Posted: 5/10/16 at 9:25pm
LENA HALL??? Guess I'll have to dust off my old earplugs...
Posted: 5/10/16 at 9:43pm
There hasn't been a name mentioned here for Grizabella that would draw middle America to see CATS, though the Bernadette Peters suggestion was close. For as great as Soo is in HAMILTON, the tourists would ask, Soo who?
Posted: 5/10/16 at 9:55pm
Top Choices for Grizabella - Stephanie J. Block, Phillipa Soo (if they want to cast younger), Idina Menzel (doesn't mean she'll do it), Coleen Sexton, Kerry Ellis, Bernadette Peters (she's so picky-choosey with roles though), Jessie Mueller (she would be great as a future replacement but now she's doing Waitress), Christine Ebersole (again non-availability), Karen Mason, Kelli O'Hara (depends on availability), Judy Kuhn.
Updated On: 5/10/16 at 09:55 PM
Posted: 5/10/16 at 10:32pm
Whoever Grizabella is going to be played by, it will be a big name!
Posted: 5/10/16 at 10:37pm
Stephanie J Block is not a big enough name. Plus Falsettos is right around the corner! Idina could do it if the money's good, but I doubt it. I'd love to see Megan Mullally in the role too. Sutton Foster (unlikely), Sierra Boggess (I know folks here hate her, but she'd kill the song and ALW adores her), Lea Salonga (possibly conflicting with Fun Home).
This is seriously the last show I thought I'd be excited to dream cast, but the names won't stop coming to mind
Posted: 5/10/16 at 10:37pm
Double post
Updated On: 5/10/16 at 10:37 PM
Posted: 5/10/16 at 10:49pm
The first name that comes to mind for me is Harvey Fierstein.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:38am
Valentina3 said: "Stephanie J Block is not a big enough name. Plus Falsettos is right around the corner! Idina could do it if the money's good, but I doubt it. I'd love to see Megan Mullally in the role too. Sutton Foster (unlikely), Sierra Boggess (I know folks here hate her, but she'd kill the song and ALW adores her), Lea Salonga (possibly conflicting with Fun Home).
This is seriously the last show I thought I'd be excited to dream cast, but the names won't stop coming to mind"
I like the other suggestions, but I would roll my eyes considerably if ALW went with Sierra Boggess.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:54am
This is a completely different story than casting the ongoing runs of CATS and PHANTOM. A revival needs stars, or at very least a new take on the material. Those long runs don't have to worry about that. CATS doesn't have a new take, or new enough, so therefore they need a star. Smart casting would be some sort of stunt for Griz, at least for reviews and nomination purposes. After that, you can cast as many Broadway regulars as you like.
Looking at the present cast, there's not a star up there. They desperately need one as Griz. Sierra just wouldn't cut it.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:16am
You clearly have no idea how popular Idina Menzel and FROZEN have become, or how the business of promoting a show works. The press needs a talking point and something to promote. Otherwise the original cast of the current LES MIZ revival would have been all Broadway stalwarts who could truly master the material instead of the mixed bag they ended up with.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:39am
I agree with FiddleMeThis about most of the "Les Mis" cast - however everyone PT mentioned besides James was perfectly suited for their roles, in my opinion. It was the rest of the original cast that was bad. But I don't see that happening here. Also, Fiddle, no need to talk down to people. There's always a way to kindly state your opinion.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:47am
My 2 bits is that I was keen[very] to see Cats--did so in London--remember nothing except something happened with my seats--they moved?.
Was on again in my home city with a singer I loved so wanted to hear her doing Memory- which I HATE !
She was good, remember nothing else.
This one song, probably ALWs most popular gets all the publicity out of a 3hr show performed by someone who is on for maybe 10mins[made that up---don't know].
Cats starring ??????
So....50/50.....who gets the publicity------Cats or ?????---certainly wouldn't pay to see ???? sing 1 song whether I hate it or not.
I think the majority who shell out for a ticket will be there to see what Cats is all about.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 6:28am
MoDance0934 said: "EricMontreal22 said: "Are they still doing the rapper Tugger? With Tyler Hanes? True that the replacement rapping Tugger in London was white, as was the Tugger in Australia, but I can see this being more of an issue in the US. (And the whole concept is dire and the costume already somehow looks more dated than the Glam Rock Tugger)
If they do, I will personally fly to London or wherever Mr. ALW is currently living and scold him for doing so. I saw videos of the rapping Tugger... who in their right mind would change one of the best characters? Tisk tisk
"
Yes it's terrible. But I suspect they will
Posted: 5/11/16 at 6:35am
I have never seen "Cats." I've listened to the songs, and I want to cry whenever I hear "Memories." (THAT'S why I've never seen "Cats."
Is the show a tearjerker? I don't do well with tearjerkers.
Audrey
Posted: 5/11/16 at 6:43am
I remember when they announced Betty Buckley as Grizabella in the original Broadway cast, it wasn't exactly thrilling news. She was known at that point for being the mom on "Eight Is Enough," with a prior film and Broadway history, but not a huge STAR by any means, someone who could carry a show by name alone. Apparently she beat out many, many "stars" who did want the part. "Cats" was crossing the pond as a surefire hit, and Memory was already on the charts, thanks to Barbra Streisand. Betty was one of the last people they saw for it.
I hope they cast someone who can capture that etherial quality that Betty did, with a haunting voice. I don't care if she's a huge star or not. But a lot of the success of the show and the impression it leaves on audiences hinges on how well that song is performed.
Updated On: 5/11/16 at 06:43 AM
Posted: 5/11/16 at 6:47am
I agree with PThespian, I don't think you need a name for Grizabella, or at least not a huge one. In the UK, there was Nicole, Beverly Knight and Kerry Ellis. All 'names' in a sense but none of which I think would have had a huge impact on ticket sales. Cats will sell itself for as long as those first actors are in their first contract anyway. Someone like Idina would never do this, she has specified that she only likes to do new, original musicals.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 11:42am
Thank you, Cinders, for a balanced take. I'm glad you see my point. Didn't mean to talk down, I apologize! I just know RUG pretty well and I know how they and Cameron run things, and it was pretty clear from the Les Miz revival that, though they did make some excellent choices, there was a whole lot more involved in casting other than who would truly be best for those role. I think that will play out with Griz as well.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:13pm
I still think we should be discussing poor Hanes playing the Rap Tum Tugger. https://youtu.be/HGSBi63wL00. Just ugh
Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:38pm
LOL to whoever said Hudson needs a "summer gig".
Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:58pm
IdinaBellFoster said: "LOL to whoever said Hudson needs a "summer gig"."
I said it, and reading it back it does sound ridiculous. :) I meant, she can make space for this summer gig.
Posted: 5/11/16 at 8:27pm
EricMontreal22 said: "I still think we should be discussing poor Hanes playing the Rap Tum Tugger. https://youtu.be/HGSBi63wL00. Just ugh"
This isn't nearly as bad as people are making it out to be. I like it.
Posted: 5/13/16 at 5:06am
Nicole has pulled out of Cats and ALW is not happy. Although suggesting she would be getting a Tony for it is a bit of a stretch
article on www.digitalspy.co.uk (phone won't copy link for some reason)
Posted: 5/13/16 at 5:10am
