George Hearn as King Arthur!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 12:53pm

What a great idea! Ravinia (Where Patti LuPone Gypsy was born) is planning a Camelot this summer that sounds terrific:

The Ravinia Festival in Highland Park is expected to announce Thursday that it will open its 2009 season with a new, "staged concert" version of Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s classic Arthurian musical "Camelot," with George Hearn, Sylvia McNair and Rod Gilfry in the lead roles. This will be the first time that Broadway star and Ravinia regular Hearn has played the role of King Arthur—in a tuneful show that has become widely associated with President John F. Kennedy’s administration. Director Marc Robin will helm the new semi-staged production, which will be accompanied by the large Ravinia Festival Orchestra under Erich Kunzel’s baton. In what is expected to be a one-night-only performance June 5, "Camelot" will reunite many of those involved in Ravinia’s 2007 staging of “The Most Happy Fella,” and is arguably a well-timed title—given the arrival in the White House of a new, young president and his family. Tickets will go sale in April.

The Theater Loop

[Jon]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 1:51pm

So, we celebrate a new, young president witth a King Arthur alsmost as old as John McCain.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:04pm

He is far, far too old for this part now!

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:14pm

It's a concert. It doesn't really matter how old he is if he can sing the part.

[commasplice]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:17pm

Oh man, I am so there. While Camelot is far from my favorite show, Hearn, McNair, and Gilfry were WONDERFUL in The Most Happy Fella, and I'd love to see them perform together again.

(I also have to admit, when I saw the subject line, my first thought was, "Oh God, he's joining the Spamalot tour?") Updated On: 12/4/08 at 02:17 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:17pm

On the radio yea OK

[regnad kcin]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:49pm

To be cliche, Hearn could sing the friggin phonebook and I'd be compelled. It was such a joy to see a master at work in "The Visit." Make that two masters - him and Ms Chita!

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:56pm

While I like Hearn, he's too old (74) for this role.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 3:25pm

It will be bizarre to see this. But they were very good in "Fella."

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 3:26pm

He is way too old, but that seems to be the trend. Has there ever been an age appropriate Arthur???

[RoxieRose4]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 3:27pm

Are we really going back to accuracy in a concert? Is Bernadette to female to sing Being Alive?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 4:17pm

Rod Gilfrey???? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you hear me palpitating?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 4:37pm

What is with all these old men doing this role? We had Michael York (66) in the national tour and now George Hearn. Although, I do think George will be a lot better than Michael.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 4:50pm

Funny, Hearn was a replacement knight in the original production (though he's not listed on ibdb) and a couple of years later understudied John Cullum as Arthur at Paper Mill.

Well, the original Arthurs on Broadway and in London were reasonably age-appropriate, as was Richard Harris in the movie (though I think he's awful). But in more recent times, yeah, they tend to be somewhat too old to way too old. Or way way way way too old, as in this case. Yes, it's a concert, I know.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 9:36pm

Yes, Burton was in his mid-30's when he originated the role.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 1:21am

Relax! As said several times in this thread, and then ignored, it's a freaking concert! Age doesn't apply as it would in a full production. Hearn will be fantastic. If Hearn offered his services to your concert Camelot would you turn him down?

And on the subject of York. His sweaty, incoherent King Arthur (and I'm a huge fan of his in Cabaret) is one of the worst professional performances I've ever witnessed.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 1:31am

Even if it is a concert, the audience still have to sit there and actually see him and ,again, he's too old for Arthur!
I think he is a wonderful performing legend but...

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 1:35am

"If Hearn offered his services to your concert Camelot would you turn him down?"

Personally, I'd try to get someone else. But that's me. I've never been a fan of his.
Updated On: 12/5/08 at 01:35 AM

[Q]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 2:11am

Bleh.

And honestly, if they're going to do the WHOLE book in between the glorious songs, I couldn't sit through it. Again.

Won't SOMEONE do a concert of just the SONGS?!?

And an age appropriate cast wouldn't hurt. Really.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 7:38am

I hear next year Patti is coming back to do Annie. I mean the ROLE of Annie.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 7:49am

And the queens on here would kvell if she did.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 8:53am

"I hear next year Patti is coming back to do Annie. I mean the ROLE of Annie."


Now that would be a must see. Couldn't you just imagine it?There wouldn't be enough words to describe it.


As for the original point of the thread - conceert or not - he's too old.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 9:19am

Yes, he's too old for the role. But I thought he was great in "Fella," despite being a bit too old for that as well. And frankly, he'll be leagues better than York was.

[sparrman]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:44am

Just had to chime in: Yes it's just a concert, Yes he's still way too old even for a concert, Yes I'd pay good money to see it anyway!

But...stop with the geriatric Arthurs already! It's a difficult show to pull off even with the most perfect cast, but it will NEVER work with an Arthur that's too old!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 12:03pm

Am I alone in thinking Brian Stokes Mitchell would make a great Arthur?