Chenoweth to depart Promises, Promises on September 26? Who should be the next Fran?- Page 2

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 5:53pm

no to mention completely wrong. period.

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 6:15pm

Laura Bell Bundy?

We have front row center tickets to see this show on Sept 29 -- the first night that the new cast member takes over.

[TimesSquareRegular]

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

Bernadette Peters ...... she is on track to set the "miscast in the most Broadway revivals" record, so why not.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 6:28pm

Olivo actually has a great pop voice, and could probably nail those songs. But she doesn't seem "girlish" enough, she has a very "hard" personality on stage.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 6:29pm

"Someone age appropriate please!"

age schmage :)

Carey Mulligan. yes, she could do it! i don't if her key would suit, but her acting is sublime.- who knew Keira Knightly would be miffed at losing part in MFL to her. I didn't know Keira could sing.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 6:58pm

Charles Busch

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 7:04pm

Hmm Anne Hathaway won't replace Cheno in this less than stellar revival.

[Glitter and be Gay]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 7:24pm

Annaleigh Ashford.

[wickedpoppinsfan]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 7:34pm

What's the age range of Fran?

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 7:48pm

In keeping with the tone of the current revival the producers wish to continue to cast the role of "Fran Kubelik" with actresses far too old for the role. So it is with great pleasure that the producers have chosen none other than PROMISES, PROMISES' original Broadway "Fran Kubelik", Miss Jill O'Hara to replace Miss Chenoweth on September 26th.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 7:54pm

What's the age range of Fran?

The original production had a Fran as young as 19 (Lorna Luft). So that should give you an idea.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 8:01pm

To answer wickedpoppinsfan's question, the role of "Fran" is traditionally played an actress in her early to mid 20's. Broadway's original "Fran", Jill O'Hara was 21 when she played it. Shirley MacLaine was 26 when she originated it in the film, "The Apartment".

But that only applies to traditional rendering of the material. The creative team behind this revival chose to move the time frame of the musical [which was 1968] and move it up to 1962 [which is closer to "The Apartment"'s time frame], but oddly they did nothing to really alter the music so it can reflect this change. The music still sounds very 1968. Then to add insult to injury they unnecessarily felt they need to add two lovely Bacharach/David hits: "I Say A Little Prayer" and "A House Is Not A Home" to the score and to further rape the material they chose to make "Fran" the visual embodiment of Burt Bcharach's ex-wife, Angie Dickinson so they went ahead and cast 40 year old Kristin Chenoweth in the part.
Updated On: 6/10/10 at 08:01 PM

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 8:24pm

Karen Olivo shouldn't been Fran, but whos with me: Karen for Mandy's Elphaba replacement! She would make a "wicked good" Elphaba.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 8:27pm

No. Tony winner Karen Olivio will not be the 938th Elphaba replacement. Plus she's already said she has zero interest in playing that role. I do imagine she'd be very good though.
Updated On: 6/10/10 at 08:27 PM

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 12:51am

eider Landsberry or Strech, maybey bolf

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 12:54am

I doubt she'd leave solely to film guest spots for Glee. Her story line was basically finished, or so it appeared.

I could see her just taking a month or so off from the production.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 1:04am

Amy Spanger!

[kooky]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 6:18am

Ethel Merman

[yankee_fan907]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 10:18am

Daphne Rubin-Vega

OR

G-Lea Michelphaba!
Updated On: 6/11/10 at 10:18 AM

[Caroline2]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 12:18pm

On a SERIOUS note...

Will the show be able to survive after Chenoweth's departure? She is one of the main draws to PROMISES. Unless they do some major stunt casting (i.e. Hathaway), the show is dunzo, IMO.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 12:21pm

When Kristin was out a few weeks ago, there were just a few people asking for refunds. Sean is the box office draw here.

Karen Olivo is a great talent. But she has no business playing Fran in PP.

Updated On: 6/11/10 at 12:21 PM

[Caroline2]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 12:27pm

I am aware Sean Hayes is the main ticket seller...

However, does his contract last that much longer than Kristin's? My guess is no. Looks like double stunt casting is inevitable.

[theeatah]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 3:02pm

Isn't Hayes contacted from a year?

Ruthie Henshall gets my vote.

Have a look at these vids and tell me she looks older than Chenoweth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_VNMfylM2I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uu6S2RBNlY

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 3:04pm

This might be something the Ghostwhisperer Girl could pull off now that she's said she wants to do musicals.