None of the people you mention are STARS. Leslie Kritzer, Shplitzer, or whatever, is known by 12 people. If you are going to spend the money to properly mount this show, and to redo the book, you want someone to bring in the butts to fill the seats. Andrew Gans' and Seth Rudetzky's butts will not fill the theater 8 times a week.
Do you know what happens when you let Veal Prince Orloff sit in an oven too long?
While we're at it, let's never revive Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Cabaret or Chicago. Those shows "belong" in one way or another to Merman, Mostel, Minnelli (due to the film), Verdon and Rivera. Audiences would never accept anyone else.
Wait a minute. All of those shows have been successfully revived and audiences accepted the new casts just fine. Several of them even went on to win Tony Awards.
Very few shows are unrevivable (Jerome Robbins' Broadway?, Fosse?) due to their nature, but if a book musical is strong enough it can make it. Not everyone in a Broadway audience worships at the shrine of Barbra Streisand.
Stephanie J. Block is this decade's "Fanny Brice". Many say she is not funny enough . . . well she hasn't had the chance to show Broadway how funny she really is!!!! If you've ever spoken with her, she comes up with one liners all the time. Isn't that what Fanny did through out her life. Given the chance to do the role she would be stellar!!! The back stage folk at 9 - 5 are laughing all the time at her comedy.
pattilupuppy If I can find my way out to NJ I really want to go!! I just love the concept of someone playing Barbra playing Fanny. sounds amazing!
And who the hell is saying SJB isn't funny!?! she's hilarious! Not only in person but on stage! yes she's played a lot of more serious musical theatre roles but Judy Bernly is very funny. I'm was laughing so hard I cried during the pot smoking scene of 9 to 5, all 6 times I've seen it!!!
Although I don't think she's this decade's Fanny Brice at all. but I can't think of anyone who I think is "this decade's Fanny Brice"
I really, really want to see SJB play Fanny but I sometimes worry that she's much to pretty
Without bread we'd just be hungry
but without theatre we'd be dead
It was not my intent to disparage SJB, and though she wouldn't be my first choice for Funny Girl (that would be Ana Gasteyer or Nicole Parker), she might be fine for the role. I was just trying to point out the complete absurdity of comparing her to Fanny Brice. 9 to 5 is her fourth Broadway credit, including her replacement stint in Wicked.
Madbrain . . . Why would you not say that SJB is/can be Fanny Brice? IMHO yes she can and is . . . it may not have been your intent to disparage SJB, however your comment is completely absurd in itself. My thoughts and opinions are as valid as yours.
This comment Madbrain . . .totally un-called-for
"Stephanie J. Block is this decade's "Fanny Brice".'
It's difficult to give credibility to any post that begins with a sentence like that.
Renart so stole my line! I just sat down and read this entire thread and was going to be all snarky and dramatic and point that out!
Anyhoo, the second thing I was waiting for was the pointing out of Shoshana Bean. I love that woman, sooooo sooooo much. But, to quote Margret Cho, "QUEEN, Please." Her voice, while amahzing, is not the kind of amahzing I'd like to see in the role. Secondly, while a hilarious person, she's not a hilarious performer. I hope against hope that she get's cast in the role somewhere and proves me wrong, though. Becasue, its a dream role of her's and I know what it's like not to be right for a role you REEAAALY want to play.
I'm also in MAJOR agrement with fflagg. Not only do we need someone with star quality, comedic chops, and THE VOICE, but we need someone that will draw people. That last notch completely scraps everyone mentioned in this thread. Even Degarmo, who I have the biggest girlcrush ever on and I think she rock it. But, the flaws of the show simply don't allow it to sell itself.
I have NEVER met Cheyenne Jackson. I have never hung out with him in his dressing room, he did not tweet me, he never bought me a beverage, and he mostly certainly didn't tickle me. . .that is all.