Erin Dilly millie- Page 2

[musicaltheatreman2]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 2:05pm

"I remember Sutton being on The View recently and Whoopi talking about how she was a producer on Millie. She said the original girl in the role wasn't good (Sutton looked embarrassed that Whoopi would publicly state that), and when they saw Sutton do it, everything just clicked."

Here is that interview on The View it starts at 2:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSjUhbQL5qQ

[musicaltheatreman2]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 2:11pm

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page there are original promotional photos with Erin Dilly as Millie and Tonya Pinkins as Muzzy. The costume and wig for Millie are pretty bad lol! 

 

http://www.freakymartian.com/millie/photos.html

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 2:13pm

Lizzy, it's part of the original screenplay, where Meers was played by Bea Lillie (wonderfully). She is head of a white slave trade organization. Sending orphaned american women to asia. The character is asian.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 2:17pm

Was Bea Lillie's character meant to be Asian? I always thought it was a white woman in dragon lady drag.  I was stunned and, frankly, put off by taking the newly-conceived version of the character and the addition of geisha face and that insane accent.  

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 2:23pm

From what I saw later, I always thought the character was supposed to be a white lady in yellowface as well. Which is, I suppose, better, but still clumsy and not necessary.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 2:56pm

Wow, I had no idea that Sarah Uriarte Berry was in this at La Jolla.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 4:34pm

I agree that the caricature Mrs. Meers in the stage version is a tad much. 

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 5:01pm

""What second TV show are you talking about? Wikipedia doesn't say anything about any recurring roles on television between Kristin and the West Wing, and there were 3 years in between the two."

 

 I am sure after her 1st TV show was canceled she probably stayed in Hollywood to film several TV pilots  that never got pick up by the networks. That is way you dont see anything listed on her Wikipedia about it. "

thank you musicaltheatreman2

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 5:07pm

"What!? I said what I know. Did I claim to know everything? No. 

You frequently just make SH*T up to make yourself sound like you're some kind of insider, even though you were probably still in diapers when Millie was having its tryout in La Jolla. On this thread alone, you already claimed that Erin was sick during previews (she already left the show before previews), that she sucked in the role (how would you know?), that they offer Chenoweth the role (inaccurate), and then you backtracked when you were presented with actual facts.

I was 6 during the La Jolla tryout. and Erin was sick! whether in preview or rehearsals whatever. and she did suck in the role because whoopie gilderg said she did. and they did offer cheno the role. those are all true so why are you saying I'm lying. You can go ahead and listen to the theaterppl podcast and michael mayer talks about it. thank you very much

 

 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 5:36pm

You are actually a psychopath. 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 5:42pm

I try not to get involved with this but I finally just have to say why does anyone put up with this little kid drama coming from Phily? I get exhausted just reading all the endless comments. 

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 5:45pm

If you have any questions about why Tonya Pinkins left the show, just read my signature :)

[walt1896]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 5:52pm

Not often noted that Sutton and Erin are friends from childhood and were in "The Peanut Butter Players"  theater group together here in Detroit with Celia Keenan Bolger, Danny Gurwin and David Burtka. The group still exists in Colorado where their director moved. Celia talks about the group to Seth Rudetsky in link below. Celia mentions not having any videos but Sutton has some that she tormented Gurwin with during Little Women. Also, Sutton has stated that she went to Dilly for her blessing and Dilly said, "Go for it dude." Of course it was not too many years later that they were both up for the Tony together (Chitty and Little Women) 

https://youtu.be/lCR4CZc71e0
 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 6:00pm

Wow Sally I often wondered what that comment was in reference to, it makes so much sense now!

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 6:07pm

I just love that quote. It'd from a book of interviews called "There Is Nothing Like a Dame." I highly recommend it, as both Tonya and Patti LuPone talk dirty about other cast members (Tonya on Toni Colette, and Patti on Sherie Rene Scott).

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 12:05am

"'I am sure after her 1st TV show was canceled she probably stayed in Hollywood to film several TV pilots  that never got pick up by the networks. That is way you dont see anything listed on her Wikipedia about it.'

 

thank you musicaltheatreman2"

 

Yeah, 'cause when you were six years old you knew Kristin Chenoweth was out filming pilots after the failure of her sitcom.

And her name is Whoopi Goldberg, not Whoopie Gilderg.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 12:09am

What did Patti say about Sherie???

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 1:16am

I guess I had all wrong information. I thought the original lead in Millie at La Jolla was pregnant? And so Foster stepped in. They liked her, and she got good reviews, so they took it to Broadway. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 1:21am

"If you have any questions about why Tonya Pinkins left the show, just read my signature :)"

I remembered not caring for her big song (or, I guess, "big" song), but I thought the rest of her performance was very warm and funny. I didn't really like the song that replaced it either, but I think I listened to the cast recording twice and forgot about it.

My experience in La Jolla was honestly one of my most fun theatre memories even though the details are fuzzy. (It was also the first pre-Broadway production of a musical I ever saw.) I found most of the changes afterwards rather baffling.

Updated On: 8/19/15 at 01:21 AM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 2:38am

A friend at La Jolla Playhouse invited me to an early preview performance of Millie - it was either the first or second preview - and gave me a pre-show warning about the lead role not being played by the original actress; as though he needed to prepare me for the possibility that she'd be less than great.   Sutton wasn't.  She was on fire.  She clearly recognized what a huge opportunity this could be.  By the end of Act I you could tell that most of the audience knew we were witnessing a star-making performance.  Never quite had an experience like that in the theatre before.  

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 4:12am

My understanding is that Erin wasn't really comfortable in the role, especially with the choreography, and the creative team let her bow out gracefully.  They put the understudy on and a star was born.