Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
nydirector2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/4/05
#1Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:01pmI am currently working on a project for a class in which I have to "pitch" a new musical. Included as part of the assignment is a requirement to cast the musical. The musical I plan on doing takes place in a small town in Alabama. I cannot stand watching New York/LA actors playing Southerners, so would like my proposed cast to primarily consist of actors from the South. The characters are all WASPs living in 1960's-1970's Alabama in a small town. Any help?
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#2Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:11pm
Yeah, those Elia Kazan-inspired Southern accents really are the worst.
Cherry Jones is from Paris Tennessee. She has mastered the Standard American English, but when you hear her in an interview, you can detect some of the Southern sneaking in.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:31pmKyra Sedgewick?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#3Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:39pm
Betty Buckley, Harry Connick, Jr., Linda Hopkins, Kelli O'Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Rebecca Luker, Morgan Freeman, Parker Posey, James Earl Jones, Diane Ladd, Dean Jones......
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#4Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:45pmI don't believe places like Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska qualify as "the South."
nydirector2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/4/05
#5Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:47pmSorry..they need to be white male actors. And yes..basically thinking of actors from states where the SEC has schools...plus North Carolina. They also need to be able to play 25-40. Harry Connick Jr. stands out of course. Updated On: 7/23/14 at 02:47 PM
#6Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 3:17pmWill Blum
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Dessie
Stand-by Joined: 7/4/12
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#8Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 3:48pm
Fred Weller is from New Orleans and I believe Ben Walker is from Georgia.
Also how could I forget, Kyle Dean Massey. Don't know where he's from but he has an accent.
Updated On: 7/23/14 at 03:48 PM
#9Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 3:50pmReba, Diana Degarmo
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#10Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 5:04pmOut of curiosity, Wilmington, whom did I list from Nebraska (which indeed I would not consider the South)?
#11Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 5:14pmJim Newman, recently in Hands on a Hardbody and Murder Ballad, is straight out of Alabama.
jiff
Chorus Member Joined: 1/29/12
#12Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 5:20pmI am a southerner, born and raised in Atlanta Georgia. I don't think you should under estimate the work of a great actor. I'm sure there are some guys from other places that can do convincing southern accents. I am constantly amazed at British actors and actresses who can play American characters without any detection of their British Accents. And though Vivian Leigh's southern accent was not great, I thought for many years that she was an American Actress. I was surprised to find out that she was British.
#13Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 5:28pm
I don't believe places like Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska qualify as "the South."
Nebraska is Midwest, but Oklahoma is considered "American South" and Texas is DEFINITELY "South" (as opposed to the "Southwest"). Perhaps you're thinking of "Deep South" (of which East Texas is often included)?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#15Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 5:47pmjiff, I'm sure you're right. But I wrote a musical set (coincidentally) in the same time and place and, trust me, auditions were painful!
#16Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 5:50pmAren't the Fosters from North Carolina? Or Georgia? But Hunter is mid-forties.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
nydirector2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/4/05
#18Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 8:22pm
Thanks everyone for your help...will be asking about casting the other tracks in a different thread.
Neon - Great suggestions! Didn't even think of them. Don't you think Ben Walker should play Patrick Bateman in American Psycho?
Gaveston - What show were you trying to cast?
Jiff - Notice how I didn't say I was tired of London actors playing Southerners. The Brits have a better grasp on the language because RP is closer to "Southern" than standard American.
Dtz - Of course, Jim Newman...I know him as we went to the same college in Birmingham, AL. Face palm.
Promises - Hunter was in a show similar to my concept, playing a gentleman from my hometown...poorly. So, no.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#19Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 8:26pmNorbert Leo Butz -Bawn ' bred in St.Looee Missouri
nydirector2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/4/05
#20Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 8:34pmNorbert was the first to come to mind, given the fact he went to grad school at UA/ASF.
#21Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 8:43pmPatina Miller is from South Carolina. My father attended her voice recital at her arts high school. I recently saw a production of Fences there and it was incredible!
nydirector2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/4/05
#22Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/23/14 at 9:34pmI guess "white WASPy males" mean sassy black women in certain circles.
#23Help!!! Good Actors from the South?
Posted: 7/24/14 at 8:14pmnydirector2, my show is an original musical. I may be getting ready to mount it again, so I'd rather not discuss here right now. Thanks for asking.
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