If I could cast ANYONE to make the dream cast for CAROLINE, OR CHANGE...

here is what it would be:

Tonya Pinkins ---------Caroline Thibodeaux
Chuck Cooper -----------The Dryer/The Bus
Reathel Bean -----------Grandpa Gellman
Harrison Chad ----------Noah Gellman
Tracy Nicole Chapman -- The Radio
David Costabile ------- Stuart Gellman
Veanne Cox ------------Rose Stopnick Gellman
Aisha de Haas --------- The Moon
Marcus Carl Franklin -- Joe Thibodeaux
Marva Hicks ----------- The Radio
Capathia Jenkins ------ The Washing Machine
Larry Keith -----------Mr. Stopnick
Ramona Keller-----------The Radio
Alice Playten ---------Grandma Gellman
Anika Noni Rose -------Emmie Thibodeaux
Leon Thomas III -------Jackie Thibodeaux
Chandra Wilson --------Dotty Moffett

.


look familiar?

-d.b.j-

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Updated On: 7/13/04 at 10:21 PM

It IS perfection, isn't it? I do wish it would run long enough, so we could see a few first-rate replacements in the roles and see how the show plays with different actors in some of the roles. I think Lillias White and Jennifer Holliday would be very interesting in the role of Caroline -- not better, necessarily, but definitely a different take.

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Tonya Pinkins totally stole that part from Angela Lansbury.

I am really not trying to be rude, but since I hadnt heard Tonya sing since Caroline, is that really how she sings? Almost screaming? With her voice breaking at points? This is a serious question, cause she sounds good for Lots Wife, but it got kinda irritating during the show.

Listen to her on the Jelly's Last Jam or Wild Party OBCs -- a rich, gorgeous mezzo voice, no raspiness of any kind (and a killer bod to die for, incidentally). Caroline is among the most difficult roles ever written for the musical theatre, that probably cannot be sung eight times a week without quite a bit of struggle, which is what Pinkins is going through now (Holliday endured the same kind of thing with Effie in "Dreamgirls). Be happy you've seen Pinkins in this -- people will be talking about this performance for years to come.

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Updated On: 7/13/04 at 10:46 PM

As good as Pinkins was I would love to hear Leslie Ugums attempt the role. Her voice is still in excellent shape and she has been singing since the early '50.

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Not that I'm aware of, Finn.

And please please PLEASE can we all give a little love to Veanne Cox. No...she's not the best singer in the world. But her performance should remind everyone that every performance in a musical should start with scrupulous, smart and true acting.

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ANd YESSSSSS YES YES YES I LOVE Veanne. LOVE LOVE LOVE Veanne sooo much. I enjoy Rose's music , too.
-d.b.j-

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I don't know if its the songs GIVEN to the mother and son that I don't like, or the actress and actor playing them, but I really thought that they were weaker than Tonya and the "underground" music. (Maybe because it's so brilliant) But it was WONDEFUL. Go see this show!

Veanne Cox is a friend of a friend. She was HILARIOUS in The Dinner Party. She and Henry Winkler stole the show.

I would LOVE to see Fuschia Walker as Caroline. She is an amazing performer.

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i dooooo agree, redhot. but please, please SEE THIS SHOW. it needs it.

boo hoooooo
-d.b.j-

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I thought CHANGING CAROLINE already closed?

J, I already told you:

I think CHANGING CAROLINE is the prequel to CAROLINE, OR CHANGE where Caroline is a wee infant. The conceit is how her being restricted to diapers made her the way she is. Mama wouldn't change her diaper regularly, thus she was constantly "underwater". When she finally breaks free of her diaper, her lil "moon" sings a hell of an 11 o'clock number.

It would have run in repertory with C,OC, but critics found it to be stalled, festered, idle, laborious, and a complete waste of time.

:)

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