I Wish James Marsden Would Do A Broadway Musical

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 2:58pm

He has a fantastic voice and killer looks. Swooon. He would make a great Billy Flynn in "Chicago". Whether he would want to do a Broadway musical is another story. But we can dream?

[JP2]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 3:09pm

Preach.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 3:12pm

Hairspray

[Alessio2]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 3:23pm

He's certainly very charming and charismatic! I'd like to see him tackle a Bway musical as well.

[Anshel2]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 3:26pm

Should he choose to perform on stage, it must be in a role that requires nudity.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 4:00pm

Yes to all of it.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 4:13pm

When he does, I'll be changing my name to "Broadway Musical."

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 4:41pm

I wish James MARSTERS would do a Broadway musical (preferably in the nude).

[JayG 2]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 4:52pm

I always thought that he would have been an ideal replacement for Matthew Broderick in Nice Work.

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 5:16pm

James would make a smooth and sexy Stone in "City of Angels".

[Showface]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 5:47pm

He could play Cinderella"s Prince in Into the Woods, or maybe even Bobby in Company.

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 6:03pm

I don't know if he sings well enough for Bobby, but he is a great type for the role, yes.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 8:27pm

I thought Marsden was a revelation in HAIRSPRAY. But his height is listed as 5'10", which probably means he is 5'8". Pretty as he is, I'm not sure he has the physical stature to play Stone or Cinderella's Prince on stage.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 8:31pm

He's 5'8". He would be great in a musical. A limited run as Billy Flynn would put a jolt into the show's box office.

I'd like to see him in Guys and Dolls.

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 6/27/14 at 9:47pm

I do not think the height matters all that much, but if so, lifts.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/28/14 at 9:30am

^

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/28/14 at 9:16pm

^ There's a reason why someone like Joel Grey was never cast in traditional leading man roles. And it's not because he couldn't sing and act them.

For those who like Marsden nudity, there's a great full-body shot in DEATH OF A FUNERAL. But the shot also reveals that, like many movie stars including Mel Gibson, Marsden is a little guy with a big head. NOTE: YES, I KNOW HOW THIS PARAGRAPH READS, BUT NOTHING IN IT IS A DOUBLE ENTENDRE. The shot in question shows his back side.

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 6/28/14 at 9:29pm

I dunno. I think a casting director may be willing to make an exception for someone like Marsden. If Daniel Radcliffe (5'5"), Matthew Broderick (5'8"), and Darren Kriss (5'7") can do it (albeit, they're probably slightly bigger box office draws), I think Marsden (who is a much better suited to musical theatre than those guys) would be fine.

And I think Joel Gray was never cast as a traditional romantic lead because... he isn't a traditional romantic lead, in addition to his height (5'5") which would make him difficult to cast opposite many stage actresses. He's a wonderful performer, but he doesn't exactly read particularly masculine or conventionally attractive, and his voice is not suited to much of the standard baritone material. It would not be too difficult to find a leading lady to play opposite Marsden at 5'8"ish.



Updated On: 6/28/14 at 09:29 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/28/14 at 9:41pm

^ There's a reason why the actors you mention played Finch rather than Curly in OKLAHOMA!

(Although I must admit that when I met an elderly Alfred Drake, I was shocked how short he was in person. But of course everyone was shorter in his day.)

Just because Marsden is "dreamy" on screen doesn't mean he is right for John Raitt/John Cullum/Howard Keel/James Naughton roles.

ETA: the casting issue goes far beyond whether Marsden is as tall as his leading lady.
Updated On: 6/28/14 at 09:41 PM

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 6/28/14 at 10:06pm

^ True, but I don't think anyone is asking for him to headline a Bart Sher-directed revival from the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon -- just for him to do SOMETHING on Broadway. I think the aforementioned Billy Flynn would be a good fit, but I think he's too good to waste on that production.

EDIT: Okay, I can see how he might not work for some of the aforementioned roles (Cinderella's Prince in ITW, etc.), but I think there is a place for him on Broadway, even if it isn't that particular cut of lead.


Updated On: 6/28/14 at 10:06 PM

[Chowsie]

Posted: 6/28/14 at 11:24pm

They're Playing Our Song?

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 12:05am

I think he'd make a great Sid Sorokin in Pajama Game, maybe a little too short though.

But most of all, Georg in She Loves Me or Billy Crocker in Anything Goes.

[SweeneyLovett]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 12:58am

Je-sus! All this talk about height is hilarious. Height certainly didn't keep Tom Cruise from being one of the biggest stars of all time. Unless it's specific to the script a la Cinderella's prince in ITW ["Well, he's tall..." "Is that all?"] who cares? He's a talented, attractive, charismatic performer. He's leading man material in my eyes.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 4:15am

Height certainly didn't keep Tom Cruise from being one of the biggest stars of all time

Bad example, since so many of his movies give him a couple more inches, anyways
Pictures, because it did happen

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 4:31am

Marsden has been offered several Broadway shows over the years and has passed on all of them. He's never had much interest in performing on stage, it seems. Here's hoping that changes in the future.