How About a Revival of Little Me?

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 7:18pm

I've been listening to this show non-stop lately and have realized how much I love it. I'd really like to see a revival in the next few years.

How about Roger Bart for the male lead(s)? I'd also like to see Heidi Blickenstaff as Belle. (I realize, yes, that she has become the female Cheyenne Jackson of dream casts, but this is a role that she could conceivably play.)

Your thoughts/hypothetical casting ideas?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 7:34pm

It was just done to recently with martin Short to rate another one anytime soon.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 7:41pm

The Short revival was 10 years ago. I can plausibly see a revival being mounted within the next three to four years if the economy shows enough positive growth to allow a revival of a show that isn't considered a classic.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 7:47pm

Even if Heidi Blickenstaff doesn't play Belle in a commercial production of the show, I'd kill to hear her sing "The Other Side of the Tracks."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 7:47pm

You submitted your own answer. It is not that mahor a piece to warrant another revival.

If Nathan Lane did it , it might have a chance.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 8:00pm

Roger Bart is a GREAT choice.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 8:04pm

It was only 9 years ago we had the wondrous Faith Prince as Belle alongside Martin Short- how often do you want revivals for Gods sake?
The CD is pretty average by the way!
Updated On: 10/30/08 at 08:04 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 9:27pm

For a variety of reasons, Little Me is one of the most important shows in my 50+ years of Broadway theatre-going. I saw the original three times in 1962, the awful revival in 1982 with James Coco and Victor Garber (not because of them) and the Martin Short Roundabout production. I liked Martin Short the best -- much more than Sid Caesar -- but hated what they did to the book. I think either Nathan Lane or Roger Bart would be fine, but it really works better with a "dame" playing the older Belle and a raucous, rough-and-ready type with a belt voice playing the younger Belle. Anyone's thoughts?

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/31/08 at 1:52am

Isn't Beth Leavel the dame du jour?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/31/08 at 8:14am

I LOVE Little Me, and think it's just a perfect example of a slam-bang 1960s musical comedy (at least with its original book). But given that it has failed on Broadway three times, I don't expect it will be getting a Broadway revival from scratch anytime soon. Best case scenario: Encores makes a go of it, with the full original Ralph Burns orchestrations and with a suitable star in the Sid Caesar roles, and should things go well there...

Updated On: 10/31/08 at 08:14 AM

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/31/08 at 9:54am

Agreed about the new book. It sort of takes the edge out when the cartoon quality is taken away.

A tame Mary Testa as Older Belle and then a busty belter as Young Belle giving us a showstopping title song in the middle of Act Two instead of a throwaway song at the very top of the show like the 99 revival.

I saw a stock package with Jack Carter, Kaye Stevens (Remember her? Six feet tall without the spike heels, red hair piled up higher than a Palin and ba-zooms that made an entrance three beats before the rest of her came into view. Plus she could sing and had a great sense of comedy. A great combo and a real entertainer.), Harold Lang and Benay Benuta. This toured the Music Fair circuit in 1964.

I also think this is a show that needs performers rather than actors (Forum is another) since the roles are drawn with the broadest of brush strokes. They are types rather than characters.