Kristin Chenoweth is the
epitome of a shiksa. Casting her as Trina, a character whose mother always imagined her life to be "very Jewish, very middle class, and very straight," would be ridiculous.
I don't think Adam Pascal's voice is rich enough for Marvin, nor do I think he is appropriate in terms of type. I'd much prefer the previously suggested Raul Esparza (whose personal life very closely parallels that of the character) or Norbert Leo Butz.
Cheyenne Jackson is inspired casting as Wizzer, and Malcolm Gets was terrific as Mendel in the LA Reprise! production last year.
Vicki Lewis, though, walked away with the evening in that production. Her version of "I'm Breaking Down" (which I believe is on her website) literally stopped the show for a solid two minutes, with the applause running over into the next scene and forcing Jason Alexander to finally ask the audience, "May we continue now?" I'd love to see her do the role commercially.
I think Sherie Rene Scott would be an interesting Trina as well. Cynthia Nixon said she has been taking voice lessons lately, and I'm dying to know what her singing is like because-- she could be
dynamite in the role.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 11/17/08 at 04:25 PM