Guys and Dolls:
Sky-Cheyenne Jackson
Sarah-Amanda Seyfried
Nathan-Eric McCormack
Adelaide-Jane Krakowski
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
I don't think Amanda Seyfried has the vocal chops for Sarah.
Also, isn't Laura Benanti too old to play Larken?
I know it was just revived, but A Chorus Line -
Maggie: Krysta Rodriguez
Zach: Grant Turner
Sheila: Jane Krakowski
Kristine: Annaleigh Ashford (can she dance?)
I haven't figured out the rest yet.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
I'm all for casting non-dancers in dancing roles (Karen Olivo as Anita) but Jane Krakowski COULD NOT, under any circumstances, handle "The Music and the Mirror".
... because clearly, in my world, "Cassie" and "Sheila" are interchangeable.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
Oops. Honest mistake. Well, I don't know if she could handle that either.
SWEENEY TODD
Sweeney-- Norm Lewis (hey, he's played the role regionally)
Mrs. Lovett-- Susan Blackwell (too young?)
Judge-- Terrence Mann
Anthony-- Cheyenne Jackson
Johanna-- Brandi Burkhardt
Beggar Woman-- Ooh, I don't know. Someone good. Someone CRAZY.
Pirelli-- Tyler Maynard
Beadle-- Michael Ball (You knew I was gonna put him on here...)
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
Norm would be amazing, although then Johanna would have to be black as well. I don't love Cheyenne as Anthony. I've always pictured Anthony as someone who's less, well...attractive.
And I love me some Susan Blackwell, but to paraphrase [tos], "They might say that she cannot sing good enough to be in THAT musical".
Norm Lewis plays Ariel's daddy, and she's not black! That's the magic of the theatre, I guess. I thought of Susan for Mrs. Lovett, because although it's a vocally challenging role, it's not a role where you necessarily have to sound beautiful. But you're right, I just couldn't think of anyone I really could see in the role at the moment.
For some reason, I don't find Cheyenne at all attractive... but I've always wanted an Anthony who actually looks like a sailor and not like a... wimp? And he does have a big voice. Basically, I just wanted the antithesis of that creeper who played him in the film, Jamie Campbell Something. Ugh, I had nightmares about that kid.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
I liked him, actually.
Ha, it's probably just because I'm a girl. Most of the girls I know didn't like him, and most of the guys I know thought he was great. I think I'm just shallow and dislike him because I think he's incredibly creepy-looking and would not want him to stand outside my window with a trickle of blood running down his face, hissing, "I feeeeel you!"
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
But he's in love! He does it out of love!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
I think a lot of people feel that "Johanna" is a stalker song.
My sister and I laughed so hard when Anthony got the crap beaten out of him; he simply stood up, brushed himself off, and kept on singing.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
Yeah, that was silly.
Well, that’s the thing—“Johanna” should be sung like he is doing it out of love, like he’s a knight in shining armor who wants to rescue her. A good performer can make it seem less like a stalker song, because it really is a beautiful song. If you have a wimpy little Antony, the song seems like he’s a pervish peeping tom who spies on Johanna and fantasizes about her, really not that different from Judge Turpin.
I love Cris Groendaal and Hugh Panaro’s renditions of the song—they’re very heroic sounding, rather than the thin little breathy whisper that Jamie Campbell Bower used. He has a nice voice, but he just doesn’t seem like Antony to me. He seems… sinister and sickly.
See, I always pictured Anthony the exact opposite. That way he kind of compliments Johanna. I like his boyish charm and innocence. I don't think Johanna would go for a knight in shining armor type.
But then again, I loved the movie guy (just watched it last night on HBO) and I'm a guy, so looks like your theory is pretty much right.
My favorite "bad" show BKLYN: The Musical.
Brooklyn: Diana Degarmo
Street Singer: Michael McElroy
Taylor Collins: Will Chase
Paradice: Melba Moore
Faith: Kerry Butler
"Also, isn't Laura Benanti too old to play Larken?"
Probably, but her voice would be beautiful.. :)
madbrian, I'm not sure if you know this, but Harriet Harris played Vera when Mame was at the Kennedy Center, starring Christine Baranksi. Baranski is very talented but I didn't find her quite rught for the role. Harris was the best part of the cast, with a fun turn with Emily Skinner as Gooch. Speaking of, I know Annie isn't a favorite but I would love to see Skinner's Miss Hannigan and her Ursula in Little Mermaid. She also has the sweetness and humor to be a terrific Dolly one day.
There are some casting suggestions in this thread that make me wonder if the people who posted them have ever seen the shows or alternatively if they've even seen the actors they're suggesting. But what the hell? Not a great surprise.
One suggestion that sounds kind of good on paper is Norm Lewis as Sweeney. Except that everyone I know who saw him in the role says he just was wrong for it in every way. And it seems he also ran into some vocal trouble doing it. True, he's older now and perhaps would have a bit more access to some of the emotional requirements, but talented as he is, I suspect it's still not a good role for him.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
I know it just closed not too long ago but Curtains...
and I only have one casting choice in my head.
Annaleigh Ashford as Niki Harris.
Swing Joined: 2/20/07
I would pay to see Julia Murney as Cathy in a revival of The Last 5 Years - she rocked during the performance with Jason Robert Brown as Jamie in 2006.
If Xanadu ever gets revived I think Becky Gulsvig would be great as Clio/Kira. I'd like to see Sutton Foster as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George in a few years; after seeing her as Fiona in Shrek I think she could handle it.
Yeah, because Princess Fiona is as challenging vocally and acting wise as Dot in SITPWG... I definitely think her performance in Shrek proves her ability to play the equivalent role of Dot!
nobodyhome-- I was the person who suggested Norm Lewis as Sweeney Todd, and I heard that he wasn't right for the part, either. But I've seen him as King Triton, and I enjoyed watching him so much that I just wanted to SEE how he'd interpret Sweeney, even though I heard that he actually wasn't very good. And I feel that he could step up his game.
Also, I really just wanted to put down a former Javert for both Sweeney and the Judge, and Norm Lewis and Terrence Mann were my favourites.. You know what, though? I think James Barbour might also make a good Sweeney.
"nobodyhome-- I was the person who suggested Norm Lewis as Sweeney Todd, and I heard that he wasn't right for the part, either. But I've seen him as King Triton, and I enjoyed watching him so much that I just wanted to SEE how he'd interpret Sweeney, even though I heard that he actually wasn't very good. And I feel that he could step up his game.
"Also, I really just wanted to put down a former Javert for both Sweeney and the Judge, and Norm Lewis and Terrence Mann were my favourites.. You know what, though? I think James Barbour might also make a good Sweeney."
I'm not a big Terrence Mann fan, but he's so creepy that he might be a good Judge, though I don't think of his voice as having the right kind of darkness for the role.
I've never gotten much depth from James Barbour so I can't really see him as Sweeney, but you're not the first person to suggest it. And I could be completely wrong.
In my experience, the people who've played the role well have been people who've had as much experience (or more) in plays than in musicals.
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