Clearing up rumors: The Wiz, Spiderman, and CMIYC- Page 2

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 10:58pm

I thought Katherine McPhee was now involved in Catch Me if You Can?

[Heybeenfood]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 11:01pm

Tamyra Gray replaced Katherine Mcphee directly before the summer workshop. I heard that Sara Gettelfinger actually replaced Gray for the presentation. This is the Jennifer Garner role.

[FIERCEY516]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 11:02pm

correct.

she has done ONE reading though and is a minor role. We'll see if she is involved with the next one...

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 11:34pm

Well, I for (perhaps the only) one am quite happy to keep hearing that Spider-Man (hyphen, people!) is moving along.

I hope these Wiz rumors are true, as well--I've been waiting years for this revival.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 2:18am

i really hope that the wiz comes here to chicago. I have an audio from the la jolla performance and the whole cast is great especially the scarecrow.

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 4:54am

"i really hope that the wiz comes here to chicago. I have an audio from the la jolla performance and the whole cast is great especially the scarecrow."

Are you kidding me? I thought the scarecrow was embarassingly terrible.

I really enjoyed La Jolla's Wiz, but if they want it to be viable on Broadway, they have to re-cast. The only person I thought was terrible was the scarecrow, but several of the other cast members were just not good enough. Dorothy needs to be incredible, and Nikki James was only alright. Same with Glinda/Aunt Em (and I really like Valerie Pettiford.. I just didn't feel this was her best work). Titus Burgess was the only big success for me. Well, actually, him and E. Faye Butler as Evillene. She was crazy hilarious.

Also, please re-choreograph Brand New Day cuz it stunk. Bad.

Logan

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 9:53am

he has a clause in his "A Catered Affair" contract that he can leave the show only to be a part of CMIYC if it arrives on Broadway. He would play Tom Hank's role (the detective?)

No, that role is Nathan Lane's. Tom Wopat would, IIRC, be playing Frank Sr.

[FIERCEY516]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 10:04am

last I heard, that wasn't the case but we'll have to wait and see...

Lane, McPhee, Wopat, Ashford (possibly), Murphy, Tveit (I'm sure that will change), and more (they are looking for a bigger name to play Frank's mother) is a very strong cast.

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 11:55am

Hi, this is Marc Shaiman, composer/co-lyricist of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

Although I am very glad to read of the positive rumblings Mr. (Ms.?) "Fiercy516" says he (she?) has heard from cast members of our readings, he/she is, well, completely wrong about quite a few things.

Point in fact: At all 3 readings (3, wow, 3!), Tom Wopat has been portraying (so fantastically) the role Chris Walken played in the film, the father Frank Abagnale Sr, NOT the FBI agent, as Mr/Ms. F516 states (unequivocally) quite a few times.

And yes, F516, Nathan Lane has been portraying the Tom Hanks role of FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (so well that I could plotz). Now, this has been pretty well known for quite awhile, so that is a rather perplexing hole in your knowledge.

The fabulously charming Christian Borle played the "Leo" role in one reading (not workshop), not "several". Aaron Tveit did this most recent reading (also not workshop, these were both strictly stand with a script readings) and if I may say so, Aaron completely knocked it the f**k out of the park.

Despite what you say, sweet Laura Belle Bundy name has never come up for the role of "Brenda" (but, hmmmm!). Celia Keenan-Bolger and Annaleigh Ashford have portrayed "Brenda" (and I just cut a demo yesterday with Shoshana Bean on that characters song "Fly, Fly Away"...good God can that girl sing!)

And we are not "looking for a bigger name" to play the mother. Where do you get this stuff?

These discrepancies are no big deal, but are a good example of why you guys should take any facts (or "rumors") put forth by anonymous people on chat boards with a grain of salt. That being said, Sir or Madam Fiercy seems good-natured and I am happy to see someone that interested. Thanks!

As far as our schedule, it does look like we are, like planes stacked up on a runway, going to be waiting a while for a theater (in both our preferred out-of-town city and on Broadway) so we are gonna use that time to dig even deeper into the material that we are already very excited about. I am outrageously anxious to get it OUT THERE!

Thanks!

-Marc

p.s. Katherine McPhee was a revelation...her voice, her witty acting, her beauty. She is THE REAL THING!

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:02pm

It can be hard to wash egg off one's face. Hand her a washcloth.

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:12pm

I donno Marc.. I'm pretty sure Fiercy knows his stuff.

It's so nice to have composers on board. And btw, not that I didn't really enjoy Adam Shankman and Nikki Blonsky, but WHY didn't you and Scott get to join them or do your own commentary on the Hairspray DVD?!
Updated On: 3/27/08 at 12:12 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:13pm

Marc, if you're permitted to say: What is the preferred town for the tryout?

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:34pm

Actually, sorry, I'm NOT permitted! In fact, I will probably get yelled at by someone for writing anything here about the show.

And "Bluemoon", if you mean Fiercy, there is no egg. Well, maybe a tasteful egg-white omelette, or perhaps a tasty egg salad sandwich, but not anywhere near a full out dripping yolk! Like I said, I am happy to see someone so interested in our show! I hope it's contagious!

-Marc

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:39pm

Katherine McPhee sounds like a great choice, as does Aaron Tveit. I hope they are kept for Broadway.

Marc, were you and Scott ever approached for "Cry-Baby"?

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:43pm

"Well, I for (perhaps the only) one am quite happy to keep hearing that Spider-Man (hyphen, people!) is moving along."

Me too!

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:48pm

I'm excited for The Wiz to come to SF. I saw it several times and loved it each time. I thought Nikki was o.k.... I thought Rashad Naylor was alright as the Scarecrow. Tituss stole the show for me....
I would love to see the show do well and make it to N.Y.and who knows... Maby Tituss will be free to do the show by the time it does make it to NY!
Updated On: 3/27/08 at 12:48 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 2:12pm

I was sad to hear Sara Gettelfinger was no longer involved in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. She sounds ideal for the Jen Garner role, I assume with Three Graces she is no longer available.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 2:16pm

I love how the 'know it all' doesn't really know it all! Thank you, Marc.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 3:42pm

It's always awesome to hear from you Marc :) If I may ask, what ever happened to Christine Ebersole as the mother?

oh, and a change in The Wiz's cast sounds awesome!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Anika Noni Rose or Nikki Renee Daniels as Dorothy!

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 3:45pm

I really dont think that Anika Noni Rose has the right voice for the part.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 3:49pm

I hope you have San Francisco in mind Mr. Shaiman

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 3:50pm

Thanks, as usual, Marc, for clearing up the gossip.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 3:53pm

Anika Noni Rose would make a fantastic Dorothy but I think by now she's too old for the role, I'm okay with Nikki M. James. Didn't she get raves out of town?

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 4:12pm

I enjoyed her. There were a few times that I thought her voice could have been stronger, but overall I thought she did well.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 4:14pm

I agree with you ray-andallthatjazz86, but Anika doesn't really look as old as she is (even though she's only 35, but you know what I mean). I'd personally prefer Nikki Renee Daniels to finally get a chance at a starring role in a Broadway show.