My dream cast for this revival would be Eden Riegel as Sarah Brown. Riegel is a superb actress and singer and has solid Broadway credentials and public recognition. A much better singer than Anne Hathaway, in my opinion, she also has the perfect look and voice for this role. But if Hathaway is already cast she would also be wonderful in the role as she certainly is a fine actress and singer.
Debra Messing would be great as Adelaide and I would be happy if she is already cast in the role (especially if this could create enough of a stir to pave the way for a revival of the show in which she would be the ideal star, “Wildcat”) but my first choice if the producers don’t mind casting a little younger is Tammy Blanchard, who has a great belt voice similar to Vivian Blaine, who originated the role. Blanchard was the best Louise ever in Gypsy and her comic banter during “The Strip” shows her to be a wonderful comic actress fully up to portraying Adelaide.
Although John C. Reilly would probably be excellent if cast, Harry Connick would be a great choice for Nathan Detroit, but not Sky Masterson, in my opinion. Masterson calls for a real legitimate baritone which Connick is not. But his resemblance to Frank Sinatra who played Detroit in the 1955 film version would be a plus if he were cast in this revival as despite its flaws the film is much-loved and today’s audiences would fully accept him as an ideal choice for Nathan. It also wouldn’t hurt at the box office if Messing and Connick, who were a couple on “Will and Grace”, are reunited on Broadway as Nathan and Adelaide.
I don’t think Patrick Wilson would make a very good Sky Masterson, at least not vocally. He is a light tenor at best and although a superb actor Wilson usually excels at playing weak or quirky characters, certainly not a characteristic of Sky Masterson. “The Full Monty” is a show that was the polar opposite of “Guys and Dolls” and his vocal limitations would not make him suitable for Sky, in my opinion. A better choice would be Cheyenne Jackson, who is a good actor and fine singer or better still, my current favorite singer, James Anest, who I hear is already in the running for the role as his possible Broadway debut. I heard Anest sing “Luck be A Lady” in a concert last year and his performance was magnificent with a commanding stage presence and he has the perfect look for the role. So I am rooting for Anest or Jackson as Sky Masterson.
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