Is it time for a 'Sweet Charity' revival starring Ariana DeBose ?

[David10086]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 10:50am

Is it time for a 'Sweet Charity' revival starring Ariana DeBose ?  DEADLINE seems to think it may be, and couldn't help notice a bit of an audition Sunday night when DeBose hosted the Tonys. (If it happens, I sure would buy a ticket to that ! )   Bold text was done by me for emphasis...

 

"The Lehman Trilogy, Company, A Strange Loop, MJ and Sweet Charity were among the big winners at tonight’s Tony Awards. And Sweet Charity wasn’t even staged this season.

Credit Ariana DeBose for the blink-and-miss-it shout-out to the Bob Fosse classic — and for much else that went right with tonight’s fast-moving ceremony broadcast on CBS. When DeBose, who has mentioned Sweet Charity as being on her Broadway wish list, pulled American Buffalo nominee Sam Rockwell from the audience to do a quick bit of “Rich Man’s Frug” from the great 1966 musical, she made a case both for a revival and for her stake as one of the Tonys’ great hosts."

 

https://deadline.com/2022/06/tony-awards-review-2022-1235043631/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:04am

I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman".

[David10086]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:11am

quizking101 said: "I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman"."

 

Yes, yes, yes to KOTS ! However, I can see her taking some criticism for following in Chita Rivera's footsteps again after 'WSS'. (Allegedly, one of the reasons Lady Gaga wasn't interested in 'Funny Girl' on B'way after doing a remake of 'A Star Is Born', and early criticism she was tagging along Streisand vehicles). 

But 'Sweet Charity' needs a revival - it's been nearly 20 years since the Christina Applegate one. Though I kind of could see DeBose in an EVITA revival, too. For now, she's on top of the Broadway world - so she can kind of pick whatever revival she chooses. 

 

[nzagier]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:15am

quizking101 said: "I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman"."

great idea - but Chita defined it with her smoke and grit - anyone who came after did not capture it - including the car crash that was Maria Conchita Alonso. So bad.    

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:31am

I think she’d be an amazing Charity! 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:36am

nzagier said: "quizking101 said: "I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman"."

great idea - but Chita defined it with her smoke and grit - anyone who came after did not capture it - including the car crash that was Maria Conchita Alonso. So bad."

I really am rooting for a Kiss revival with Karen Olivo, Amber Heard, or even Katrina Lenk. I think DeBose would read very young for that role on stage, at least for another 10 years.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:47am

Question is… will this be a completely new re-imagining of SWEET CHARITY like the last 2 revivals were (the 2005 Broadway and 2016 Off-Broadway)?  As much as I love Bob Fosse and his SWEET CHARITY, it was so refreshing seeing those 2 non-Bob Fosse versions.  I love re-imaginings of old classics - enough with these stale recreations of the original versions.  Still pay homage to Bob Fosse’s original choreography but if I see his version of “Rich Man’s Frug” one more time, I’ll jump in front of a bus.  We have the ultimate version of it featuring the glorious Suzanne Charny in his 1969 film adaptation and it’s performed on the 2001 PBS filmed version of FOSSE. We good.  

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 11:57am

Valentina3 said: "nzagier said: "quizking101 said: "I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman"."

great idea - but Chita defined it with her smoke and grit - anyone who came after did not capture it - including the car crash that was Maria Conchita Alonso. So bad."

I really am rooting for a Kiss revival with Karen Olivo, Amber Heard, or even Katrina Lenk. I think DeBose would read very young for that role on stage, at least for another 10 years."

I second Lenk as Aurora. That actually seems like perfect casting to me. An ideal fit. One of the things that I found so beautiful, that I honestly hadn't noticed before is that Katrina's accent emerges when she sings. And it is so beautiful. Lenk totally embodies a screen goddess. 

 

[Square Peg2]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 12:04pm

I cam certainly see DeBose in Charity, though would be disappointed if she were cast in Spiderwoman. She doesn't really exude darkness or danger,  which is why she seems more suited to the former than the latter. I'm excited to see how her performing adapts as she ages, because in general, which she's enormously talented, I often feel a sense of inauthenticity, like she's always "on". I find that a bit off-putting.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 12:04pm

I have always hated Rich Man’s Frug since I saw the original production when I was 16 years old.  I would gladly have the number cut from the show altogether.

I think Ariana would be great in Charity, Spider Woman, and even as an age appropriate Mame.  She is her brother’s younger sister, Patrick is 8 years old…in a few years.  Of course, after the Funny Girl debacle, the probability of getting a Mame revival is reduced further…unless a guaranteed box office attraction wants to do it, which Ariana is not at the present time.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 12:50pm

Valentina3 said: "nzagier said: "quizking101 said: "I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman"."

great idea - but Chita defined it with her smoke and grit - anyone who came after did not capture it - including the car crash that was Maria Conchita Alonso. So bad."

I really am rooting for a Kiss revival with Karen Olivo, Amber Heard, or even Katrina Lenk. I think DeBose would read very young for that role on stage, at least for another 10 years."

I'm going to assume/hope you meant Amber Gray? And would love that, assuming she can move. Lenk would be great also.

DeBose would be awesome, I agree not yet though. As Charity? Blockbuster stuff!

(Olivo I don't even consider anymore, I think she's done with the stage again, and she barely showed up to MR so I wouldn't expect her to do this one 8 times a week.)

[David10086]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 8:51pm

Valentina3 said: "I really am rooting for a Kiss revival with Karen Olivo, Amber Heard, or even Katrina Lenk. I think DeBose would read very young for that role on stage, at least for another 10 years."

 

I don't think Amber Heard will be cast in anything at all in the near future - or far future. 

 

[A Director]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 10:29pm

No, it is not the time for a 'Sweet Charity' revival. It's a so-so show.  It would be exciting to see Ariana DeBose in a new musical written for her.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 12:02am

noooooooope

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 1:04am

Valentina3 said: "I really am rooting for a Kiss revival with Karen Olivo, Amber Heard, or even Katrina Lenk. I think DeBose would read very young for that role on stage, at least for another 10 years."

Well, IMO the actress playing Aurora/The Spiderwoman should probably be in her late twenties to early/mid thirties. Aurora is supposed to be a sexy movie star. Chita Rivera was waaaaay too old for the role when she did it but since The Spiderwoman can theoretically be any age, I imagine it worked since she won the Tony, etc. Ariana DeBose would be just fine age-wise I think.

 

[Ke3]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 2:08am

Lenk is always in the back of my mind for Spider Woman, but I've never seen her dance. To me if Aurora doesn't dance there's no point. Not "move", D-A-N-C-E. My first choice is MJ Rodriguez. Her lower register is amazing, but again, don't know if she can dance.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 2:16am

Amber Heard!! That’s hysterical! Dream on baby.

She ain’t never working again.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 2:44am

Valentina3 said: "nzagier said: "quizking101 said: "I'll take Ariana in a revival of this for sure, although I would KILL for her in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman"."

great idea - but Chita defined it with her smoke and grit - anyone who came after did not capture it - including the car crash that was Maria Conchita Alonso. So bad."

I really am rooting for a Kiss revival with Karen Olivo, Amber Heard, or even Katrina Lenk. I think DeBose would read very young for that role on stage, at least for another 10 years."

I know you didn’t mean Amber Heard, but I just choked on my water from laughing. 
 

After she performed the title song in Prince of Broadway, I would still love to see Janet Dacal take on Aurora. 
 

I love the idea of Ariana as Charity! 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 8:44am

I was so rooting for Sutton's version to transfer. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 9:02am

Wee Thomas2 said: "I was so rooting for Sutton's version to transfer."

I saw this 2016 Off-Broadway production and LOVED it.  One of the factors that made it fantastic was not only the complete reinterpretation but it’s super intimate thrust stage presentation.  The raw little band playing the score and the one actor playing all the male featured roles except Oscar.  How many people did that tiny venue seat?  150?  200?  It would be lost in a 1,500 seat Broadway house and the full impact of its intimate staging would be totally lost.  It worked due to the intimate staging.  Heck, Sutton changed her boots literally 7 inches from my face.  I had to lean back so her hand didn’t smack me.  

[betyourass]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 10:06am

This would be amazing! 

[denali.fire]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 11:17am

No. Not really. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 11:31am

Ariana would be good as Charity, but it would all depend on the director to make the production work.

Would love to see her as Rosie in a big revival of BYE BYE BIRDIE alongside someone like NPH or Zachary Levi, but that role seems a little too "quaint" for her.

[inception]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 2:00pm

I'd rather see a show that hasn't been revived like Coleman's Wildcat.  It has at least one great song, and likely has humor in the book since it was written for Lucille Ball.

Another show that I'd be curious about seeing someone do is Redhead.  It did win Best Musical in 1960.

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/15/22 at 2:32pm

Agreed, sad we didn't get Sutton's version on Broadway.