Casting news for Encores! CALL ME MADAM? — Page 2
#28
Posted: 1/4/19 at 11:14pm
How about Carolee?
At this point, we're probably more likely to get a "Heidi Blickenstaff type" (which I would have NO complaints about) since a lot of bigger names are busy.
#29
Posted: 1/5/19 at 12:34am
scampsweep said: "I believe Patti LuPone was probably the originalchoice. I really think this part would fit her like a glove and I do believe she would be able to send herself up - I’ve seen her do this very willingly in concert where she tells stories about her experiences. She’s committed to Company in London until March now though."
Some of those stories are on CD and there is no question LuPone can be amusingly self-deprecating. But there's a big difference between wittily chiding one's self and acting utterly ridiculous. Merman was closer to Lucille Ball than to Ellen Degeneres.
#30
Posted: 1/5/19 at 12:49am
I understand that Lea DeLaria can be erratic to work with, but I saw her some years ago give a Merman-type performance in THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. She played it entirely as a woman and not only sang the Rodgers and Hart score thrillingly, but had the audience doubled over with laughter whenever she was on stage. She is now 60, which is pushing it, but still a decade younger than Peters and some others listed here.
At the very least, she'd make the show an event!
#31
Posted: 1/5/19 at 1:28am
I'm surprised this thread has gone this long with no mention of Mary Testa.
#32
Posted: 1/5/19 at 1:45am
Loopin’theloop said: "Caroline O Connor would be wonderful,
Caroline would belt it out of the arena--Merman wouldn't even be a close second. As she[Caroline] did with Funny Girl, with a strict, controlling director, she can take the pxss and take the audience with her.
I've seen her do FG, Paif, Garland, Chicago, Gypsy, concerts and others--perfect choice.
"
#33
Posted: 1/5/19 at 2:21am
SweetLips22 said: "Loopin’theloop said: "Caroline O Connor would be wonderful,
Caroline would belt it out of the arena--Merman wouldn't even be a close second. As she[Caroline] did with Funny Girl, with a strict, controlling director, she can take the pxss and take the audience with her.
I've seen her do FG, Paif, Garland, Chicago, Gypsy, concerts and others--perfect choice.
I'd love to see O'Connor do it.
And after her surprising, perfect performance in HELLO, DOLLY!, hell, give Bernadette a try. Maybe too old, but she didn't look a day over 45. And that performance was one for the ages.
#34
Posted: 1/5/19 at 3:13am
I do not think Peters would be that interested in doing Encores at this point...
#35
Posted: 1/5/19 at 3:53am
SmoothLover said: "I do not think Peters would be that interested in doing Encores at this point...
"
Perhaps not. But if a cast album (a la this year's BRIGADOON) were part of the deal, she might be willing to contribute to a piece of musical theater history.
As many here know, there never was a true OBCR of CALL ME MADAM. Merman was under contract to Decca, but RCA Victor had the rights to the cast album. Decca wouldn't release Merman to do an OBCR for RCA.
So Decca and Merman released an album with Merman singing her songs and studio singers (including Dick Haymes) singing a few of the other numbers. RCA Victor imported Dinah Shore--with the rest of the OC--to play "Sally Adams" on what they called "The Original Show Album", even though Shore was a crooner (!) and hadn't played the part (anywhere as far as I know, but certainly not in New York).
So a "complete" studio album might be called for. It ain't ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, but it's a fun score with several hits (including "It's a Lovely Day Today" and the show-stopping "You're Just in Love"
.
#36
Posted: 1/5/19 at 10:33am
There is an excellent complete cast album from the first time they did it at Encores in 1995, with Tyne Daly, Melissa Errico, Ken Page, Christopher Durang, Walter Charles, etc. It's available everywhere, including Spotify.
#37
Posted: 1/5/19 at 10:44am
dry2olives said: "I'm surprised this thread has gone this long with no mention of Mary Testa."
And with good reason...
A) she’s doing OKLAHOMA
B) she’d be awful
Updated On: 1/5/19 at 10:44 AM
#39
Posted: 1/5/19 at 2:06pm
The problem is they need a STAR. I mean, if they cant get one theyll obviously get someone fantastic but that person likely wont sell tickets. Thats why when you do a show like this you need to make 100% sure you have your star LOCKED IN before proceeding.
#40
Posted: 1/5/19 at 5:38pm
Jordan Catalano said: "The problem is they need a STAR. I mean, if they cant get one theyll obviously get someone fantastic but that person likely wont sell tickets. Thats why when you do a show like this you need to make 100% sure you have your star LOCKED IN before proceeding. "
Obviously it’s just a limited engagement but also to actually make the show work you need a star or at least an actor with a recognisable style or on stage persona. It’s a role like Dolly in which you want the actor to bring some of their own personality on stage with them. A lady such as Carolee Carmello isnt that type. You go to see her expecting power house vocals but not flashes of a well known personality and ‘isms’ like you get a Bernadette Peters or Patti Lupone. These sorts of shows are designed with star personality in mind.
Regsrdless of the above you are correct Jordan - they need a star to sell it!
#41
Posted: 1/5/19 at 9:40pm
Would Christine Baranski be a big enough star? I feel like she could be excellent in this. Although, I must admit I'm biased and would watch Christine read the phone book.
#42
Posted: 1/5/19 at 10:28pm
Theyve already sold most of the tickets. I predict theyll phone it in with a dependable but not exciting choice, or if they get a star theyll extend the run.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#43
Posted: 1/6/19 at 6:03am
qolbinau said: "Theyve already sold most of the tickets. I predict theyll phone it in with a dependable but not exciting choice, or if they get a star theyll extend the run. "
I tend to agree! I think it is a show that needs a star for a sustained run, but since this is a short run and since it’s already heavily sold, why pay the fee of a star when the tickets have already largely shifted? I wonder how many people bought tickets expecting a big star for this? Quite a lot, I would imagine. It’s still a good score though.
#44
Posted: 1/6/19 at 10:42pm
^^^ Because the show doesn't really make any sense without a big name in the lead. By the time she did MADAM, Merman wasn't just a headliner, she was an icon. And the show is built with that in mind; with one exception, she sings every notable song and very nearly every laugh is hers. The story is slender to the point of anorexia.
CALL ME MADAM is 2.5 hours for a star to do whatever that star is known for doing. It can be delightful. (I've seen it with Merman and with Karen Morrow (decades apart, obviously). I wish I saw Tyne Daly.)
HELLO, DOLLY can survive without a star because it has a strong story and a crew of strong, if broad, characters. MADAM is more like APPLAUSE.
***
To divarobbie2, thanks for the tip on the Tyne Daly version. I'll look for it.
#45
Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:52pm
But...Karen Morrow, great as she is, was never a big star. So how was that?
#46
Posted: 1/7/19 at 4:37am
yfs said: "But...Karen Morrow, great as she is, was never a big star. So how was that?
"
You are right in an objective sense. But the audience for Reprise LA was small enough (UCLA's Freud Playhouse only has 500 seats) that the audience was composed almost entirely of theater fanatics who knew perfectly well who Karen Morrow was, entrance applause and all. (She was teaching there at the time, which may have helped.)
It still wasn't an orgy of adulation like it was when I saw Merman on tour, but it worked well enough. Probably better than Sheryl Lee Ralph in APPLAUSE the following year, though even then folks acted like Ralph was a recognizable star.
Ebersole and Baranski are big enough stars, IMHO, but their personae are usually based on a projection of sophistication. CALL ME MADAM is about how an American buffoon triumphs over Old World diplomatic niceties and savoir faire. Reba McIntire is the best suggestion thus far. (Not that I think she is an actual buffoon, just that she could play one.)
#47
Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:45pm
Looks like it's Carmen Cusack!
http://www.playbill.com/article/carmen-cusack-will-star-in-call-me-madam-city-center-encores
#48
Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:48pm
She’ll be fantastic.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
#50
Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:59pm
I would not have cast Cusack, but I bet she will be great.
So much for a "name".
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