Donna Murphy where is she?

[Victoria Grant]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 5:51pm

I was wondering if anybody has heard if she is coming back to broadway soon? I know she was doing the show Hack but I heard it did not do well.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 6:50pm

I read recently that the revival of WONDERFUL TOWN starring Donna is likely to become a reality this season. Can't remember where I came across that.

[magruder]

Posted: 7/19/03 at 8:47am

I read it too, and now I can't remember where. Sheesh.

Anyway, the original attempt to move Wonderful Town after Encores! stalled, I think, when Donna Murphy got pregnant. Now, I think, they are trying to get it together for the spring. I'm crazy about this show, and it's one period piece that still has a very sharp, very funny libretto, to go along with that fresh, frisky Bernstein-Comden & Green score (which is quite simply, the best score ever to be written in five weeks).

Listened to TV soundtrack version of Wonderful Town just the other day, in anticipation. Roz Russell in the kinescope of that TV version of Wonderful Town is sublime. (And with only "Pass That Football" dropped, the TV broadcast version of Wonderful Town was more faithful than most Hollywood screen adaptations of Broadway musicals.)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/19/03 at 9:05am

I saw a fine production of WONDERFUL TOWN many years ago at the Westbury Music Fair. Lauren Bacall was Ruth and George Hearn played her vis-a-vis. The score is terrific--but it pales when compared to that same team's ON THE TOWN. What a pity Hollywood dropped most of OTT's original score for the film version. I HATE MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[magruder]

Posted: 7/19/03 at 9:25am

Now, I love On the Town too, but do you really think Wonderful Town "pales" in comparison to On the Town? Wonderful Town might not reach the highest highs of On the Town's score, like "Some Other Time," "Lucky to Be Me," "I Can Cook Too," et al., but it's still pretty swell.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/19/03 at 9:57pm

I think ON THE TOWN has a score that comes very close to operatic. Listen to some of the choral work in the score; it is truly sublime. Of course the comic numbers are great, but the ballet music is terrific. Yeah, ON THE TOWN surpasses WONDERFUL TOWN. Don't get me wrong, WT has a great score, OTT surpasses it.

[squiggy]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 1:14pm

Michael Riedel wrote that Wonderful Town was back on. I would like it to be so, but only if Laura Benanti will again be involved. She was wonderful!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 10:09pm

Ah, yes. It was Michael Riedel.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 11:06pm

Donna is always attached to 'Dessa Rose' the upcoming Flaherty and Ahrens musical, co-starring La Chanze and set in the Civil War. Everything I know about that show, its cast and its future I put in the previous sentence.

Posted: 7/22/03 at 12:42am

She recently took part in the tribute to Chita Rivera Kennedy Centers Honors on PBS and sang "Spiderwoman" to salute the diva.

[tpdc]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 1:47pm

And she is now filming SPIDER MAN 2.

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 1:53pm

She was in the audience at CAMP last night.

[FrontRow]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 2:27pm

A confession:

I have a prejudice against Donna Murphy...the first thing I ever saw her in was PASSION (ugh) and that stupid Fosca annoyed the hell out of me. Hey, no means no, lady, he said he's not in love with you. I wanted him to just ditch her and let her die.

Really, she (the character) was such a pain-in-the-ass. Perhaps it got to me because there are people like that in real life, manipulative and not above playing on someone's sympathy to get what they want, regardless of effect on others.

So, I'm sorry, but I never get excited about Donna Murphy because she was Fosca. Blecch!

Posted: 7/22/03 at 8:34pm

If I had my way, Donna would be the next Dolly Levi!

Yes we saw her as Fosca and she was annoying as hell. But those of you privileged to see her as Ruth in WONDERFUL TOWN during an Encores season a few years ago, will know why I'd hire her in HELLO, DOLLY!

Yours for intelligent stars on Broadway!