Harriet Harris Leaving Millie August 3

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 3:22pm

"Harriet Harris will pack up her Tony Award and exit Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie Aug. 3, Playbill On-Line has learned.

Casting is ongoing for the crucial role of Mrs. Meers, the failed diva who dons Chinese dragon-lady drag and sells nubile orphan-actresses to a white slaver. Her oft-repeated line in the show when addressing the orphans she's going to sell off is, 'Sad to be all alone in the world.'

Harris, known for her precise, brittle, dry and funny delivery in the show (and on TV series such as "Frasier" and "The Five Mrs. Buchanans") won a 2002 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

The actress is joining the developing TV series about two gay men raising a daughter, for ABC. Chris Sieber, who appeared in Millie as a replacement for Marc Kudisch recently, while Kudisch was in New York City Opera's A Little Night Music, stars in the new series.

Kudisch is leaving Millie, too, for the new Off-Broadway musical, The Thing About Men. His exit date has not been announced.

In the aborning tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chicago acting star Hollis Resnik plays Meers and is double-cast as Miss Flannery, who run the typing pool. Flannery is played on Broadway Anne L. Nathan, who has covered for Harriet.

Millie snagged 2002 Tonys for Best Musical, Best Costumes, Best Orchestrations and Best Choreography and Best Actress. The score is by composer Jeanine Tesori and lyricist Dick Scanlan. Scanlan penned the book with the late Richard Morris. Michael Mayer directed.

Performances continue at the Marquis Theatre."

I was going to watch the new show because of Christopher Sieber but now I have two reasons to watch it.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 3:36pm

Thank God I'm seeing it this weekend. It wouldn't be the same without her.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 7:05pm

I can't imagine who is going replace her. So was so funny in that role.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 8:27pm

How about Joan Rivers?

[Butch2]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 8:31pm

Wanted: Actress Comfortable Playing Racist Part

[Rypm25]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 8:33pm

you have to be right theaterbaby...because when i saw the show last august, she was out that day...and i was really disappointed in the show...

[Dame Edna]

Posted: 7/2/03 at 10:08pm

Harriet leaving.
DARN IT.
I AM SO DEPRESSED.

[LifeOnStage]

Posted: 7/3/03 at 11:44am

I saw Harriet as Meers last August and she was so good! The night I saw it, she made Sheryl Lee Ralph slightly break character when she said her line, "What'd you do? WALK?!" Sheryl Lee had to turn her back to the audience, but it was clearly visible that she was laughing, since her body was shaking a bit. The show's not going to be the same without Harriet.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 7/4/03 at 6:20am

I agree about the "Did you walk?" line that Meers says to Muzzy. That line made us laugh for a good 10 minutes. We couldn't concentrate on anything after that for a long while.

How about HAIRSPRAY's wonderfully wacky (and versatile) Jackie Hoffman as Harriet Harris' replacement?

I'll bet she could come up with something completely original and off the wall the way Harriet did.

Anyone? Bueller?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/4/03 at 7:21am

How about Marian Seldes as Mrs. Meers? It would work!

[scooter38432]

Posted: 7/4/03 at 9:34am

OOooooh! Good one, DollyPop!

Marian Seldes is an inspired choice! Very interesting.

Along the same lines, then...

How about Zoe Caldwell?

[PJ]

Posted: 7/4/03 at 6:10pm

I wanted to see Millie w/ the original intact...guess that won't happen.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/5/03 at 1:22am

Well, no. Especially since Sheryl Lee Ralph left a while ago. lol

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 7/5/03 at 3:23am

Any chance they'd bring back Pat Carroll? If not now, then maybe later? I loved her in the La Jolla production.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/6/03 at 11:39pm

LOL I thought I would just post this here rather than starting a new thread.

I saw Millie today (5th row center orchestra...awsome seats).
It was even better than I remembered. I hadn't seen it since November (possibly October). I am still singing the songs in my head.

Leslie Uggams was fantastic! I had never heard her sing before. WOW! I mean, I liked Sheryl in the role, but I thought Leslie was better suited for it. What a voice!

I think it's a little odd that they have a woman as one of the Chinese attendants in the hotel. It worked for the first act because it really is a general role (as long as it's not the one who falls in love with Ms. Dorothy), but in the second act Mrs. Meers refers to both of them as boys. ? That sort of bothered me. lol

Harriet, by the way, was wonderful of course. She was the first person I stood for during the curtain call...and then I obviously remained standing. LOL
I would really like to see it one more time before she leaves, but I don't know if I'll be able to.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/6/03 at 11:42pm

I must admit I am looking forward to "It's All relative". I adore Harris and Hickey and of course, the talent and gorgeousness that is Christopher Sieber is a HUGE plus in my book. I am glad that Chris isn't relocating and is staying based in NYC.