Casting ideas/dreams for Pippin revival?

[Bdwyguy30]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 1:01pm

Any names come to mind with this new Pippin Revival I would imagine they would try to pick amazing talent who fit the roles and it sucks that Michael Arden isn't available. Who do you think would be right for Pippin, The Leading Player, etc.

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:28pm

Pippin: Barret Foa (maybe it's because of Godspell?)
Leading Player: Billy Porter (don't know about his dancing though)
Catherine: Anika Noni Rose
Fastrada: Linda Hart (original Velma in Hairspray)
Charlemagne: Terrence Mann
Louis: Adam Flemming
Bertha: Eartha Kitt

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:32pm

I love the idea of Barret Foa as Pippin although I thought Michael Arden was great in the benefit concert last year. I also love your idea of Anika Noni Rose as Catherine..different.

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:37pm

I'm not trying to pick a fight, however I don't see why Catherine can't be black if that's what you mean.

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:40pm

i am not a huge benanti fan however, i think she would be a gorgeous cathrine. taye diggs would be awesome as the leading player and how about will chase as pippin?

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:43pm

I don't think Taye Diggs could pull off the Leading Player vocally.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:44pm

ByMySide25...I'm sorry I didn't mean anything like that...I told you that I LOVED your idea and think she would be fantastic. She is just a different type vocally than I am used to but I really like your idea.

Posted: 1/8/06 at 3:46pm

I doubt she would do it but I would love to see Debbie Reynolds play Berthe. She'd bring the perfect amount of piss and vinegar to the role. She has that requisite feistiness to play her.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:13pm

Pippin: Michael Arden (seriously, if you can't get him, don't revive the show)

Leading Player: Norm Lewis

Catherine: Kelli O'Hara

Fastrada: Julia Murney

Charlemagne: Jeff McCarthy

Louis: Matthew Morrison

Bertha: Mary Testa

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:16pm

Perhaps Murney and Testa could play those roles in the NEXT revival. They're far too young for this one.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:17pm

I've seen both play older than their actual age. They'll be fine.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:19pm

There are people who are the right age now. They should play it now.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:20pm

Any suggestions, doll?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:21pm

Nope.

[Scottie310]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 4:30pm

I thought the World Aids Day concert cast was perfect.

Pippin: Michael Arden (Gavin Creel would also be incredible)
Leading Player: Billy Porter or Kate Shindle would be great if they made it a female
Catherine: Laura Benanti (I also like the idea of Kelli O'Hara)
Fastrada: Julia Murney was amazing but I can also see Bernadette or Pattie LuPone playing it
Charles: Terrance Mann
Berthe: Angela Lansbury (even though she probably wouldnt do it)

[Bdwyguy30]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:37pm

I do think that Billy Porter would be great at singing the role and then some of The Leading Player but Ben Vereen didn't just sing the role he was the ultimate personification of entertainment. He was not only a gifted singer but an incredible actor and dancer. Who ever plays the role needs to not be Ben Vereen BUT have that same force of nature like quality. Norm Lewis is definitely not the person for that role either. It sucks that Michael Arden can't do it but I am almost certain that there are or is another untapped young guy to play this role that just hasn't been given the opportunity to show us what he can do yet. Excluding David Larsen -I saw him in the Bay Street Production. I do however think that Rodney Hicks would be an amazing Leading Player. He was in the Original Cast of Rent I saw him this summer in a show at the Fringe and he was incredible. anyone knows where he is at or what he is doing?

[jasobres]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:51pm

Director and Choreographer: Ann Reinking

That's all I can think of...

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:55pm

I think Sara Ramirez would be a killer Fastrada.

Sherie Renee Scott as Catherine

Tyne Daly as Berthe

[chenofan]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:04pm

Catherine - Natascia Diaz - she was stunning at Papermill

Sara or Julia would be a great Fastrada as would Sherie - but a tad young

Love the idea of Barrett

[children&art]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:04pm

why does the leading player got to a black man? just because ben vereen did it, it's gender/race neutral - i say hugh jackman

[jasobres]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:06pm

One of my music teachers, Mrs. Geiger, saw the Leading Player played by a white woman and was not very good.

[chenofan]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:08pm

Lots of college's and community theatres have the leading player played by a woman - I do not think that it works that well. Why are they reviving this show anyways? Not that I don't like it - I just don't think it is that super either.

[Bdwyguy30]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:13pm

In reply to your question. In the past revivals of Pippint he Leading Player was not a black guy at all. When Paper Mill did it he was a white guy, when Bay Street just did BD Wong played him (Asian)Kate SHindle was one of the Leading players for the World Aids benefit, to be honest every revival that I have heard of hasn't had a black guy play the role. And it isn't like there are a lot of leading male roles for African-American men anyway. so why can't the role continue to be played by an African-American male. I am not even African-American but there aren't that many shows AT ALL where they can play leading roles or are given the opportunity to play in a major revival or show. So think about that before you ask a question like that. I hope that didn't sound to mean but that is just the way I see it.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:14pm

Sara would be an INCREDIBLE Fastrada.

Gavin or Michael for Pippin would be brilliance.

I've seen the show with and without multiple leading players. I think it flows better with more than one (then again, when it was Ben Vereen, that would be horrendous!)If a revival were in order, i think multiple leading players would be great!

Catherine -- Megan McGinnis
Berthe -- Carole shelley
Louis -- Cheyenne jackson

[boxers7]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:50pm

I would looooove to see Wayne Brady as The Leading Player and Bernadette as Fastrada. By the way, how was B.D. Wong as The Leading Player?