Encores 2027: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Hallelujah, Baby!; Kiss of the Spider Woman- Page 3

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 6:40am

pmensky said: "Does anyone really think they’ll hire a white guy to play Luis Alberto Molina in 2027? What century are we in, again?"

If I remember correctly, the revival that was being workshopped with Blankenbuehler directing featured an all-latino cast. In addition to DeBose as Aurora, Robin de Jesús played Molina alongside Javier Muñoz as Valentin.

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 6:40am

DELETE POST

 

Updated On: 4/30/26 at 06:40 AM

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 9:08am

Jarethan said: "tacotheatrelover said: "Kiss of the Spider Woman and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown we fvcking won.
I will bet that HB will be the audience pleaser. I saw it 3 times 60 years ago, and there were multiple showstoppers at every performance. I recently played the castrecording for the first time in a long while, and find it on repeat because it is so enjoyable. I personally think that the score is much better than Kiss. I have never liked Charlie Brown, which I also sawfor the first time almost 60 years ago...it just doesn't seem to me like the right choice.

"

well any score by Jule Styne is pretty fabulous.  I wonder who they have in mind to play Georgina.

[blug]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 11:30am

rosscoe(au) said: "That spider woman poster is lit."

Agreed wholeheartedly.  The other posters are great, too.  I'm seeing a lot of Polish movie poster influences.

Now, if the Public could mix up their graphic design a little...

[CJRochester]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 2:13pm

Jordan Catalano said: "My first thought was wondering which show Jasmine would be in."

How about Jasmine for Aurora? Or is she too young? 

 

[toetapper2]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 2:37pm

Jasmin would be batter fit for Hallelujah Baby? Also she's not latin enough so that would disqualify her from Spider Woman.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 3:12pm

toetapper2 said: "Jasmin would be batter fit for Hallelujah Baby? Also she's not latin enough so that would disqualify her from Spider Woman."

Ah yes... Vanessa Williams... famously Latin enough...

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 6:31pm

bjh2114 said: "toetapper2 said: "Jasmin would be batter fit for Hallelujah Baby? Also she's not latin enough so that would disqualify her from Spider Woman."

Ah yes... Vanessa Williams... famously Latin enough..."

I mean the original production (over 30 years ago) in London and Broadway/tour also cast Bebe Neuwirth (who sold no tickets in London which caused the production to close earlier than expected soon after the main cast--including much of the chorus boys--moved to Broadway) and Carol Lawrence--the Italian heritage star who I guess had made her name originating Maria in WSS   I have to assume that for this Encores they will cast actors with a latinx background.  Although the well received current UK tour is getting raves for  Anna-Jane Casey's Aurora (I assume a well known slightly older UK performer who I don't know.)  But the UK still often casts these things differently than is now expected in NY.
(Funny Vanessa Williams would go on to play Chita's role in the TV Bye Bye Birdie, even still singing Spanish Rose.)
 

Updated On: 4/30/26 at 06:31 PM

[toetapper2]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 8:40pm

I don't get why KOTSW needs to have an all Latino cast. The original cast with the exception of Chita were not Latino.The director Hal Prince was not Latino. John Kander and Fred Ebb were not Latino. The choreographer Rob Marshall was not Latino. The only Latino cast of Spider Woman that I'm familiar with was last years' film version and we know how that ended up. 

Hey Encores, why not try something radical like color blind casting.

 

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/30/26 at 8:52pm

toetapper2 said: "I don't get why KOTSW needs to have an all Latino cast. The original cast with the exception of Chita were not Latino.The director Hal Prince was not Latino. John Kander and Fred Ebb were not Latino. The choreographer Rob Marshall was not Latino. The only Latino cast of Spider Woman that I'm familiar with was last years' film version and we know how that ended up."

In recent years, culturally appropriate casting has become much more important than ever before. Like if the 1985 nonmusical film was being made now, William Hurt would never be cast as Molina. While neither of the key creators of the musical were latino, a few of them - Marshall, Kander, Ebb, and even Terrence McNally - were all at least gay.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/1/26 at 12:40pm

EricMontreal22 said: "I have to assume that for this Encores they will cast actors with a latinx background. "

I assume you're right that Encores will cast it that way, but that's not what the poster I replied to said. They said Jasmine was "not latin enough" for a role (not for a specific production). And that's just silly considering Aurora is has been played by women of every imaginable background.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 5/1/26 at 12:54pm

Aurora can and should be played by anyone of any race, but if I had to guess I would imagine that at the very least she will be a person of color.

[getatme]

Posted: 5/1/26 at 1:18pm

Ariana Debose was Aurora in Blankenbuehler's workshops previously and was meant to do it at the Kennedy Center. I assume it will be here at Encores. And if not her, Nicole Scherzinger seems a clear choice.

[getatme]

Posted: 5/1/26 at 1:18pm

Ariana Debose was Aurora in Blankenbuehler's workshops previously and was meant to do it at the Kennedy Center. I assume it will be here at Encores. And if not her, Nicole Scherzinger seems a clear choice.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/1/26 at 1:23pm

Scherzinger does not strike me as somebody who would ever do an Encores production. 

[merle57]

Posted: 5/1/26 at 2:21pm

Great to see Hallelujah Baby, a solid Jule Styne Score with wonderful orchestrations.  Wish they would do Darling of the Day, another wonderful Jule Styne score from a flawed show.  

Charlie Brown is a charming off-Broadway show, nothing special in the material, nothing special in the orchestrations, so why do it at Encores?  Just do an off-Broadway revival instead.  

Maybe it is just me, but Charlie Brown, Spelling Bee, Avenue Q, Fantasticks, Dames at Sea  are great off-Broadway shows - but they are not full Broadway musicals worthy of Encores revivals. Encores should stick to Broadway-sized musical scores to feature those orchestrations since we will never hear full orchestras ever again in our lifetimes.