Future Bernadette Peters roles

My guess is she turns down a lot of offers.

The interesting thing with her is she has remained exclusively a leading lady on stage, whereas Patti has always been more of a character actor and is willing to take smaller roles and work off-Broadway and in staged concert productions. Bernadette hasn’t originated a role in a new musical since GOODBYE GIRL in ’93. Her agelessness also puts her in a unique box of being “too old for young people and too young for old people” to paraphrase Joanne (which she could play).

She’s probably going to be best served originating a role, and that takes time and effort that she might not be interested in doing at this stage in her career.

I have always wanted to see her do BALLROOM at Encores. She would be a lovely Mame 10 years ago, and it would completely bellyflop at the box office.

BroadwayNYC2 said: "As much as I enjoyed Company and LuPone, I thought Peters would fit the universe of that production better.”

*hisses*

BroadwayNYC2 said: "As much as I enjoyed Company and LuPone, I thought Peters would fit the universe of that production better."

I love Peters, but I really can't picture her as Joanne. I don't think she could do acerbic as well as Stritch and LuPone.

* Mrs Lovett has been the one role I wish (for 14 years now) she'd play, although I think too much time has passed (I'd never say no)

* Similarly I think too much time has passed for Mame but I'd never say no

Other shows I think she could do now or in the future:

* Dear World

* The Visit

* Square One (this would be a nice button off)

To be honest at this point my ultimate dream would be a new album with Sondheim, Herman and K&E covers from shows she wasn't able to do (similar to the 2002 R&H album).

As for the comment on her voice, I can see why you might say that now but if we are talking historically she DOES have a big voice (and a very small voice), which is why she is so great. Just listen to the Sondheim etc Carnegie hall CD - it is crazy how much space "Being Alive" can fill, and yet she can be so completely quiet and vulnerable for "No One is Alone" but still command complete attention - or do both in "Not a Day Goes By". All the meanwhile her voice is so bizarre and odd it sounds like it's tearing through the air, has so much depth in terms of the texture and layers of sounds and conveys so much emotion.

The texture of her voice is so important it adds an entirely new instrument/sound/layer to the orchestrations of any show that she is in to make it truly her own.

I know it sounds odd to say given the state of their voices and technical proficiency but I have always considered Bernadette Peters to be a first rate musician and singer with a legendary, dynamic, textured, layered voice, like Judy Garland (I'd put Betty Buckley in the same category). I consider someone like Patti LuPone to actually be more an actor who sings (with a very big voice that shockingly just apparently won't age!).

Updated On: 1/4/22 at 03:38 AM

I would welcome her to the stage in any musical, but I also would love to see her in a play that showcases all of her acting abilities.

Broadway divas often get pigeonholed for/by their voices, yet they possess so many dimensions as actors. I loved seeing shows in which Betty Buckley raised the rafters with her belt, but I also greatly appreciated seeing her in straight plays.

Updated On: 1/4/22 at 09:27 AM

I’d have to imagine she’s been offered a million and one roles ranging from Broadway to Off over the years and that she just has no interest in doing anything “small”.

I wish the Kennedy Center or some place like that would do “Sweeney” with her, since it’s likely to never happen on Broadway.

Jerry Herman and I had started writing a musical version of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE that we hoped to star Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury and Eric McCormack which we re-titled ELDERBERRY WINE! but Jerry quickly lost interest in it.

Bernadette and Betty Buckley would be wonderful as the Brewster sisters, though.

Updated On: 1/4/22 at 12:23 PM

It's not a matter of who wants her to do things, it's what she wants to do. As I and others said, I'm sure she (or her agents) turn down various offers per month. She has had multiple opportunities to do SWEENEY or the Old Lady in SUNDAY –– Broadway, regionally, concerts, the pie shop Sweeney –– and even the rare bullish producer who comes to her and says "what show do you want to do?"

I commend her for not getting overexposed and for knowing what suits her like a glove (Dolly, ALNM) and what could be a worthwhile challenge (Follies, Gypsy, AGYG). I wish she would branch out more or take more risky roles, but especially at almost 74 years old, she doesn't HAVE to work. And leading a musical is hard.

I think there aren't a ton of roles currently for her that suit her specific brilliance at this point.

Mrs. Lovett would be fun but I'm sure she'd find it really taxing and intense. Mrs. Lovett is so ON that is an exhausting role.

I think she should come back to Follies as someone else in the show. Maybe Grey Gardens?

I would love to see her tackle more chamber musicals like you'd see at the Public.

Peters was a fierce, unsentimental Rose, vocally and histrionically thrilling. I say that as someone who has seen every major Rose but Merman. Peters excavated a new Rose Hovick-like reality that tossed out the bigger than life diva construct and started with a shrewd tiny dynamo. She’s a superb actor, and always uncovers new layers.


She needs a new piece, maybe something like The Visit, written for her. She has done the canon, and I can see why her shot at Lovett has passed.

Updated On: 1/4/22 at 02:20 PM

Dear World is a no-brainer if anyone wanted to produce it.
Madame Armfeldt is now the perfect fit if she wanted a less taxing role.
But first Bernadette would have to admit to being 74 onstage.

^Same. There’s absolutely no shortage of roles for her in plays, so it can only be her not being interested.