Dream cast the LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE musical

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:51pm

Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical, written by William Finn and directed by James Lapine, will bow at La Jolla Playhouse in February 2011. Who would be in your dream cast?

Richard: Brian d'Arcy James or Norbert Leo Butz
Sheryl: Sherie Rene Scott or Katie Finneran
Frank: Raul Esparza
Dwayne: Matt Doyle
Olive: [a talented unknown, perhaps]
Grandpa: Fred Applegate or John Cullum

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:56pm

Toni Collette should reprise her role.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:18pm

AC's casting is perfect save Matt Doyle. John Gallagher Jr. was made for that role.

This show seems badly scheduled, though. Clearly they want to end up on Broadway, so scheduling a run ending on March 27 either means the show has to make a ridiculously quickie transfer, which is unlikely, open in the fall, which isn't a great idea for a non-sure-thing show, or wait a full year, which never bodes well (see: 9 to 5)

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:23pm

Who is writing the book?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:28pm

Lapine wrote the book, ljay.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:33pm

Sweet. This sounds promising.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:38pm

As much as I adore this movie, I'm kind of "meh" on the idea of turning it into a musical. It could be cute, though. Raul did one of the readings, didn't he?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:44pm

I hope they take the cast from the workshop: Sherie Rene Scott, Craig Bierko, Martin Moran and Dick Latessa. That would be a DREAM!!!!!

[strummergirl]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:49pm

I was definitely picturing Craig Bierko for the Greg Kinnear part. Sherie would be awesome too.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 3:32pm

I agree. Toni can sing... might as well be her.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 3:33pm

I thought Toni has no interest in returning to Broadway?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 3:45pm

Carolee Carmello did the first reading of the show, and Finn wrote the role of Sheryl for her.

Considering Sherie Rene Scott will most likely be busy with WOMEN ON THE VERGE... next season, I wouldn't be surprised if Carmello runs screaming from THE ADDAMS FAMILY to do this.

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 3:48pm

Funnily enough, Craig Bierko and Carolee Carmello were my first thoughts for Richard and Sheryl Hoover. But he has a tendency to be pretty vanilla on stage and I wondered if she'd be a tad too old.

And yes, Toni said in an interview that she doesn't really have any desire to return to theatre, at least not for the time being. Plus she's going to be pretty busy with United States of Tara for the next few years.

Updated On: 5/2/10 at 03:48 PM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 4:42pm

Carolee Carmello would be amazing!

[romgitsean]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 6:22pm

This has been in the works for quite sometime, hasn't it?

I personally don't see the concept working- but with Lapine on board? How can you go wrong? I just feel like a lot of the humor with the van would be lost- how could you even stage that?

While I like the idea of Carmello; I think it would only be far to give it to Toni Collette, because she's SO incredible...and if she can sing it, why not? Although Ripley wouldn't do it, I could see her in it as well. Same goes for Laura Benati. Or hell, give it to Stephanie J. Block- she doesnt get enough good work.

I could see John McMartin as the Grandpa, now that I think about it...and I think Esparza would be GREAT as the father.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 6:58pm

I second Carolee Carmello or Toni Colette.

[Jon]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 7:24pm

I see Esparza more in the Steve Carrell role.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 7:48pm

Yeah- I take that back. He'd be much better for the uncle.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 7:59pm

If he did play the uncle, I could totally see him finally winning that Tony.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 8:07pm

I don't remember her name, but does anyone think the young Fiona from "Shrek" would fit as Olive? Except that Olive in the film is a little chunky, not that we know yet if that is a deal breaker for the stage show.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 10:45pm

In the film, she had a stomach was what she had? I assume you're referring to Rachel Resheff...she's not the strongest singer though.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 10:48pm

Who played Olive in the workshop? If she was good maybe they will cast her.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 10:51pm

"In the film, she had a stomach was what she had? I assume you're referring to Rachel Resheff...she's not the strongest singer though."

I just meant that in the screenplay, it's clear that Olive needed to have "a stomach." Her dad commenting on her getting ice cream at a restaurant, and a few other lines were in the screenplay commenting on her weight. But not having been at the workshop or read the musical's book I have no clue of that's as much of a necessity for the stage show.

(and I was thinking of Leah Greenhaus).

[Kad]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 11:56pm

Olive's weight was definitely a point in the movie- they even had to pad Abigail Breslin.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the perfect marriage of material, composer, and director. February 2011 can't come soon enough, with whoever they end up with. Carolee Carmello would be excellent, though. I'm sure Finn has already written a killer solo for that character with her in mind.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 12:49am

Rachel York as Sheryl