^Perhaps the She Loves Me company and the My Fair Lady company should trade leading ladies.
Or, put more correctly, since My Fair Lady isn't cast yet, perhaps She Loves Me should trade Laura to My Fair Lady on the terms that Kelli plays Amalia.
That should make everyone happy.
"Honestly, Benanti is the only one I can actually picture nailing the comedy as well the more dramatic moments."
I'm one who believes Kelli is a great and underrated comedienne. She proved that in Nice Work and also in many of the droller moments of the She Loves Me Roundabout reading.
I think O'Hara looks a bit too matronly for the role, even if she was great in the concert of some years ago. I'd love Laura Benanti to play the role or, god forbid, someone young and not yet famous... with Colin Firth in the cast they won't have to worry that much about the sales.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
Firth is great casting--although I would have been just as happy if Hugh Laurie had been cast.
I'm with the Benanti bunch. She'd hit all the right notes--musical and otherwise--as Eliza.
They should cast someone new and fresh for Eliza like they did with Julie Andrews. I think Osnes, Benanti, and O'Hara would all be amazing, but idk I want someone new. Im sure this won't come to Broadway until 2017 at least or Fall 2016. It also kinda bothers me that Sher is becoming that Golden Age broadway musical director but i guess he's good at doing them. As long as he's not doing a new musical lol
I wouldn't mind seeing Erin Mackey as Eliza. She impressed me as Johanna in the recent Sweeney Todd production.
I still don't know that girl. She was supposed to play Fanny Brice in the Sher helmed revival of Funny Girl that never happened lol
You've never seen Six Feet Under?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cak4UfSQPbk
I love Lauren Ambrose, and I know she can sing, but is she a soprano?
^that would be the question.
I should have said, my number one choice would be Lauren Ambrose if she has the range (and I so hope she does).
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Go with an unknown for Eliza.
Colin Firth as Higgins. Derek Jacobi as Pickering.
Steve Pemberton as Eliza's father, Harriet Harris as Higgins' mother
Stunt cast the Queen in the Ball scene. One week Meryl Streep, one week Angelina Jolie, one week Catherine Zeta-Jones, one week Jodie Foster, one week Angela Lansbury.
I love Harriet Harris, but she is only a couple of years older than Firth. I've always pictured Maggie Smith as Mrs. Higgins, but I don't know if she'll do another Broadway show.
Colin is over 50 and looks it ( in a good way) , so no I don't think an Eliza who looks barely out of her teens is mandatory. I think Eliza conveys a transformation that requires good acting as opposed to just being young, plus heavy duty pipes.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
I've always wanted to see Patricia Routledge play Mrs. Higgins, but she's even older than Maggie Smith.
Stunt cast the Queen in the Ball scene. One week Meryl Streep, one week Angelina Jolie, one week Catherine Zeta-Jones, one week Jodie Foster, one week Angela Lansbury."
Dame Angela Lansbury should play Henry's mother! She would be absolutely perfect! Otherwise, she could play the part that her mother (Moyna MacGill) played in the movie - Lady Boxington.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"Dame Angela Lansbury should play Henry's mother!"
I think it's a step down for her. Mrs. Higgins has something like three scenes and no songs. Angela is still pulling down leading roles (Driving Miss Daisy, Blithe Spirit).
I just found out a few days ago that Sutton Foster is a year OLDER than Kelli O'Hara. That's shocking to me. I knew Laura wasn't that much younger than Kelli (though everyone seems to think she is), but I thought Sutton was in her early-mid 30s. Nope, she's 40. WHAT? Anyway... back to the thread at hand.
When I saw Kelli do the Lincoln Center concert of this a few years ago, I was blown away. That woman can transform into any age. I know a few years have passed, but I think she could still pull it off. For me, though, I'd love to see Kate Baldwin give it a shot.
Stand-by Joined: 12/9/14
Gothampc, that is true, but I thought that it's such a wonderful musical, and it has a family connection for her... Let's hope that she will do the Chalk Garden (in the West End)!
This may sound random, but with Firth as Higgins, I would love to see a "King's Speech" reunion with Geoffrey Rush as Alfred P. Doolittle.
Understudy Joined: 11/13/14
I would love to see Ashley Park from The King and I as Eliza. She might be too young compared to Firth but her voice is beautiful!
Best news I've heard all day!
Videos