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Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

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#1

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 1:33am

I read just a random comment on Facebook, made about the recording of Harry Connick Jr's show at the Neil Simon, that the poster read Harry is thinking about doing a production of "Bells Are Ringing" with Cheno.

With Encores doing the show in November, and Cheno being done "Promises Promises" in September, could this be the casting ideas?
#3

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 7:03am

I would honestly be a lot less interested in the show if that was the cast. =/
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad
#4

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 9:19am

OK, I am shocked. Someone is suggesting Cheno for a role for which she would actually be appropriate.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson
#5

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 9:51am

I want to see Sherie Rene Scott play it. Cheno's had her turn with several Encores! shows already.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#7

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 10:21am

Exactly. It's also a dream role of hers, so if they approach her, I'd be damn shocked if she said no.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#8

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 10:56am

Cuddles should do the show. Cuddles needs a vehicle with her husband to rocket them into the superstars they're destined to become and I think this project is it!
#10

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 11:50am

Cheno would be good if a bit of a predictable choice. I have no interest in Harry Connick Jr though.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#11

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 11:51am

to me this is a show only Judy Holiday should own
I always though Faith Prince would be perfect and when she did it ..I thought it was HORRIBLE...she was a lousy imitation of Judy and butchered I Going Back..not her fault ..directors fault I feel ..she could not make the role her own..
I love the show as is...let it be...(i think cheno would be great also...but i though faith would be also...)
#12

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 1:58pm

Kristin is the only one I can see in that role. I feel that Harry Connick Jr. would be too stiff in a role that is already pretty stiff. I would love it if Marc Kudisch and her would play love interests...
#13

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 2:03pm

Victoria Clark could also pull this off, I'm sure.

But for some reason, I'd give anything to see Liza do it.
#15

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 7/31/10 at 4:35pm

Carol Channing would be sensational as "Sue". Hey, why not?
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#18

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 8/1/10 at 8:39am

I think Kristin is a terrible choice. Do you all know the show?

Ella isn't supposed to be "obviously" attractive, cute, sexy, charming, etc. Holliday was a bit matronly in the role which was perfect.

Unless Kristin "frumps" it up a bit (glasses and loose-fitting cardigans) which I still don't think would work, she's not right for this at all. She can't use any of her girly-girly "popular" tricks. And we all know Kristin doesn't play well outside of Kristin (see a certain current revival for proof). She does her expected "thing" extremely well, especially when it's appropriate, but she's not a versatile character actress, unfortunately.

I'm not necessarily looking for a cookie-cutter of Holliday. Faith Prince was pretty much exactly that (in theory), but turned in a so-so performance in the end.

Whoever plays the part shouldn't be an obvious choice for a romantic lead. That's why the audience roots for her. It's a Cinderella story of sorts, but "Cindy" shouldn't be cute and sassy to start with. She should look more like the least likely to succeed, which is exactly why we want her to.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 8/1/10 at 08:39 AM

#19

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 8/1/10 at 8:46am

Victoria Clark would be great if she were younger. While you're at it, throw Christine Ebersole in a time machine. She'd be great as well 15 years ago.

How about Emily Skinner? I could see her tone down the looks and play up the average working-girl matronly side of her really well. I also think she'd kill on the songs.

Yes, I know, Emily wouldn't sell tickets like Cheno. She's just better suited for the role. But that's not what counts, as we all know.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 8/1/10 at 08:46 AM

#20

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 8/1/10 at 9:08am

Amy Adams might work.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson
#21

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 8/1/10 at 1:46pm

Yes, Emily Skinner would be excellent. But, I think Kristin is more of a versatile character actress then you give her credit for. Did you see her in The Apple Tree? Or in the Encores! show Stairway to Paradise? In both those shows she played many different characters and at least made me realize that she is a comedienne first, singer second.
#23

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 8/1/10 at 4:46pm

I agree that Chenoweth is all wrong for Ella; vocally she would be fine but she is not a good character actress. You can see proof of that currently in Promises, Promises. But if we are going to consider actresses in their 40s how about Andrea McArdle? Or better yet, Toni Collette. A fantastic character actress and very good singer, Collette would make the role her own but still preserve the characteristics that make Ella a memorable musical theater character. Another good fit for this role is Tammy Blanchard, who is close to the same age Judy Holliday was when she created the role.

There should be a special division of the NYPD whose only assignment is to make sure that Harry Connick remains as far away from a Broadway stage as humanly possible.
"I long-ago realized that this country is a nation of morons, when it comes to knowledge of anything outside, or beyond, pop culture." Steve Slezak

Updated On: 8/1/10 at 04:46 PM

#24

Encores Bells Are Ringing Casting Ideas

Posted: 8/1/10 at 6:10pm

How 'bout Mary Testa?
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

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