This is so exciting! I saw the most recent tour with Lou Diamond Phillips and Rachel York back in 2008, I believe. This will be stunning at the Beaumont for sure. Bartlett Sher really knows how to work with that space.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
The show has big second-act problems for Sorkin to address, with Mordred and Morgan Le Fey. Famously, the original production had 2/3 of its creative team members in the hospital during previews, so the show never really got "fixed." They were also dealing with a star in Roddy McDowall, so you can only cut so much of Mordred's part. You also have Pellinore bumbling around both acts, and Merlyn in act 1.
(My not-very-hot take is that Lerner was an overrated artist whose very best work––and arguably his only great work––borrows liberally from Shaw.)
I asked Robbie Rozelle in response about who else was in the cast. He quickly replied with "Jordan Donica, Ashley Park, Ethan Slater, Kyle Scatliffe, Myra Lucretia Taylor, K. Todd Freeman, and more." https://twitter.com/divarobbie/status/1508542734130417670
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Hope they don't go too old for Arthur. Richard Burton was only 35 when he originated it, and since then the casting seems to creep older and older (with Burton, Richard Harris, and Robert Goulet playing it into their 50s and beyond). There's something much more interesting about a young, impish king. Otherwise, it becomes "older man gets cucked by younger man."
Benanti would have been perfect for Guinevere, but similarly too old...if a 43-year-old is singing "where are the simple joys of Maidenhood?" you have to wonder what she's been up to the past 25 years!"
Well, Bart did cast an older than usual Eliza Doolittle and a younger than usual Henry Higgins for his My Fair Lady revival.
Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I asked Robbie Rozelle in response about who else was in the cast. He quickly replied with "Jordan Donica, Ashley Park, Ethan Slater, Kyle Scatliffe, Myra Lucretia Taylor, K. Todd Freeman, and more."
That's a strong cast around Rhys, though Donica doesn't quite have the booming baritone of Bob Goulet.
Rhys is one of those actors who's the fifth choice for EVERY white guy role in American theatre. He gets offered and turns down so, so many parts. Will be very interesting to see if he actually follows through here! I also don't think he's a major ticket-selling "name," but that's less of a factor with an LCT revival.
For those that like to live in the past, does anyone remember when Marin Mazzie did the show in a Lonny Price concert in 2008 Live at Lincoln centre with Paul Gemignani musical directing? Was there anything Marin couldn't do?? The good old days when Marin AND Sondheim were alive.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
binau said: "For those that like to live in the past, does anyone remember when Marin Mazzie did the show in a Lonny Price concert in 2008 Live at Lincoln centre with Paul Gemignani musical directing?"
I was able to watch the PBS broadcast of it on YouTube not too long ago. I thought it was quite good.
Rhys would be amazing, cause he’s always amazing. The other choices are exciting as well. I know Ethan Slater did this show not too long ago, I’m assuming he’d be in the same role. Can anyone who saw it say how he was?
divarobbie2 said: "In the workshop, Merlyn was played by Myra Lucretia Taylor, Pellinore was played by K. Todd Freeman and Morgan was played by Gloria Reuben."
Are we talking, glorious Canadian/former ER actress Gloria Reuben?
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
Good to hear Merlyn and Pellinore were in the workshop version. Merlyn is crotchety and adorable and Pellinore is goofy and adorable, and I love them both.