Yeah, this'll cause a stampede to the box office.
First off, I think he'll be great in it. Secondly, David Hyde Pierce's presence in Curtains kept that show's grosses mostly in the 600,000-800,000 range in its first year, so I would expect Kelsey Grammer in a musical to perform similarly well.
Didn't this JUST have a revival?
Grammer has had two failed sitcoms in the last two years. His latest was one of the first, if not the very first, shows to be cancelled this season. While I never wish anyone ill (at least in the theater), I can't imagine he'd be any sort of draw. DHP was riding the success of Spamalot in addition to his work on Frazier. Personally, I'm not a fan of Grammer's, so unless the reviews (here and in print) are raves, I'll probably skip this.
Yeah, and so did Gypsy. So what?
I think Grammer will be very good. Slightly disappointed the Szot rumors didn't pan out, but whatever. I'll still be happy to see it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
I've been raving about this production - and Hodge, who just rejoined the London production to close it out - since I saw it last January.
I care more about the talent than Hugh Jackman/Julia Roberts-like drawing power. I am BEYOND excited about this!
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)
Perfect casting, gobs of excitement for this revival, HUGE expectations.
This *is* great casting. I wish him the best in his Broadway musical debut. I am excited.
I think this will be perfection. I couldn't be more excited for this revival!
I still think he should have made his debut as Lawrence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels...
Very exciting news. I saw the show in London in September, and loved it. Can't wait to see it when it opens in the spring.
Well, I've never found him to be very talented. I mean he's best known for playing one role, not knowing what to do next and then starting a new show so he could continue playing the exact same character. Does that really showcase his talent. Fine he can sing, but I don't know if I would waste a Cage Aux Folles revival (even though it's way to early to revive it again) on him.
It is an INCREDIBLE production, I wouldnt say this production re-invents the show (as people have said in the past) but I really feel it strips the show down to the raw emotion, pride, and gives the opportunity for some INCREDIBLE acting!
The first time i EVER cried in a theatre, was during this production in London during "i am what I am," because of the huge amount of pride i felt!
ChiChi, you seem to know a lot about him. How long have you know Kelsey?
Yep...wouldn't be Broadway World if someone wasn't getting personally offended all the time.
How could I get personally offended? I've never met you or Kelsey. It's great that you know him.
lol
Grammer will do fine so long as he opts to act. I mean no disrespect to the an but to be honest he has basically played himself on his last 2 sitcoms.
On a side note, I do hope this revival is recorded.
I see this working and Grammar will help the box office. They won't be selling out the place because of him, but he will help.
I'm not convinced Grammer is much help to the box office when his last Broadway outing couldn't keep Macbeth open for longer than ten days.
Who wants to see Macbeth? This is a musical!
I still just think it's too early for another revival. I said the same thing about Gypsy. What Gypsy had was a huge diva like LuPone. He's not of the same caliber. At least I don't think so.
I believed long ago it was way too sign for another La Cage revival. Then I saw this production in London. After that, I felt it couldn't come to Broadway soon enough. The announcement of Grammer is definitely giving me pause now, though. I'd almost rather see Macbeth than Kelsey Grammer in La Cage as anyone other than Monsieur Dindon.
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