Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?- Page 3
Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
#50Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 4:57pmIs there any word on who else is in this workshop production? Joe, Betty, or Max?
#51Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 4:58pmThey need to make the show the star if they want a longer run than the original.
#52Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 5:25pmJust as an aside, how about Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond? She was in the original Broadway production.
"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)
Rumpelstiltskin
Broadway Star Joined: 4/22/07
#53Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 6:44pmAlice Ripley played Betty Schaefer, the young love interest for the male lead, not Norma Desmond. . . . and she was fine in the somewhat thankless role.
#54Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 6:51pmNo one said she played Norma just that she could now.
Rumpelstiltskin
Broadway Star Joined: 4/22/07
#55Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 8:39pmYes, I see that now. Read too quickly. Thanks.
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#56Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 10:12pmI know its all about Norma and Joe, but I wish the creators would rewrite some of the Betty stuff. The original film had all four leads getting Oscar nominations, and I noticed that the Gloria Swanson musical version (Hopefully this isn't a reading of THAT!) focused a bit more on Betty.
#57Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/19/14 at 10:18pmDon't give Webber any ideas! I told you, he'll write her a rap song!
#58Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/20/14 at 1:24am
Was so excited to read this. Sunset is one of my favorite of all ALW - and have thought it is underrated, underappreciated and maligned by too many theatre snobs (lest people forget, it opened with a $37.5 million advance, which I believe is still the all-time record)
Anyway - I have always loved Donna Murphy. Got to see her in Passion the matinee (Sat) before she won the Tony for that. Can only imagine what she would bring to the role - A fusion of Betty Buckley's vocal powers and Glen Close's acting.
The only revision I would hope ALW would make is re-imagining the finale. As Norma descends into madness, if there was ever a scene begging for an 11 o'clock number - that would be it.
So excited at the possibility!
#59Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/20/14 at 10:52am
"The roundabout is "not-for-profit", not "for-loss". They need some commercial success to help them survive I think. Would be excited to see this."
^ Exactly
#60Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/20/14 at 3:19pmI would love for this to happen, but only if it was the original score that Patti sang, I feel as though the original music brings a great energy to Norma! It makes it for exciting for the audience
#61Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/20/14 at 3:49pmI suppose all of Patti's trashing of ALW in her memoir means there's no way in hell she'd ever be considered to reprise this role?
#62Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/20/14 at 4:07pm
Patti claims feelers were put out about her replacing Elana Roger in Evita. She said they weren't able to come up with enough money.
Can you imagine if that had happened?
#63Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/20/14 at 4:14pmShe is always ready! Her Buenos Aires at 54 Below last week was off the hook...
Visceral_Fella
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/12
#64Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/21/14 at 12:25amWell if it's at roundabout then maybe SJB will be the first replacement, and that will get me there in a flash. Donna isn't an exciting choice to me. I also, didn't like her witch, but love her Fosca and Anna. Maybe she'll surprise me if this comes to fruition.
thirtythirtyninety
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/05
#65Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/22/14 at 1:38am
Murphy's tweet from earlier tonight mentions the other principals:
https://twitter.com/dmurphyofficial/status/536015507376181248
FYI
#66Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/22/14 at 3:56am
"Patti claims feelers were put out about her replacing Elana Roger in Evita. She said they weren't able to come up with enough money."
Seriously?? I mean, Patti looks good for her age and the voice is in remarkable condition, but, seriously?
#67Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/22/14 at 2:14pmColin Donnell and Helene Yorke are perfectly cast, though I would have preferred Yorke's BULLETS co-star, Betsy Wolfe, as Betty. Still, Yorke has so much personality, which is important for a role that has the potential to be a little bland. It'd be awesome if this cast made its way into an actual revival.
"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"
#68Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/22/14 at 2:35pmOoh, I'd love to hear Donnell as Joe.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#69Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 11/22/14 at 2:37pmI know, right? I can't think of anyone I'd rather see play Joe, just like I can't think of anyone I'd rather see as Norma.
"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"
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#70Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 12/1/14 at 5:50pm
Did anyone hear anything about how this went? Is there a real possibility something will result from it?
Updated On: 12/1/14 at 05:50 PM
broadwayboy223
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
#71Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 12/1/14 at 7:43pmI would also like to know how it went. On a side note I would love to see Megan hilty play Norma when she's older
#72Donna Murphy to lead as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD reading, a possible revival?
Posted: 12/1/14 at 11:25pm
Honestly I think Donna Murphy would be an amazing choice. Remembered seeing her in the Matinee performance before she won the Tony in Passion - and her Fosca truly haunts me... such an incredibly moving performance and voice. I also remember seeing all of the Normas on Broadway - and how Betty Buckley really brought a darkness and tragic beauty that I thought was lacking with Glen Close (who was amazing, but just so different). Just imagining Murphy is exciting.
Really would love to hear some info on how it went
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