Hugh Jackman in The Music Man- Page 14

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:37am

Have never seen a production of this show and would love to.

I like Jackman onscreen but have no desire to see him onstage. Hoping that maybe they will do like they did with DOLLY and have someone else in on Tuesdays. Saw Donna in DOLLY for the same reason.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:50am

Just because someone is known as a belter doesn't necessarily mean they don't have a legitimate sound as well.  Jessie Mueller proved that when she was Julie in Carousel, as well as Marian in Kennedy Center's production of The Music Man recently.  Frankly I'm looking forward to Sutton.  I would have been happy with Laura Osnes or Jessie Mueller.

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 9:22am

I love Laura Osnes and was hoping she'd get it (I'm presuming she also auditioned for it) but am very happy for Sutton! I love Jesse Mueller too and would have been happy had Laura or Jesse gotten it. In addition, Hugh Jackman is an A-list hollywood star that even a super talented unknown (perhaps even POC) would have been fine with me!  

Do Broadway producers normally make announcements like this super early? This is for the 2020-2021 season after all! Why do you guys think Rudin made the announcement so early? I recently read an article from last summer (https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2018/08/27/hello-dolly-closes-with-broken-records-trickling-roi/#72ec0c802dd0  that Rudin likes to bundle projects together for investors (i.e. if you wanted to be an investor for Hello Dolly back in 2017 you also had to invest in Glass Menagerie or Doll's House Part 2, which I doubt recouped.) 

I'm curious what Rudin has in store for 2021 and by having this surefire hit, I hope he'll produce some riskier plays/musicals on Broadway that season too.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 9:26am

Soaring29 said: "Sutton as Marian vocally is a complete WTF- I don't really care about Hello Dolly or even really know that much about it but Sutton who is really vocally the complete opposite of Marian seems like a much bigger eyebrow raiser. I've never heard her sing anything above an E5 from what I want to say now and that wasn't even sung in head voice although yeah I've heard her do that one note in Drowsy. Acting wise she isn't a completely wrong choice for the role but I'd love to see some other examples of her doing some soprano stuff. Anybody have any high head voice singing clips of her

The majority of people (myself included) who'll see the show have no idea what an E5 is, and couldn't care less about Sutton Foster's vocal range. Do the naysayers on here really think she's going to sound BAD?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 9:55am

Sutton will be absolutely fantastic, just as she always is.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:00am

As soon as they cast Sutton as Reno Sweeney, the boards went "WTF", as well. She's a versatile enough actress that she has proven herself every show to do her damnedest to get it the way her team intends when they cast her; they trust her and she will continually trust herself throughout the process. Preachy and cliche, but her track record has proven that.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:18am

Vocally she will be fine. I think- but she must have great chemistry with Jackman- that must have been one hell of an audition to get this role- and it will catapult her to a loftier level of fame and recognition. Good for her- I bet they will be great together. 

[jo]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:37am

 Sutton and Hugh have worked together in the past. Sutton was part of the first workshop(s) for The Greatest Showman, presumably singing the role of Charity. If so, they must have done the duet of A MILLION DREAMS together, which was the first song composed of the musical score.  Here's an Instagram photo posted by Keala Settle, with Sutton seating in front of Keala. Aaron Tveit was also part of the workshop group composed mostly of Broadway singer actors. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSTYpFIhwfP/

 

Updated On: 3/26/19 at 11:37 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:50am

Just because someone is known as a belter doesn't necessarily mean they don't have a legitimate sound as well.  Jessie Mueller proved that when she was Julie in Carousel, as well as Marian in Kennedy Center's production of The Music Man recently.  Frankly I'm looking forward to Sutton.  I would have been happy with Laura Osnes or Jessie Mueller.

All of this.  And I also would have been happy with Laura Benanti.  But I do think Sutton is an excellent choice.

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 3:59pm

I'm actually surprised! Sutton was not one of the names I was considering, but she is versatile, and I can't see how'd she do a terrible job. 

[AUtahFann]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 3:51pm

Can't wait for this!!

Updated On: 3/27/19 at 03:51 PM

[jo]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 4:37pm

http://twitter.com/KChenoweth/status/1110998201878892544

Kristin Chenoweth sends her congratulations and best wishes to Sutton Foster. 
 

Updated On: 3/27/19 at 04:37 PM

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 5:00pm

Pardon me if this was posted already, but in the Hollywood Reporter announcement, Rudin says "I've heard her sing it, I think she sings it better than anyone has ever sung it since 1957 and I think she's going to be completely stunning in it in a way that people do not have even the barest understanding of right now.” While that seems to be a bit of a stretch, it is encouraging. I love Sutton and admittedly don’t see her as a fit for the role, but can’t wait to be proven wrong.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 9:37am

Rosie O’Donnell is heavily campaigning for the role of Mrs. Paroo, which she played to great reviews in the recent Kennedy Center staging. She wants to return to the 8 performances a week Broadway schedule and is letting everyone, including Scott Rudin, aware that’s she’s ready — she just did the role so she knows the songs and is off-book.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 9:56am

LesWickedly said: "Pardon me if this was posted already, but in the Hollywood Reporter announcement, Rudin says "I've heard her sing it, I think she sings it better than anyone has ever sung it since 1957 and I think she's going to be completely stunning in it in a way that people do not have even the barest understanding of right now.” While that seems to be a bit of a stretch, it is encouraging. I love Sutton and admittedly don’t see her as a fit for the role, but can’t wait to be proven wrong."

Well.. it's not like Rudin is going to say, "I've heard her sing it, and it's totally adequate, but what do I care, this thing will sell out in 10 minutes." 

 

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 10:02am

After reading about Rosie's antics on the VIEW (new book coming out), I don't think any sensible director/producer would let her near this production. She could be a liability, in terms of PR, conduct, and attendance.

But you know who would be great? Judy Kaye, Joanna Gleason, Victoria Clark, Blair Brown, or Faith Prince.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 10:25am

After reading about Rosie's antics on the VIEW (new book coming out), I don't think any sensible director/producer would let her near this production. She could be a liability, in terms of PR, conduct, and attendance.

Rosie has spoken about this author and how misdirected this book will be.  He misled the subjects and has fabricated situations from the simplest of details in order to make it salacious.  She spoke to him for close to 45 minutes and he created scenarios out of a hint of a moment.  The other ladies will follow suit with speaking up against this author.  

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 4:53pm

Whatever about that R person--I certainly hope that she is not allowed anywhere near this production.

I'm in the Faith Prince corner.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 7:44pm

I love Rosie. I'd love to see her on stage again. The media loves to rip into women in the spotlight, so I take all the nasty stuff said about her with a grain of salt.

[Soaring29]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 8:16pm

DottieD'Luscia said: "Just because someone is known as a belter doesn't necessarily mean they don't have a legitimate sound as well. Jessie Mueller proved that when she was Julie inCarousel,as well as Marian in Kennedy Center's production ofThe Music Manrecently. Frankly I'm looking forward to Sutton. I would have been happy with Laura Osnes or Jessie Mueller."

But thats just it- she's demonstrated that she can. Sutton is much older then her with a much longer time in the spotlight. She's had lots of opportunities to show off a more legit sound even if it isn't exactly her type. Not saying she can't do just because we haven't seen it in public but the vocal style is substantially different from all of the shows she's done on Broadway in addition to her concert/recording work. With all the work she puts into her career already it's hard to picture her having had the time to develop a really strong legit soprano sound that is expected when playing this role on Broadway. And no some arias in voice lessons don't count(something that she has confirmed she has done). The casting is just odd considering that it is more logical to believe that Sutton doesn't have the vocal skillset for the role based on what the general public knows of her voice so far. 

 

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 8:31pm

Sutton is not "much older than her".  She is only eight years older than Jessie. What a strange thing to say.

Updated On: 3/28/19 at 08:31 PM

[HereAndThere2]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 8:43pm

GeorgeandDot said: "I love Rosie. I'd love to see her on stage again. The media loves to rip into women in the spotlight, so I take all the nasty stuff said about her with a grain of salt."

 

I like (OK, love) Rosie very much.  In 2012, two years after I had a heart attack, Rosie had one as well.  Her experience was almost identical to mine.  After her survival, she became a spokes-person for heart health.  In recent years (due to weight loss surgery, a sensible diet, and exercise), she has lost much weight and looks terrific.  Her story is especially important for women.  More women (approximately 200,000) die each year from heart attacks than from breast cancer.  Rosie O'Donnell continues to do a stellar job of educating the public about the benefits of good heart health.   I would like to see her on stage as an example of what can be accomplished with a bit of hard work.  And besides, she's a very talented lady who would be a terrific addition to "The Music Man" team.  

 

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 3/28/19 at 10:53pm

Wick3 said: "Do Broadway producers normally make announcements like this super early? This is for the 2020-2021 season after all! Why do you guys think Rudin made the announcement so early? I recently read an article from last summer(https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2018/08/27/hello-dolly-closes-with-broken-records-trickling-roi/#72ec0c802dd0  that Rudin likes to bundle projects together for investors (i.e. if you wanted to be an investor for Hello Dolly back in 2017 you also had to invest in Glass Menagerie or Doll's House Part 2, which I doubt recouped.)
I'm curious what Rudin has in store for 2021 and by having this surefire hit, I hope he'll produce some riskier plays/musicals on Broadway that season too."


The super early announcement is highly unusual, and so is the fact that he's putting tix on sale a YEAR before the first preview. But Rudin likes to do things a little differently. He does a few new plays and "prestige" revivals each year, though not many new musicals.

Bundling isn't unusual for producers who are developing multiple projects all at once. Using safer bets like Dolly or Mockingbird helps to get riskier projects financed. And having Book of Mormon doesn't hurt either.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 12:35am

OlBlueEyes said: "If someone is said to be not right for a role, or miscast, as one is likely to feel about Sutton if you only experienced her in Anything Goes where she was bold and brassy and dominated the stage, can a good actress adapt herself or learn to play another role where the character is of a very different temperament?"

To some degree, yes. And most good actors have skills they haven't been asked to use yet. Barbara Cook played FUNNY GIRL in stock, but even she laughs about it in her book; I'm sure she was very interesting, but wrong for all sorts of reasons that have nothing to do with acting or singing ability.

I'm assuming the many people who are mentioning Megan Hilty saw her play Glinda in WICKED. I'm certainly not saying Hilty would be wrong, but she isn't an obvious choice to me like Kate Burton (probably my first choice).

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 12:40am

LesWickedly said: "Pardon me if this was posted already, but in the Hollywood Reporter announcement, Rudin says "I've heard her sing it, I think she sings it better than anyone has ever sung it since 1957 and I think she's going to be completely stunning in it in a way that people do not have even the barest understanding of right now.” While that seems to be a bit of a stretch, it is encouraging. I love Sutton and admittedly don’t see her as a fit for the role, but can’t wait to be proven wrong."

Encouraging? Why? What did you expect the producer to say?

(This is not a dig at Sutton Foster. I only know her work from a couple of clips and a couple of records. I'm certainly not inclined to speak against her.)

I'm just saying let's be realistic about how producers work.