Carolee Carmello Hello Dolly

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 7:44am

Is there truth that originally Carolee Carmello had been offered the Dolly alternate for the current revival, but that salary negotiations couldn't be met? Also wondering if quite possibly her getting Sweeney as well had anything to do with it? Would LOVE to see her get to do the role one day however! Maybe if they cast another Bette level name post Bernadette, things might work out next time! Updated On: 12/7/17 at 07:44 AM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 8:09am

I heard that exact same rumor about Klea Blackhurst, She was all but signed...then things broke down in contract negotiations. 

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 8:52am

WOW! Klea is, in my opinion, one of the best Dolly's that has ever played the role! What a special treat that would have been! Especially considering she has yet to perform in a Broadway show, which baffles me. Another person I would truly LOVE to see get to play the role on Broadway.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 8:58am

I really can't imagine that either Carmello nor Blackhurst have the star power or financial security to dictate contract terms for a Broadway show.

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 9:24am

I heard it was going to be Carolee but then she was offered Sweeney Todd and took that instead.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 10:50am

Are you saying Carmello was offered the Dolly alternate before Donna Murphy? Not a chance. The standby for the rest of the performances, maybe, but she has zero marquis value and there is no way Rudin would have entrusted one performance to week to her (or Blackhurst). Financially it would have destroyed the show.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 10:56am

Donna Murphy was the first person approached to be Bette's alternate. She hesitated quite a bit before accepting, and it's possible the producers explored other options when it looked like she might pass. But Murphy was absolutely the first choice.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 11:00am

But I'd love to see her (Carmello) in the role!

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 11:15am

Yes, Donna took a while to say yes to the role. She said this on the Little Known Facts Podcast a few weeks ago. I’m sure producers were exploring other options. I’d love to see Carolee in the role. Though I’m so glad she took Sweeney instead. One of the best performances I’ve ever seen.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 11:25am

Well, if she wasn't officially offered the role, she couldn't really have done Sweeney "instead" (and if she had been offered the Dolly pay check, I highly doubt she would have turned it down) but sure, she'd probably make a wonderful Dolly sometime somewhere (and its very nice the opportunity came up for her to step into ST off Broadway).

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 1:02pm

Don't quite understand how Murphy is a "bigger draw" than Carmello. They're pretty equal in my opinion. I could see that possibly about Blackhurst but not Carmello, who has appeared in almost twice as many Broadway shows as Murphy. (14 compared to 9). Not to say they both aren't incredible performers, and that Murphy isn't giving a truly knockout performance each week, but she definitely isn't anymore of a "name" than Carmello is.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 1:18pm

broadwayboy222 said: "Don't quite understand how Murphy is a "bigger draw" than Carmello. They're pretty equal in my opinion. I could see that possibly about Blackhurst but not Carmello, who has appeared in almost twice as many Broadway shows as Murphy. (14 compared to 9). Not to say they both aren't incredible performers, and that Murphy isn't giving a truly knockout performance each week, but she definitely isn't anymore of a "name" than Carmello is."

Donna Murphy is a two-time Tony Award winner, for one.  She's definitely the more "acclaimed" actress. Carmello is a TERRIFIC actress who should have won the Tony for Parade, but she's mostly played featured roles (Finding Neverland, The Addams Family, Lestat), been a replacement (Mamma Mia, Sister Act, Urinetown, 1776), or had a lead role in a flop (Parade, Scandalous).

Murphy, on the other hand, has headlined some major productions and surely has had the more "acclaimed" career.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 1:31pm

broadwayboy222 said: "Not to say they both aren't incredible performers, and that Murphy isn't giving a truly knockout performance each week, but she definitely isn't anymore of a "name" than Carmello is.”

Of course she is.

Updated On: 12/7/17 at 01:31 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 2:11pm

Murphy has also had more crossover success in film and television. I adore Carmello, and she would be an excellent Dolly, but Murphy is much more of a "name".

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 2:16pm

newintown said: "I really can't imagine that either Carmello nor Blackhurst have the starpower or financial security to dictate contract terms for a Broadway show."

Since doing one show a week precludes you from doing another job, they should have some say in what it would cost for them to take that option. You don't need star power to negotiate a contract, it just helps a lot.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 2:24pm

I bet Donna Murphy's salary for doing one performance a week in Dolly is more than Carolee Carmello has ever made weekly doing a Broadway show. In fact, I bet Murphy's salary for one performance is more than the entire weekly salaries of the whole cast of Sweeney Todd off Broadway. So yes, Carmello would have taken the gig had she been offered it.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 2:25pm

"doing one show a week precludes you from doing another job"

Not necessarily. There are instances all around of folks skipping one night (or that night just not being there) to accommodate for another show. Elaine Stritch was doing a show in Boston while understudying Merman. Performers do extended engagements at Cafe Carlyle or Studio 54 while they're still in Broadway companies which sub them for Saturday nights. I'm guessing Carolee could have gotten an alternate for Tuesday Sweeney performances or Sweeney would have moved Tuesday night shows to another time slot (Monday night, Thurs Matinee or something like that).

[DAME]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 5:36pm

You are all high.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 6:16pm

DAME said: "You are all high."

i am.  *kisses*

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/7/17 at 8:34pm

broadwayboy222 said: "Don't quite understand how Murphy is a "bigger draw" than Carmello. They're pretty equal in my opinion. I could see that possibly about Blackhurst but not Carmello, who has appeared in almost twice as many Broadway shows as Murphy. (14 compared to 9). Not to say they both aren't incredible performers, and that Murphy isn't giving a truly knockout performance each week, but she definitely isn't anymore of a "name" than Carmello is."

Are you talking about the Donna Murphy who received Tony nominations for the last 5 shows she was in (clearly excluding Dolly, for which she was ineligible...but IMO was better than Midler, who I have loved for 40 years), and won for two of them.  The Donna Murphy who has gotten rapturous reviews in everything she has done (so back and read her reviews for Wonderful Town or The People in the Picture, for example)?

I definitely agree that Donna Murphy is not the star that I think she should be, but Carolee Carmello???  Inconceivable.