Casting Ideas for THE FIRST WIVES CLUB Musical

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 8:19pm

I know there was a thread that announced the musical was being created and on it some people posted their ideas for casting. But, I wanted to bring them all to one thread so everyone can post ideas and discuss it. My ideas for the principal casting are:

Joanna Gleason for Annie Paradis

Bernadette Peters for Brenda Cushman

Rachel York for Elise Elliot

Carole Shelley for Gunila Garson Goldberg

Angela Gaynor for Shelley Stewart

Vance Avery as Duarto Feliz

Richard Kind as Aaron Paradis

As for Phoebe and the other two husbands...I'm still thinking. But feel free to let me know what you think and to contribute your own ideas.

[timote316]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:17pm

I've never seen the movie, so I don't know the characters, but the first name that popped into my head was Carole Shelley.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:22pm

One-hundred times yes to Joanna as Annie.

A big NO to Bernadette as Brenda---Brenda needs to be plain; Bernadette is everything BUT plain.

Rachel is WAY TOO YOUNG for Elise. Elise needs to be at least late 40s; ideally in her early 50s. Rachel is 33.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:23pm

I'd love to see Kate Reinders or Laura Bell Bundy play the SJP part
And if this is dream casting, Angela Lansbury for Maggie Smith's role or Lainie Kazan as Brenda

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:34pm

i'm all about mary testa as brenda?

[arishmoof]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:43pm

OMG joanna yes yes yes

i think Bernadette would be great as the bette midler part (cant remember the names of the characters) shed be spunky and cute and would probably have some knockout numbers!

who do we see in the jerk husband roles? Richard kind was a great suggestion as bette midler's ex, who else? who should be Annie's ex? its hard to think of people for this age bracket...

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:47pm

brent barrett?

[arishmoof]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:56pm

oooh ive got a GOOD one- barry bostwick!!

[divacathe]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:38pm

BABS!! Holy cow! How amazing would it be if they could get Barbara Streisand to be in this show with Bernadette, Joanna Gleason, and who knows, maybe Bette!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:40pm

Who would she play?

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:47pm

OK-note to all; I am not a Wickedite, or a die-hard Menzewith fan, that being said-first person that popped into my mind for Elise was Kristin. (might be because I just saw Bewitched) I just think that Elise has to be someone who can be in power, but also border on annoying at some points...not a sermon, just a thought.
~m

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:48pm

Now that I'm re-reading everyone's: what about Madame Peters as Elise? eh? maybe? meh...

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:50pm

Sheryl Lee Ralph would be divine as Elise Eliot.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:59pm

I thought Peters as Elise too. She has that young look...we could pretend it was plastic surgery. I think she fits aging movie star more than frumpy unloved wife.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 12:00am

Although I would preferably want the original cast from the movie, with new people, I'de say:

Brenda Cushman- Patti LuPone
Elise Elliot- Bebe Neuwirth
Annie Paradis- Joanna Gleason
Gunilla Garson Goldberg- Carole Shelley
Morty Cushman- Ernie Sabella
Shelly Stewart- Christina Applegate
Bill Atchison- Adam Arkin
Aaron Paradis- Steve Blanchard
Pheobe LaVelle- Kelli O'Hara
Dr. Leslie Rosen- Donna Murphy
Duarto Feliz- Roger Bart

Updated On: 6/25/05 at 12:00 AM

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 12:04am

brenda - patti lupone
elise - bernadette peters
annie - joanna gleason

an all star diva cast!!!! :)

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 12:04am

oh how could we forget duarto. someone can make that a hilarious part. my vote would be michael benjamin washington.

[BwayBoy25]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 4:05am

did we forget that bette midler can sing?

[jarred03]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 4:09am

I really like somethingwickeds list except I think Bette Midler should play her own part, and if Goldie and Diane can sing then through them in as their parts, but if they can't sing then Joanna and Bebe would be the perfect fit for those roles.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 5:40am

I'd like to see Neuwirth and Ziemba together again.

[Mamie]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 7:50am

I love Barry Bostwick. It would be great to see him back on stage again. Good suggestion!

[Sant]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 8:01am

Annie - Karen Ziemba
Elise - Bebe Neuwirth
Brenda - Joanna Gleason

Gunilla - Betty Buckley or Carole Shelley
Shelley - Laura Bell Bundy
Duarto - Roger Bart

Morty - Jeff McCarthy
Bill - Jonathan Freeman
Aaron - Douglas Sills

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 10:43am

I'm sorry Sant. But Joanna is NOT right for Brenda. Brenda belongs to someone along the lines of Bernadette or even Mary Testa. Joanna is not the frumpy Jewish woman with a Long Island accent. She is much more prim and proper with the perfect persona for Annie.

I do, however, love the idea of Newirth as Elise.

And jarred03...if Diane can sing? She was in HAIR so I think she can sing. But, I hate to break it to you...the three actresses would never return to the same role to play it on stage. It's not going to happen.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 10:48am

Just have the movie cast....they can pass as singers

[Ann_Margrock]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 11:00am

Realistically speaking Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler would never commit to a Broadway work week schedule. I think they have been there, done that had great success with it and have moved on.

It's time to let three other capable actresses take a stab at these roles. Besides, if they do it why even bother to go see it. I could just pop in my DVD and call it a day... JMO