Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again- Page 2
Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
NiteOwl
Featured Actor Joined: 1/5/07
#25Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:41pmThe role of Roxie Hart was most certainly not written for Gwen. The role already existed in the play "Chicago" written by Dallas Watkins and the movie "Roxie Hart" starring Ginger Rogers. The role was just adapted for her for the 1975 musical version directed by Fosse.
"I'm only 17 and am running on 6 cups of coffee so, forgive me if things that I post seem spastic." ~ Elphaba 43
#26Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:43pmYes, Roxie was written for Gwen. Yes, there is mention of her age in the monologue. But she was a little old. She was great though. Danced the hell out of the part.
NiteOwl
Featured Actor Joined: 1/5/07
#27Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:44pmIt's sad that Jennifer Holliday is now stuck in a rut and the only thing she'll ever be remembered for is DREAMGIRLS. She's the equivalent of a circus act now. You pull her out of moth balls every couple of years to take a look at her and when you get sick of her you put her back on the shelf. Truly, truly sad.
"I'm only 17 and am running on 6 cups of coffee so, forgive me if things that I post seem spastic." ~ Elphaba 43
NiteOwl
Featured Actor Joined: 1/5/07
#28Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:45pm
Yes, Roxie was written for Gwen....
Do you read?
The role was N-O-T written for Gwen Verdon.
"I'm only 17 and am running on 6 cups of coffee so, forgive me if things that I post seem spastic." ~ Elphaba 43
#29Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:46pm
The role of Roxie Hart was most certainly not written for Gwen. The role already existed in the play "Chicago" written by Dallas Watkins and the movie "Roxie Hart" starring Ginger Rogers. The role was just adapted for her for the 1975 musical version directed by Fosse.
- Correction. The WHOLE musical production of Chicago was written for Gwen. Verdon continuously bugged Fosse to turn Chicago into a musical, she wanted to play Roxie for years and years. And Fosse finally got the rights when Maurine Watkins died. You have to realize Gwen was an icon back then. Both original productions of SWEET CHARITY and CHICAGO were created just for her, and were tailored around her talents and persona.
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 09:46 PM
#30Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:49pm
"- Correction. The WHOLE musical production of Chicago was written for Gwen. Verdon continuously bugged Fosse to turn Chicago into a musical, she wanted to play Roxie for years and years. And Fosse finally got the rights when Maurine Watkins died."
You're mostly right. Watkins left the rights to Verdon, not Fosse. Verdon then got Fosse on board and the rest is history.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#31Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:51pmThe SONGS were written for Gwen. The MONOLOGUE AND DIALOUGE were for Gwen. The DANCING was for Gwen. The WHOLE DAMNED SHOW was written as for Gwen and as a divorce (though they never did) present for Gwen. It was indeed written for Gwen Verdon. Sorry.
#32Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:55pm
This is from Wikipedia.. it's the story I've heard time and time over again.
Gwen Verdon read the play and asked her husband Bob Fosse about the possibility of creating a musical based on it. Bob Fosse approached Watkins multiple times to ask her permission to adapt the play as a musical, but was rejected in each instance. Upon her death in 1969, however, Watkins explicitly stated that the rights to Chicago were to be transferred to Verdon and Fosse.
It seems to me Watkins left the rights for both Verdon and Fosse. I know Fosse tried to get the rights for a very long time.
Whatever the story is, the musical was specifically created for Verdon. What a special lady.
NiteOwl
Featured Actor Joined: 1/5/07
#33Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:59pm
Yes, THE MUSICAL was written for Gwen.
Read: ADAPTED.
A character that already existed can't be CREATED for someone.
Again: The role of Roxie Hart was NOT created for Gwen Verdon.
"I'm only 17 and am running on 6 cups of coffee so, forgive me if things that I post seem spastic." ~ Elphaba 43
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 09:59 PM
#34Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:00pm
Actually, per Gwen herself on a video on this site, they were given to Gwen herself. She asked Fosse to direct (or it was assumed he would).
Wow, I've had to correct my typing all night. I guess I need sleep.
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 10:00 PM
#35Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:00pm
ljay, as you said, Verdon and Fosse had notoriously both been after the rights from Watkins, but Watkins specifically said in her will, "All roads lead to Verdon."
She went on to say that if anyone was to do the show it had to be with Gwen, which leads me to believe that, while it was only logical to assume Fosse was to be involved, it legally could have been done without him.
There is a video interview with Verdon where she talks about the situation in length (as well as several other things.) I'll let you know where it is if I find it. It's quite an interesting piece!
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 10:00 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Rotel1026
Broadway Star Joined: 8/12/06
#36Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:41pm
Flaunt It's description of JH's performance made me want to see it. That's sounds like one of those train wreck you can't look away from...so bad it's good type thing.
As for Holiday performing on the red carpet, you don't suppose they'd be tacky enough to have her sing it while Hudson is walking up the red carpet, would they? They really need to let Hudson have her moment too, I doubt Holiday would have appreciated it if the tables were turned and someone was pulling something like this on her.
#37Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:46pmdesperate.com....this is awful. No matter what she says about her support for Hudson I do not belive this. "What About What I Want?" The song family could have been written for her.
for fierce, fabulous and fun times visit eric mathew's world.
http://ericmathew.blogspot.com/
#38Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:15am
Hay.........
Two words,
MOVE ON!
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#39Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:43amHell yeah! I'm going to see this. I'm only 2 hrs from ATL. I hope some other "big" names are attached. I'm excited for this. Either way, if she's a trainwreck or stunning, I'll be entertained. The last show I saw in ATL at the Fox was Brooklyn, so I have no doubt this will at least ecllipse that.
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#40Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 1:22amOh I might have to see this just because of the legend she was.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
#41Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 1:29amJennifer Holliday is too old to go back to Effie again, but I'm sure she'll be fabulous as she was the first time. There is no other Effie for me. I'm sorry to disagree with everyone, but there is no other Roxie Hart than Ann Reinking!!!!
Acting should be bigger than life. Scripts should be bigger than life. It should all be bigger than life.- Bette Davis
stagegrrrl
Leading Actor Joined: 1/22/07
#42Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 1:36am
this is so sad.
i hear she is a monster.
awful to work with.
like the betty buckley level of awful and i think you all know how bad that is.
it's just sad. that being said i am going to try to help a sister out.
"jennifer holiday?
listen up sweetie.
you are so very talented. a broadway legend. you have achieved something that thousands of people only dream of.
be happy jennifer.
don't live in the past. why go there?
let's find something new and appropriate and move forward together.
you are not jennifer hudson.
you didn't get to make the movie.
you are not nominated for an oscar.
you need to get a grip.
put the ally mcbeal dvd's back on the shelf,
put the box of entenmann's down and call your agent.
find some new work.
some new age appropriate work and move on.
for all of our sakes.
good luck and god bless."
DG
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
#43Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:01am
Despite everything said in this thread, the fact is, when she does 'that number,' the crowd is going to go INSANE. So, while others sit and ruminate on what she should or should not be doing with her life, she'll be getting screaming ovations once again - and that IS her only goal.
Enjoy it dear, while it lasts.
TonyaFanatic
Broadway Star Joined: 12/29/04
#44Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:37amthis thread is so funny
"Girl, this cupcake is the jumpoff"- Adriane Lenox
#45Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:19am"you're lyin', you'r lyin' I've never been so YOUNG!"
". . . POP . . ."
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#46Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 8:29am
I just might go to see this. I am not a big Dreamgirls fan, nor am I a Jennifer Holliday fan, but this is a great oppurtunity to see her in the role...no matter how horrible.
I didn't see this many people complain about Carol Channing in Dolly or Tom Bosley in Fiorello!.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#47Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 8:32amIt's sad that she "sings" The Song now with such ridiculous affectations. It is nowhere near the thriller it used to be when she just SAAAAANG it.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#48Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:01am
When Ethel Merman starred in the revival of "Annie Get Your Gun," the critics called it "Granny Get Your Gun."
Maybe they should call this Holliday installment:
Dreamwomen
Goldengirls
Deena Jones and the Depends
I'm hoping the rest of their season will be rounded out by Andrea McArdle starring once again in the title role of Annie.
And Daisy Egan recreating her Tony-winner in The Secret Garden.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#49Jennifer Holliday WILL play Effie again
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:03amAnd for the season finale/gala performance, Patty Duke as Helen Keller in THE MIRACLE WORKER.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
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