Company replacement casting idea
Company replacement casting idea
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#1Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 8:49pmi just got the cd and i really think that bebe neuwirth would make a great joanne. anyone else agree?
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
BDavis0092
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/06
#2re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 8:53pm^YES. I was thinking that as I watched the show. The chaperone and Joanne are basically the same character in different shows.
www.youtube.com/BwayNY225
#3re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 8:58pm
^ Um. I think Joanne is a hell of a lot more complex than The Chaperone.
I think Walsh makes it obvious in her big scene that the character is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and we basically witness it during LADIES WHO LUNCH.
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#4re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 8:59pm
I could see Leavel as Joanne, and, likewise, Walsh as the Chaperone. I wouldn't say they are the same character, but certainly have similar elements.
As sad as it is, I doubt they'll have to worry about replacements, much like in the Sweeney revival. The show will likely close upon the completion of Raul and Barbara Walsh's contracts, if it even lasts that long.
BDavis0092
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/06
#5re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:04pm
Yes nevermind. I phrased that poorly.
The chaperone and Joanne have similar character traits. Joanne is definently more complex.
www.youtube.com/BwayNY225
#6re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:06pmI could (and would) see Beth Leavel as Joanne.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#7re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:07pmI'd rather see Neuwirth OR Kate Mulgrew as Joanne.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#8re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:11pmNeuwirth seems to push the envelope in the roles she takes and comes out with a seriously devised character. That quality is something that I feel is necessary to making Joanne work.
SNLMedia
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/6/05
#9re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:14pmI also made the comparison to Leavel's Chaperone when I saw the show. I think Beth or Bebe would do a great job.
"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#11re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:40pm
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
Updated On: 4/8/07 at 09:40 PM
#12re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:43pmI'd love to see either Bebe or Beth Leavel take on the part!
#13re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:43pmBoth Neuwirth and Leavel would be stellar, but this show isn't going to live long enough for replacements. The show will be closed by the fall, unfortunately.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
MovieGuy1031
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/06
#14re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:47pmSo sad, so true...
"The nice thing about the rain is that it always stops... eventually."
- Eeyore
- Eeyore
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#15re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:20pmwell if nothing else if theres another revival in the near-ish future bebe's got some work coming to her (does anyone else notice how much barara sounds like her on the recording?)
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#17re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:28pm
I have a feeling this show will undergo some serious stunt casting once cast members begin to leave (if it even lasts long enough for cast members to exit). It's a great show (although I haven't seen this particular production yet...I will, though) and I wish more people were filling up the theater but...I don't know.
I wonder who they could get for stunt-casting who could play an instrument and sing/act...although from what I hear, Bobby only plays a few bars on the piano.
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#18re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:34pm
bobby and joanne have limited musical duties
bobby only plays the piano for the first few bars of being alive
joanne plays percussion
i'm sure this is by design to get names into the roles without them needing to be particularly gifted musically
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#19re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:34pm
Neil Patrick Harris would indeed make an ideal Bobby, but alas, he won't be able to do it in this particular revival.
Bebe Neuwirth seems like a natural choice for Joanne, someone who has also been very open about wanting to play the role is Christine Baranski who would make an interesting Joanne as well.
I think Donna Murphy would give a killer "The Ladies Who Lunch" but she'll hopefully be bringing another Sondheim show to Broadway in the fall *crosses fingers*
Natasha Richardson and Ute Lemper would also be great.
Did anyone see Judith Light in the LA Reprise! concert?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Updated On: 4/8/07 at 10:34 PM
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#20re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:39pm
I think Donna Murphy would give a killer "The Ladies Who Lunch" but she'll hopefully be bringing another Sondheim show to Broadway in the fall *crosses fingers*
What show? Did I miss something? LOL
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#21re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:41pm
ray-
I did not SEE Judith, however a friend went and called so I could hear her do "Ladies who Lunch"
Next to Elaine Stritch, hers was the single best performance of that song I have EVER wittnessed.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#22re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:55pmI think ray was referring to Follies, Wicked.
#23re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/8/07 at 11:08pmIndeed, sweetestsiren, I was. It's unlikely that it'll happen but a boy can dream.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#24re: Company replacement casting idea
Posted: 4/9/07 at 3:58am
Nooooo, Murphy has to stick with 'LoveMusik' - which has to stay open - long enough for me to get back to New York to see it. 'Follies' can be revived next spring perhaps. *nods firmly*
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