Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

#1

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 4:01pm

I'd love to see Sherie Rene Scott as Emcee in Cabaret...imagine the facial expressions!

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http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com

#2

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 4:10pm

I'd love to play The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#3

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 4:27pm

I've always wanted to play Elphaba.

#4

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 5:55pm

And I shall marry the miller's son!

#5

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 6:25pm

I will play the Witch in Into the Woods one day.

#6

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 6:59pm

And I always wanted to be Madame Rose in Gypsy, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and the Witch from Into the Woods...and Sally and Phyllis in Follies, Desiree in A Little Night Music...

I don't know if it's true, but there's a rumor that they were considering a male witch for the 2002 revival of Into the Woods. I could actually see that one working the easiest in terms of switching genders. Wouldn't change the story that much at all.

I don't think a Mr. Lovett would really change the story that much either if it was done that way.

#7

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 7:04pm

I really think a version of Company where Joanne and Larry are a gay couple could be astonishing.

#8

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 7:04pm

A guy would be great I think. Imagine a RuPaul esque transformation. That would be everything!

#9

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 7:42pm

Didn't they do an all gay male version of Company a few years ago at some college or something? I remember heard that Sondheim actually signed off on it, too. I would have to have seen it. It sounds like a neat idea.

#10

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 8:21pm

No, Sondheim did not sign off on the all-male at NYU a few years back. He and his lawyers sent a cease and desist letter.

#11

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 9:06pm

If only Anne Egerman had a certain body part.... Oh well. Bernadette Peters as Bobby in Company

#12

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 9:06pm

I thought he signed off on it. Hmm...oh well.

#13

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 9:08pm

I've always wanted to see a female Judas in JCS.

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#14

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 10:47pm

Billy Porter was strongly considered for The Witch in the ITW revival around ten years ago.

The current Pippin has a female Leading Player, and there have been many female Emcees in Cabaret.

I've seen men in drag play Mother Burnside in Mame, Miss lynch in Grease, and of course there are the shows written to have men play women, like Hairspray and Ruthless.

There was a production of Into the Woods in Philadelphia years ago which was done in the style of a British "panto" - with Jack played by a girl, and Jack's Mother and Cindererella's sepmother played by men.

Many productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella have cast men as the two stepsisters.

#15

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 11:21pm

Yes but the leading player in Pippin is one of those roles that exists outside time, place and gender, no?

#16

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/23/13 at 11:24pm

Ally Sheedy played Hedwig.

#17

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 12:20am

I've seen a man in drag play Mark's Mom in RENT. Really added like 7 layers to the already complex character.

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"These rabid fans...possess the acting talent to portray the hooker...Linda Eder..." -The New York Times

#18

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 1:53am

So far people are talking about making clear changes to both libretto and music to fit someone playing the opposite gender. I wonder if anyone has seen a contralto or countertenor playing a male or female role (respectively) without the music being transposed, with the audience supposed to be believing that the character is a boy, not a boy being played by a girl, done so that if you didn't look at the name in the program you wouldn't realize the actor was of the opposite sex. Do you think this could work?

#19

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 2:20am

I will play Sally Bowles one day. I think a man can play her without changing a thing in the script. Except I'd be cutting Cliff's solo and adding "Maybe This Time".

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I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)

#20

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 11:30am

Sally would be another good one. There could always be a Sal Bowles.

#21

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 11:56am

Would Sal still get an abortion?

#22

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 12:06pm

I wonder if anyone has seen a contralto or countertenor playing a male or female role (respectively) without the music being transposed


Fruma-Sarah, played by countertenor Sean Patrick Doyle

#23

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 12:35pm

Probably no abortion for Sal. LOL! They'd have to work that out.

#24

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 12:58pm

Cool! Thanks for the link, Wynbish.

#25

Casting actors in roles of the opposite sex

Posted: 1/24/13 at 3:13pm

I'd play it as a man playing a woman. Sally isn't supposed to be a good singer, and she was said to have a low, husky voice, so the singing wouldn't be an issue, and nothing would have to change in the script, so no unintentional hilarity would ensue.

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I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)