Casting "Ursula" in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Casting "Ursula" in THE LITTLE MERMAID
#0Casting "Ursula" in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:27pm
I'd love either Patti LuPone or Betty Buckley.
Personally, after just seeing Buckley live in concert, I think she'd blow everyone out of the water (so to speak 
).
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#1re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:28pmI would pay to see Rosemary Ashe in the role, if she can come over here.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#2re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:29pm
Harvey Fierstein
Emily Skinner 
Betty Buckley would be funny
Debra Monk
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
Updated On: 1/22/06 at 11:29 PM
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#3re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:30pm
emily skinner
harriet harris
harvey fierstein
sheryl lee ralph
lillias white
and remember folks vanessa and ursula would totally be played by different performers, since vanessa would be lip syncing ariel's voice anyway
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#4re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:30pm
BSo... You're back! :)
That IS you... isn't it..?
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#5re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:32pm
"That IS you... isn't it..?"
The one and only! With a slight upgrade!
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
#6re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:33pm
Good.
Enough Threadjacking now!
I also want to see Betty Buckley in the role. Or Kathleen Turner.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
Link Larkin Wanabe
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#7re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:34pm
I would LOVE to see Sara Ramirez in the role. I think she can pull off both the sexy human Ursula and the evil octopus Ursula.
If she shows up.
Akiva
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#8re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:35pm
"If she shows up."
That's rough!
What about the purple makeup!
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
#9re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:35pmlol I like the Harvey Fierstein idea.
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
FoscasBohemianDream
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/06
#10re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:36pm
I hadn't thought of Sara Ramirez but actually she's probably the best casting option for this role I've heard.
If they're going for a comic, grotesque Ursula, no one could do it like Fierstein. But I don't know what choices they have made with this role.
#11re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:39pm
"What about the purple makeup!"
Would she sing, "Defying Gravity" at the climax with her turning into a giant?
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#12re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/22/06 at 11:40pmThey wouldn't necessarily HAVE to 'paint' Ursala purple. With the popluarity of Wicked, we have seen enough painted actresses lately. Maybe they could come up with another unique idea?
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#13re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:10amAfter hearing the wonderful Kaitlin Hopkins on the On the Record cast recording singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls", I would love to see her in the role.
ihearttheatre
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/12/05
#14re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:11amI can't picture anyone other than Harvey Fierstein in the role. He just seems so perfect for it.
#15re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:20amSad, but true, Emily Skinner will never be Ursula again.
#16re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:22amHarriet Harris. fin.
""the gays love their presents. just wave something shiny in front of their faces, you can get whatever you want. Thats how we got manhattan from the gay indians" -Karen (W&G)"
#17re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:27amI love the harvey fierstein idea but I would actually like to hear the song sang well. Harvey would sing it in charector but I want to hear it sung. He'd be great acting wise but I think I'd kill to see Sara Ramirez in the role. And on a differnt casting choice, Jenna Leigh Green for Ariel anyone?
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
#18re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:29am
Debra Monk!
Not sure why, but it's the first name that popped into my head.
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!
#19re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:40am
Debra Monk would also be good, I love her Ladies Who Lunch from the Company Revival. She could definitly sing Poor Unfortunate Souls.
*"What about the purple makeup!"
Would she sing, "Defying Gravity" at the climax with her turning into a giant?*
Piazza, that was great
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
theatreboi11
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/05
#21re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:49amMegan Mullally
(Martha Graham from a letter to Agnes de Mille) "There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. If you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will never have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, Nor how valuable it is, Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware Directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, A blessed unrest that keeps us marching And makes us more alive than others."
#22re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 1:06am
OMG - Not Betty Buckley - she would absolutely terrify young children. Humorous villains are NOT her thing...
I doubt Disney is going to cast in drag - they are way too PC, but I could easily see them going ethnic with someone like Lillias White.
Updated On: 1/23/06 at 01:06 AM
rockfenris2005
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#23re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:52am
"I would pay to see Rosemary Ashe in the role, if she can come over here."
Are ghosts actors?
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
#24re: Casting 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID
Posted: 1/23/06 at 6:31am
There is no one more perfect for Ursula than Emily Skinner. I've heard her demos, and she just tears through the material like there's no tomorrow. But, alas...
Another vote for Mary Testa here.
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