Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#0Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:20pm
I haven't seen this reported on any of the regular Broadway news sites, but according to the AP via the International Herald Tribune:
"Musical star Kristin Chenoweth will return to Broadway in December to star in a revival of "The Apple Tree," three one-act musicals based on short stories by Mark Twain, Frank R. Stockton and Jules Feiffer and all tied together by a common theme: the consequences of temptation.
The Roundabout Theatre Company production, directed by Gary Griffin, will open Dec. 14 at Studio 54. Preview performances begin Nov. 28.
The musical, which has a book and score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (with additional book material by Jerome Coopersmith), originally played New York in 1966 with a cast headed by Barbara Harris, Larry Blyden and Alan Alda. It ran for 463 performances.
No word yet on who will appear as Adam to Chenoweth's Eve, but the performer starred in a City Center production last year at "Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert." The Roundabout revival will be based on that production, also directed by Griffin. Her co-stars then were Malcolm Gets and Michael Cerveris.
Chenoweth received laudatory reviews for her performance, with The Associated Press praising her "megawatt stage presence" and for lifting the show into "the musical-theater stratosphere."
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/13/arts/NA_A-E_STG_US_Kristin_Chenoweth.php
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 9/13/06 at 06:20 PM
#1re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:26pmOhhh, yay!
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
#2re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:26pm
This December?
Wow.
Short notice.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#3re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:31pm
Saw the original with Barbara Harris
My wife never saw it so if we can get some nice discount, we will go
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 9/13/06 at 06:31 PM
#4re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:31pm
I am so thrilled! Saw this from the very back of City Center and thought she was brilliant! Any word on Malcom and Michael?
"I don't wanna see that!" -Aunt Sassy (as played by Valerie Cherish) on Room & Bored
Updated On: 9/13/06 at 06:31 PM
#5re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:36pmCerveris and Getts are apparently both being recast.
#6re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:43pm
CRAP!!
Now there are THREE shows I want to see this December, but just won't have the time to! CRAP!
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#7re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:43pmIt's good that this ended up at Roundabout where it belongs and can have a nice little three month run. It would have been a disaster to try and run this show commercially (which was, I believe, the producers' original plan).
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#8re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:44pmI would love to see this when I come to the city in December. Ugh, so much to see. So is this done in three-acts since it's three short stories? I'm not familiar with this work at all.
#9re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:45pmTotally, Margo. It would never have worked in a commercial production and I doubt Chenoweth would have wanted to commit to an entire year.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#10re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:47pmYes, it's an evening of three one act and more or less unrelated musicals. The Chenoweth roles are a great showcase for a comedic musical star.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#11re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:49pm
The Best Actress category thickens! It'll be great to see if they stick with the minimilist Encores set or expand it to a larger scale.
"I don't wanna see that!" -Aunt Sassy (as played by Valerie Cherish) on Room & Bored
Updated On: 9/13/06 at 06:49 PM
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#12re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:54pm
Agreed. While Ebersole is still probably the frontrunner, this is going to be quite a competition this season for the Best Actress in a Musical Tony -- Ebersole, Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Stephanie J Block, Charlotte D'Amboise, Ashley Brown, Laura Bell Bundy and a few others. With just five slots, a few lead actresses are going to have to be overlooked.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 9/13/06 at 06:54 PM
#13re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:58pmoh, i loved Gets and Cerveris when it was at Encores! Too bad they won't be casted again!
#14re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 6:59pm
Cerveris and Getts are apparently both being recast.
Their roles are being re-cast or they'll both be cast again in this production?
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#15re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:05pmThey're being recast. Cerveris for one is already committed to another show in the Spring.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#16re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:07pm
I forgot about that. I didn't realize a time frame had been established for his new project.
In any case, it's a great show - I'm so excited! :)
#17re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:08pmI would say Chenoweth, McDonald and Ebersole are locks. The others will have to really step up their game to fill up those two slots. Any rumors on the Snake and Adam casting?
"I don't wanna see that!" -Aunt Sassy (as played by Valerie Cherish) on Room & Bored
#18re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:19pmYay!
"I wrote a book: "How to Be Popular". Now I've put together a top ten list of how to help you:
-Elphie, everyday... shower. I mean, who knows? Maybe some of that green is gonna come off!
-Deodorant Elphie. No body likes a stinky witch!
-I think we've covered the hair, we'll get to that.
-Clean underclothes. That's all I'm gonna say.
-Look at your posture. That's no way to be popular!
-Bed made, room straightened. We've done that.
-Colors blended. Oookay.
-But the most important thing to have, to make yourself popular, is to keep your beautiful smile."
~Kristin Chenoweth in her last performance of the song "Popular"
#19re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:21pm
This is fantastic news.
Amazing show, and amazing stars.
I'll be heading to New York to see this, no question.
#20re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:23pmIs Laura Bell Bundy supposed to be in Legally Blonde?
My avatar = A screencap from Avatar, arguably the greatest animated show of all
FoscasBohemianDream
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/06
#21re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:37pm
I believe there is about a 95% chance that Laura Bell Bundy headlines Legally Blonde on Broadway though no casting has been formally announced.
Chenoweth was simply fascinating at the Encores! production, a pity Cerveris and Gets will not reprise their roles. Although the show is a vehicle for the female role and the emphasis will be primarily on Chenoweth. I certainly hope they make a cast recording of the show, this is my favorite Sheldon & Harnick musical.
#22re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:44pm
That'd be so great! Do you think it will still be running the third week of March? That's my annual trip and I'd love to see both Chenowith and this show. I really like Harnick and Bock.
Cheers,
Christopher
www.christopherviolett.com
Updated On: 9/14/06 at 07:44 PM
GetsFan
Understudy Joined: 4/13/05
#23re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:45pm
So glad about Krisitn and the show. But what are the producers thinking? No Malcolm? How stupid. He was great at the Encore's presentation. So was Michael. Do you think the producers are worried about Malcolm's "out" Status. Ridiculous but maybe true?
Or is there some former teenybopper boy band toy out there who wants to make his "THEATER DEBUT"
Sorry about the rant, just really liked the Encores cast
#24re: Chenoweth to Star in Roundabout The Apple Tree
Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:50pm
i know, GetsFan, i loved it too...! 
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