years.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 6:23pm

wonkit, Emcee is correct. "People Like Us" is sung by Jonas and Sam, not Jonas and Marva.

The latter sing a song called "I Can Read You" in the first act. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of, although Elizabeth Stanley (at least) didn't really sing that song with any more power than Shields is capable of mustering.

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 06:23 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 6:29pm

Not a fan of Kendra in this show, but girl can belt.

I Can Read You is one of my favorite moments in the show, and it's also one of the biggest improvements from the film.

[wonkit]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 7:36pm

I didn't see the most recent performances, so I'm just going off the demo which only includes six songs. One of the songs on the demo is Kendra singing "People Like Us" explaining the family history to Marva. When she gets to the final chorus, Sutton as Marva sings with her and it is a strong belt by each of them. It isn't an extended part, but it is quite a sound.

I haven't heard Brooke sing - she might be able to handle it. "I Can Read You" should be a piece of cake for her, I imagine.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 8:12pm

Is that the Brian d'Arcy James demo? I have some incarnation of that. (And if it is, Sutton wouldn't be on it, I don't think. There's a Raul/Elizabeth demo out there, but People Like Us is not on it.)

People Like Us was still in the show as of January, but it's a duet between Sam and Marva. Is that what you meant? When I read your post, it sounded like you were saying it was a duet between Jonas and his sister, which is why I thought you were thinking of Brooke for the sister. Sorry for the confusion.

Anyway, I don't know if it's still in the show. At the presentation, Menken informed of some large cuts in the future, but I have no information as to what those will be. Honestly, though, if it's just a short passage in a duet, I'd imagine that could be easily changed. And it's not exactly a change I would get too up in arms about.

I'm having trouble finding any recent recordings of Brooke singing, so if anybody has something they can post or share, I would appreciate it!

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 8:21pm

I'll upload some stuff for you, Em. Look for a PM later.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 8:22pm

Thank you!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 9:33pm

Brooke Shields would be a HUGE upgrade over Sutton Foster in terms of star power, charisma, and comedic ability.

They might now get something resembling an interesting performance, not the awkward, "I'm the geeky, little, plain girl next door" that you always get from Foster.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 9:57pm

Yes, but awkward (not so much "geeky"), plain girl next door is a big part of who the character is. She's a waitress in a diner in a tiny rural town in Kansas. There were a lot of things that didn't work about Sutton's performance, IMO, but this is still a strange jump to make. The way I've been describing the part is that she's like, the all-American girl-next-door, totally whitebread, pretty without trying. Somewhat awkward, sarcastic, cute. A little sassy. Vulnerable, but works hard to hide it.

I think one of the risks they run with Brooke Shields is that the dynamic will shift from Jonas swiftly, slyly charming the girl from Kansas into a Jonas playing a game of cat and mouse with the hot cougar, which is sooo not how it should be. Hopefully the age difference between them won't read that much, but more than I am concerned that she is older than him, I'm concerned that she is just too old for the part. I had assumed they were aiming for her to be around thirty.

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 09:57 PM