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

DELETE POST

 

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

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...

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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. 

Kad said: "Scherzinger does not strike me as somebody who would ever do an Encores production."

Considering how bad the **** Cat Dolls tour is selling, wouldn't be shocked if she agreed provided she was all but guaranteed a Broadway offer and transfer.

It would have to depend on her KFC press tour.

Maybe I stand alone in this, but I feel like You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown is kind of a lame choice and not a very exciting one unless they could get all the actors from the 1999 revival to come back and do it. That might get some press.

broadwayboy222 said: "^This.


Also, I don’t understand the comment that “she’s not the type that would do Encore’s.” I didn’t realize there was a type for Encore’s? It’s a short time commitment with a likely transfer attached. She’s perfect for the role? So why not?"

Exactly. Nicole Scherzinger has done one Broadway show, won one Tony, and just had her ****cat Dolls tour cancelled. Ariana DeBose has six Broadway credits and an Oscar.

Updated On: 5/5/26 at 02:15 AM