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Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

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#1

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 1:11pm

This was rumored years ago, but seems its coming to fruition with her cabaret success.

https://twitter.com/ninedaves/status/1152201188210880512?s=21

I think it will be a fun campy messy, but Im not sure her voice or body could handle the role 8x week, even with modified moves.
#5

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:06pm

It’s definitely Matron “Mama” Morton as she has zero acting capacity and the role is perfectly suitable for her. A role like Roxie is too demanding for her limitations. No producer is that stupid to even entertain that casting idea.
#6

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:23pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It’s definitely Matron “Mama” Morton as she has zero acting capacity and the role is perfectly suitable for her. A role like Roxie is too demanding for her limitations. No producer is that stupid to even entertain that casting idea."

And yet, producers are stupid enough to cast this no-talent, media no poseur in a Broadway musical. So there's that.

#7

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:32pm

Can you believe it girls? First I became a cabaret STAR and now I’m playing Broadway!


Also: kind of an ironic show considering the recent... events in her personal life.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
#8

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:39pm

Chicago has been known for its stunt casting but call this stunned casting. One time too many. Threaten to kill a cop, get arrested and now get rewarded. Oh those Weisslers. Beyond tacky,

"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter." Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
#9

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:47pm

They will 100% add a line before or after "Class" where she says "Money can't buy you class!" and Fred Ebb will die all over again.

#10

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:51pm

I pleaded guilty... to unabashedly loving Luann and RHONY. For 11 years I have found her endlessly entertaining and deluded. For the past two years she has also spoken at length about her live of the theatre community and the people she has met while touring with her cabaret. This is fully the kind of casting we have come to expect from Chicago.

I do feel badly for people who may pay money without knowing how she will “sing” the role.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
#11

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:56pm

This announcement also comes only a few weeks after the RHONY season finale, where Luann’s friend was caught with a hot mic explaining why Luann needed “friends” to come out during her cabaret show. “I don’t think she could carry a show alone... She can’t really sing.”
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
#12

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 3:00pm

I assumed it was Roxie like she was rumored for years ago.
But Mama may make more sense as it’s a less demanding role.
#13

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 3:04pm

She has said it’s “a role all about class.” An allusion to her book Class With the Countess and her single “Money Can’t Buy You Class”. I would assume it would be either Velma or Mama, considering that they sing “Class” - Mama would seem just a bit more realistic considering her limitations?

If she played Roxie, I would buy a ticket immediately. There’s no way I would miss that train wreck.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
#14

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 3:07pm

I've been listening to some of her YouTube videos. They sound very much pre-recorded.

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#15

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 3:22pm

I can't wait to watch this train wreck. I hope it's in August when I was planning to go back.

Will Jovani be making her costume?



"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#16

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 3:37pm

This is a bit of a stretch to call this stunt casting. I mean, most people have no clue who this is.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#17

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 3:43pm

I mean, she’s been on a fairly popular television show for eleven years and has her own sold-out cabaret show that tours the country. I think this is more stunt casting than say, Rumor Willis (unless I’m greatly underestimating her “celebrity”). Certainly of the Lisa Rinna level Chicago has set.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
#18

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 4:31pm

It’s definitely stunt casting. She’s a reality star.
Her cabaret act with Billy Stritch is wildly popular, and sells out all over the country, as Sally mentioned. She doesn’t really have any talent but people are entertained by the camp and ridiculousness of her persona/act.
#19

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 4:49pm

I think it hurts her that she has heavy hitters like Stritch and Rimalower filling her head with thoughts she's some gifted vocalist. As Barabra said "you're no Adele LuAnn". She's limited at best as a vocalist- though I don't think that's the proper word. I think she has little stage presence and people are laughing at her not with her- but paying huge money in some cases, so she gets the last laugh! If this as BroadwayWorld mentioned in the article hasn't been confirmed yet, this would be the dumbest way for it not to happen and end up with egg on her face. Also worth noting, of the Housewives, Kandi is the only one to hit a Broadway Stage that made a living as a vocalist and had a Grammy for writing prior to being a housewife.

#22

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 6:57pm

Sh!t like this is the reason I haven't ever seen Chicago after all these years. I love the score, but am not willing to sit through the stunt casting.

I know you. I know you. I know you.
#23

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/19/19 at 7:51pm

Disclaimer: I don’t like Chicago. It’s a lazy production with an even lazier ensemble.

With that being said, they will get me to open my wallet whenever they do some batsh*t casting like this. Kandi was competent, but every time she was sitting off to the side you could tell she found the whole thing to be laughable and was ready to go home. Best part of the show, IMO.

Looking forward to this. I keep missing her Cabaret performances and I need to see this woman completely miss her own joke.
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
#25

Countess Luann will finally join CHICAGO

Posted: 7/26/19 at 2:56pm

It's not happening. https://pagesix.com/2019/07/26/luann-de-lesseps-isnt-actually-joining-chicago/?_ga=2.32701118.1259014826.1564149218-1004923580.1543024851

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

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