"FOLLIES" film dream casting- Page 2
"FOLLIES" film dream casting
Georgeanddot2
Featured Actor Joined: 2/20/20
#26
Posted: 8/3/23 at 12:38pm
Sally: Amy Adams
Phyllis: Toni Collette
Ben: Hugh Jackman
Buddy: John C Reilly
Carlotta: Kathy Bates
Stella: Sheryl Lee Ralph
Hattie: Harriet Sansom Harris
Solange: Catherine Deneuve
Emily & Theodore: Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung
Heidi: Kiri Te Kanawa
Weissman: Richard Beymer
#27
Posted: 8/3/23 at 1:11pm
Bernadette looked younger at 63 than Dorothy Collins did at 46 when she created the role. Arugably, Peters was, type wise, completely wrong for the role, if we are thinking of the show from the perspective that this is Sallys' 'last chance' at love. It is, but not because age and physical deterioration has pushed per back past the age of any desirability, but because with Ben's final rebuff, we are (I think) to believe the character's mental health has crossed the point into insanity from which it won't return ("Losing my Mind" is a strong metaphor).
Obviously, in (less than ten years) Kelli O'Hara. (Sally), Laura Benanti (Phyllis) and Audra McDonald (Carlotta) would be wonderful casting for a stage revival, and its not because we need to wait long enough for them to look 'over the hill' as we identify it in the 21st century.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#28
Posted: 8/3/23 at 1:30pm
Could Audra not also be a candidate for Sally? For me it's a toss up between Audra and Kelli.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#29
Posted: 8/3/23 at 2:07pm
I can see Audra playing Sally or Carlotta but can only see Kelli playing Sally, so that's the combo I'm going for!
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#30
Posted: 8/4/23 at 12:07am
The idea of moving the show up to present day seems like an amazing idea! You also have to remember that when the original film, "Sunset Boulevard" came out, Norma Desmond was 50 years old and considered old news by Hollywood. The idea of including the older actresses/singers is an amazing idea, it will also introduce to new audiences to these older actresses that most people have either never heard of or thought were dead. This was a great idea!...
#31
Posted: 8/4/23 at 9:56am
Unless you were to completely rewrite the premise surrounding the reunion, It's not practical to move the show to present day. Anyone alive during a Ziegfeld Follies type of show would be dead.
There was the idea back in the early 1970s of setting the show as a reunion at an MGM style film studio before it is torn down. Something like that might work for an update, but even that is a stretch if you want to make it set in 2023.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
thirtythirtyninety
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/05
#32
Posted: 8/4/23 at 10:34am
My secret hope is that Greta Gerwig will use the unparalleled blank check she is offered post-Barbie to film either Follies or possibly Night Music since she appears to be a huge Sondheim fangirl. She’d be able to cast almost anyone in the business, since they’ll all want to work with her
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#33
Posted: 8/4/23 at 1:10pm
Michelle Williams as Sally
Sam Rockwell as Buddy
Kate Winslet as Phyllis
Patrick Wilson as Ben
Toni Collette as Carlota .. she'd be great as Sally too but my heart says Williams
Tonya Pinkins as Hattie or Stella
Jane Krakowski as Stella or Hattie
Ludivine Sagnier as Solange
Teresa Stratas as Heidi
#34
Posted: 8/4/23 at 4:39pm
If you set the show in 2023, would it be for a reunion of The Will Rogers Follies company? Instead of "Who's That Woman" they put their wheelchairs in a line and do "Favorite Son"?
"What- and quit show business?" - the guy shoveling elephant shit at the circus.
#35
Posted: 8/4/23 at 5:12pm
What if this Follies is about a reunion of the fictionalized original "young" cast of a revival of Follies?
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#36
Posted: 8/4/23 at 5:29pm
Julia Roberts as Phyllis…the right age, glamorous, acting chops. Re the ainging, if she can carry a tune, she’s good…listed to Tony winner Alexis Smith. What about Nicole Kidman while we are at it??
High Jackman as Ben. He and Roberts would cover the glamour. Right age. Perfect Ben.
Renee Zellweger as Sally. You can believe she would have been a showgirl, that Ben could have been attracted to her. She can sing the part. Amy Adams a fine alternate. Audra would be great in this role…throw in a line about forbidden love (their early passion was in the 40’s, I’ve always assumed) and you get some non-forced diversity.
Harry Connick Jr. as Buddy. Right age, sings well, just seems right for Buddy. He and Zellweger worked well together in New In Town. Matthew Broderick would be another option, despite the hate some posters on this board have or him. Could also go with someone like Jamie Foxx to be Buddy.if Audra was cast
Carlotta — can really be any age…Cher or Midler?? Zeta-Jones or Michelle Pfeiffer?? Streisand?? Lupone?? Madonna?? Midler
Hattie — Audra MadDonald or BP or or Andrea MacArdle or Midler or Lupone or BP. I say go older for this one. BP
Solange — Sheryl Lee Ralph, assuming she can do a French accent. Donna Murphy does a great French accent. Do they go with an old Solange, in which case both are too young. I am sure there is a perfect French actress to play the role…just can’t think of one.
Stella — Queen Latifah or Patti Lupone or Donna Murphy or Madonna?? Lupone
In the supporting roles, there are clearly a lot of candidates to me. I think any of the names I listed would be great in those role, but I bolted the one I’d choose.
Just need to figure out a role fole for Russell Crowe…Roscoe??
#37
Posted: 8/4/23 at 7:39pm
Sally - Audra McDonald
Phyllis - Toni Collette
Ben - Patrick Wilson
Buddy - Colman Domingo
Carlotta - Catherine Zeta-Jones
Stella - Sheryl Lee Ralph
Hattie - Patti LuPone
Solange - Bernadette Peters
Emily - Sarah Jessica Parker
Theodore - Matthew Broderick
Heidi - Julie Andrews (her ghost can do the song solo if need be)
Weissman - Mandy Patinkin
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#38
Posted: 8/4/23 at 9:41pm
Rita Moreno would be a great Carlotta. Anyone else her age would be too old, but at 91 she's still dynamic and singing well. It's just too bad they'd have to get going on this right now.
Ke3
Broadway Star Joined: 6/25/20
#40
Posted: 8/4/23 at 10:37pm
Barbra was very clearly a Phyllis. Even "Could I Leave You" is more her type of song on a personal level than "Losing My Mind", even if both would've sounded glorious from her. She's always said those fast songs where she gets to go guns blazing are her favorites.
At any point during the 90s/early 2000s I would've loved Barbra as Phyllis opposite Diana Ross as Sally. Now I think Michelle Pfeiffer is great Phyllis casting. CZJ would be a good Phyllis but I also think that "I'm Still Here" is *the* song in the show for her. She's a hoofer at heart and could portray that weariness so easily. Vanessa Williams is another person who could do Phyllis but in my mind really should be a Carlotta. As someone who on the surface shouldn't have made it past her photography scandal her entire career has been its own version of "I'm Still Here"
Sally's are obviously harder to cast, at least in my opinion. I think Sally loses something without the soprano. In my ideal world they'd stack the supporting characters with names + plus three of the leads so we could have Audra or Kelli as Sally.
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