Wait, I thought Patti had said she wouldn’t do the show on Broadway unless Rosalie was also coming as Bobbie! So much for that then lol! I guess the lure of a Tony trumps loyalty!
Based on the above, my guess is it’ll be Jessie Mueller as Bobbie, although that feels like a weird choice to me. But I probably shouldn’t comment on Company anyway because I’m probably one of the few people who didn’t really love the London production and thought it was all a bit overrated!
Lenk and Mueller would be fabulous in completely different ways.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
I love Katrina Lenk as much as the next (sane) person, but I don’t think she’s exactly right for the part. Would be interested to see her prove me wrong though. I did want to see Jonathan Bailey continue on to Broadway- he was hilarious- but am intrigued to see who they can cast to replace him.
I’d love to see either Jessie Mueller, Lena Hall, or Annaleigh Ashford as Bobbie. They have the perfect sense of humor and nuance for the reinterpretation of the character; I also think Ruthie Ann Miles would be amazing in the part.
I was literally *just* dreamcasting Lena Hall as Persephone, but her Bobbie would be very very welcome. And kind of fantastic. I agree that Jessie, Renee, and Katrina would be quite excellent as well. Can't go wrong really.
PS - Audra won her Billy Holliday Tony in 2014 too. Just stirring the pot a bit. For fun.
PPS - Bette/Donna as Joanne would be delicious too, if we can't get Patti.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
SJB has a concert in London on April 12, 2020. Not sure if that means she's totally out of the running here but it'd make some sense since shed have to travel and rehearse there for the weekend at the very least, missing 4 shows during previews or just after opening so id say its a strong possibility she's not in the running.
I can see any of these Tony Award winners having something interesting to bring to the role. Lenk, Ervio or Goldsberry seem, to me, the most intriguing possibilities. They all have a bit of an edge to them - something I thought Craig lacked a little of in London.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
I would love to see either of those three. I’m not sure if it’s the ‘right’ interpretation but Craig’s understudy had both a bit of edge in various scenes and a bit more belt, that I found interesting. I would be interested to see an ‘edgier’ take but they better be careful not to take out all the warmth and humour from the role or it might start feeling a bit like the John Doyle production.
"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
Rachel Bay Jones is doing Next to Normal at the Kennedy Center 1/29 - 2/1 in a semi-staged production. Wasn't Company was to start rehearsals in January? So I'd think we could strike her.
Just remembering you've had an "and"
When you're back to "or"
Makes the "or" mean more than it did before
Obviously Rachel Bay Jones would drop out of N2N (a concert production that probably pays scale, for which she might not even have an official contract yet) if she happened to get a role like this. But she feels like an unlikely Bobbie.
I'd love to see Mueller, Lenk, or Goldsberry in this. Ashford would be a great choice, too, but wouldn't the West End engagement of Sunday in the Park conflict with this?
Also I wonder if Matt Doyle is Jamie (his most recent Broadway credit was Book of Mormon, which he left in 2014...)?
Guys, Rachel Bay Jones is 50. I think some of you are throwing out every female actress possible, while not being familiar with the theme of the show. The entire show revolves around Bobbie’s 35th birthday, and this production adds important subtext to her ticking time clock for bearing a child. At most, the actress cast will be around 45 and will likely be able to pass for mid 30’s.
Jessie Mueller has done a show ever other season for quite a while so if she continues that trend I’m thinking we’ll see her back on the broadway this season so this could make sense.