Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:09pm
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.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:12pm
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.)
Per a semi-reliable Twitterer/cabaret icon, Matthew Rhys did the last workshop. But that doesn't mean he'd do the actual run.
Updated On: 3/28/22 at 04:12 PM
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:36pm
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Per a semi-reliable Twitterer/cabaret icon, Matthew Rhys did the last workshop.But that doesn't mean he'd do the actual run."
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
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:39pm
It's definitely a strong cast. Not sure who will be retained for Broadway, but that was the workshop (November 15-19, 2021).
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:40pm
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.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:45pm
Ashley Park was Guenevere in the workshop. She may have tv/film commitments, though, so who can say?
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:51pm
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.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 4:51pm
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.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 5:25pm
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.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 5:26pm
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?
Posted: 3/28/22 at 5:59pm
Can I throw Solea Pfeiffer in the mix?
Posted: 3/28/22 at 6:34pm
I believe Solea will be apart of the Almost Famous cast (as it's expected to arrive on Broadway in the Fall)
Posted: 3/28/22 at 6:40pm
Perhaps a bit outside the box, but Mark Rylance for Arthur?
Posted: 3/28/22 at 6:42pm
ggersten said: "Perhaps a bit outside the box, but Mark Rylance for Arthur?"
Rylance would be the ULTIMATE overqualified Merlyn. Maybe if they ever do a film remake…
Are Merlyn, Pellinore, and Morgan even characters in this Sorkin version?
Posted: 3/28/22 at 6:51pm
In the workshop, Merlyn was played by Myra Lucretia Taylor, Pellinore was played by K. Todd Freeman and Morgan was played by Gloria Reuben.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 7:10pm
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?
Updated On: 3/28/22 at 07:10 PM
Posted: 3/28/22 at 7:14pm
I'm one of those who'd prefer they cast a young Arthur. Timothy Chalamet? I also don't think there's much wrong with the original book!
Posted: 3/28/22 at 7:44pm
Issac Powell as Lancelot.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 8:18pm
I haven't seen the show in ages. Is there a Groffsauce role to be had?
Posted: 3/28/22 at 9:46pm
One of the two leads will be a film or tv star. I do not think Laura will be cast in this.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 10:00pm
O'hara will be at the MET in that timeframe, so count her out.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 10:02pm
brdwybound04 said: "I think it will star Paulo Szot and Kelli O’Hara!!!"
And Sher's transitions will last 20 minutes each.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 10:23pm
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. 
Posted: 3/28/22 at 10:32pm
James Snyder would make a sensational Lancelot and his legitimate singing voice would rock the rafters in "C'est Moi" and "If Ever I Would Leave You".
Sadly, we don't know where his career is at this point.
Posted: 3/28/22 at 11:24pm
How long does the show usually run?
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