Impossible dream roles for our great performers...

[djb]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 8:15pm

Okay, so recently I've been thinking about actors who would be/have been amazing in roles that they could never play/have played (whether it be based on their age, the show not being written until after they were dead, etc.)

For example, I keep thinking how amazing Julie Andrews would have been as Fantine in "Les Miserables" if the show had only been written decades earlier.

Has anyone elses' imaginations ever run wild in this direction?

[morosco]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 8:38pm

Ethel Merman as EVITA. Can you imagine?

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 8:54pm

Judy Garland as Carlotta in Follies or Rose in Gypsy.

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 9:07pm

Tyne Dayly(sp) as The Witch in Into the woods or as Ms. Lovett

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 9:10pm

Don Quixote.

Oh, not THAT kind of 'impossible dream' roles for great performers?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 9:15pm

I agree that Judy Garland would have been a brilliant Carlotta. If Cheno was an alto, I think she would make a great Sally in Cabaret.

[Soprano91]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 10:16pm

Once I cast Les Mis entirely with performers who are either very old or dead right now. I don't remember most of them... but a few were
Howard Keel (or was it Alfred Drake?) - Javert
Judy Garland - Fantine
Kathryn Grayson or Julie Andrews - Cosette
Frank Sinatra - Marius

I may be a little skeptical of my Sinatra casting ... although he did play dorky/adorable/lovebird roles very well back in the day (see "Anchors Aweigh" or "On the Town" or any of those), and he certainly had the voice.

[BNN]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 10:30pm

Donna McKechnie, Gwen Verdon, and Chita Rivera as Ms. De La Hoya, Ms. Polanksy, and Ms. Wong in Promises, Promises.

Actually just let all three of them perform every number from Sweet Charity at the same time.

[philly03]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 10:31pm

Linda Eder as Don Quixote: Obviously there are gender issues there!

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 10:32pm

I think Terrence Mann would have made an awesome Jekyll/Hyde.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 1:25am

I believe Terrence Mann starred with Linda Eder in the first incarnation of Jekyll/Hyde back in 1990. And yes, I agree that he would be awesome in the role and would love to see him perform it.