#1
Posted: 9/4/05 at 12:20pm
From Playbill.com DIVA TIDBITS
Evita was the show that began my life-long obsession with the musical theatre and its leading ladies, so the prospect of an entirely new production — announced for London in 2006 with direction by Michael Grandage — is extremely exciting. Two names have already been mentioned in the London papers; reportedly, the creative team is interested in Tony Award winner Idina Menzel or Madonna — who starred in the "Evita" film — for the title role, which was created on record by Julie Covington, in the West End by Elaine Paige and on Broadway by Patti LuPone. There are many women who I think would be wonderful in the role, but if I were casting, I'd give special attention to Eden Espinosa and Alice Ripley. Although she wasn't shown to greatest advantage in the recent musical Brooklyn, I became an admirer of Espinosa when I heard her sing two songs at Joe's Pub: "Get Here" and "Meadowlark"; she also thoroughly impressed when I saw her go on as Elphaba in the Broadway company of Wicked. And, then there's Ripley, who could probably deliver the score as excitingly as anyone out there. If her "Rainbow High" — which she sang at a Broadway Chatterbox event a few years ago — is any indication, Ripley would make a phenomenal Eva. Those are my thoughts — e-mail me yours.
I hope the producers don't have her in mind... does anyone else think that would be kind've a disaster - Eden as Evita? So many other Broadway/Westend ladies have paid their dues, who deserve the role, not Eden.
I know it's just his opinion.. But I think that's a bad idea.
Evita was the show that began my life-long obsession with the musical theatre and its leading ladies, so the prospect of an entirely new production — announced for London in 2006 with direction by Michael Grandage — is extremely exciting. Two names have already been mentioned in the London papers; reportedly, the creative team is interested in Tony Award winner Idina Menzel or Madonna — who starred in the "Evita" film — for the title role, which was created on record by Julie Covington, in the West End by Elaine Paige and on Broadway by Patti LuPone. There are many women who I think would be wonderful in the role, but if I were casting, I'd give special attention to Eden Espinosa and Alice Ripley. Although she wasn't shown to greatest advantage in the recent musical Brooklyn, I became an admirer of Espinosa when I heard her sing two songs at Joe's Pub: "Get Here" and "Meadowlark"; she also thoroughly impressed when I saw her go on as Elphaba in the Broadway company of Wicked. And, then there's Ripley, who could probably deliver the score as excitingly as anyone out there. If her "Rainbow High" — which she sang at a Broadway Chatterbox event a few years ago — is any indication, Ripley would make a phenomenal Eva. Those are my thoughts — e-mail me yours.
I hope the producers don't have her in mind... does anyone else think that would be kind've a disaster - Eden as Evita? So many other Broadway/Westend ladies have paid their dues, who deserve the role, not Eden.
I know it's just his opinion.. But I think that's a bad idea.
Updated On: 9/4/05 at 12:20 PM