Kudisch, Folds, and Pinkham to lead TRADING PLACES musical

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 2:18pm

The Alliance Theatre has announced the cast and creative team of its world premiere musical, inspired by the beloved Paramount Pictures film.  TRADING PLACES is a hilarious and contemporary musical reimagining of the prince and pauper fable.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Aneesa-Folds-Bryce-Pinkham-Marc-Kudisch-More-to-Lead-TRADING-PLACES-20220323

TRADING PLACES will enjoy its world premiere on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre May 25 - June 26, 2022.

The cast of TRADING PLACES is led by Broadway actors Aneesa Folds (Freestyle Love Supreme) as Billie Rae and Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder) as Louis, with Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch (Girl From the North Country) and Lenny Wolpe (Bullets Over Broadway) as Mortimer and Randolph Duke, and featuring McKenzie Kurtz (Frozen) as Penelope, Josh Lamon (Alliance & Broadway productions of THE PROM) as Beeks, Joe Montoya as Phil, and Don Stephenson (Trouble in Mind) as Coleman. The ensemble cast includes Benjamin Howes, Raymond J. Lee, Michael McCorry Rose, and Nyla Watson. Additional ensemble members are yet to be announced.

TRADING PLACES is helmed by Tony Award-winning director, Kenny Leon (A Soldier's Play, A Raisin in the Sun) and an exciting writing & directing team including television and film writer Thomas Lennon (Book), musical writing team Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Music & Lyrics), acclaimed film, television, and music video choreographer Fatima Robinson (Choreography), Alliance Theatre BOLD Associate Artistic Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden (Associate Director), Tony Award-nominated Orchestrator August Eriksmoen, and Music Director Rick Edinger. The creative team includes Tony Award-winning Scenic Designer Beowulf Boritt, Lighting Designer Adam Honoré, Tony Award-winning Sound Designer John Shivers, and Tony Award-nominated Costume Designer Emilio Sosa.

Updated On: 3/23/22 at 02:18 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 3:11pm

Good cast, but that doesn't really matter since the entire creative team gives me such pause –– Kenny Leon's strength isn't musicals, Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner's claim to fame is FIRST DATE, and Thomas Lennon's film/TV hasn't been stellar (even if some of it has been profitable).

Updated On: 3/23/22 at 03:11 PM

[barcelona20]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 3:29pm

Interesting that they changed the character of Billy Rae into Billie Rae.  I wonder if it's to escape the shadow of Eddie Murphy or so they can include points about the challenges women face in the world.   Not the biggest fan of the cast, but I do find Aneesa's casting the most intriguing.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 3:43pm

Yeah the casting is eh, but I love Thomas Lennon. And I didn't HATE First Date. So could be cute.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 3:54pm

Could be fun, good cast and creatives. But Kenny Leon and musicals? Meh. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 3:56pm

I adore Aneesa from Freestyle, so I'm rooting for her and this show, but not sure I'm sold yet. Interesting to see more from this!

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 4:21pm

Sad to see Tiffany Mann was replaced, she was EXCELLENT at the reading a few months ago 

Josh Lamon was a scene stealer 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 4:30pm

RippedMan said: "Yeah the casting is eh, but I love Thomas Lennon. And I didn't HATE First Date. So could be cute."

You shut your face. Kudisch makes this casting amazing. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 4:31pm

Does Leon do musical comedy?

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 4:36pm

Not based on Tap Dance Kid at Encores...

Updated On: 3/23/22 at 04:36 PM

[barcelona20]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 4:51pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Sad to see Tiffany Mann was replaced, she was EXCELLENT at the reading a few months ago

Josh Lamon was a scene stealer"

Any other additional insight on the reading?  Worth a trip to Atlanta?

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 2:33pm

Previews have been going for about a week now… anyone seen it? Have tix for next Friday. 

 

The whole run looks to be sold out. 

[barcelona20]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 2:57pm

Karate Kid vs Trading Places. Which musical based on an 80's movie will make it to Broadway?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 3:08pm

Is this the same Thomas Lennon as from Reno 911 fame? 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 3:10pm

barcelona20 said: "Karate Kid vs Trading Places. Which musical based on an 80's movie will make it to Broadway?"

Neither?

But really all depends on who has the money in place and gets moderately promising reviews OOT.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 3:17pm

jpbran said: "Previews have been going for about a week now… anyone seen it? Have tix for next Friday.



The whole run looks to be sold out."

I live in the area so I caught this last Friday. It was light, hilarious, creative, and such a fun night out at the theater. It's a gorgeous new space and the energy in the crowd was positive. 

Updated On: 6/1/22 at 03:17 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 3:39pm

Correct. 

[SouthernHope1]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 10:56pm

I've seen it twice -- once on the 2nd night of previews and again about 1 hour ago.  One good thing -- the musical took a big leap forward in the course of those 7 performances....the pacing was better tonight, the songs better presented, the choreography sharper.....all of the things you'd expect from a play with a good pedigree behind it. 

Beyond that, it's mixed. Marc Kudisch and Lenny Wolpe as the Duke brothers are great old pros....great with each other & terrific presence on stage.  Kudisch, in particular, has a showstopper scene in the 2nd act with the Phil Lopez character (the role Jamie Lee Curtis played in the film).  And  Bryce Pinkham -- an actor I did not know before tonight -- is truly hilarious and a great physical actor.  There are also a couple of very nice dancers in the ensemble -- James Luc stands out. 

The bigger problem is the overall story....it tiptoes along the border of being preachy but pulls itself back in time....it'll be interesting to see how it does with a larger audience.  And i have qualms about Aneesa Folds  (the eddie murphy role) being a big enough presence to hold this play together....she can sing like nobody's business but I didn't find her compelling as the lead.  But it's still early days and we shall see what happens!  I'm happy to give impressions of any other parts of the play.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 11:52pm

Southern hope, I haven't seen it yet but I think you've identified probably the biggest problem in the musical. The movie is a billion miles away from being preachy yet it gets its point across. Sounds like the musical doesn't achieve this, although to be fair I think this is sort of what they were going for when they were "updating" it for modern times. Can you spoil two things for me? 1- do they still use the karate man line? 2- Does Louis end up with his fiance? If he doesn't, you don't have to say who he ends up with, but based on the video they posted it seemed like he does. Unless their song occurs early in the show.

[SouthernHope1]

Posted: 6/2/22 at 11:00am

The Karate Man line wasn't in there....at least, I didn't hear it and I don't think I would have missed it!

On the "does Winthrope get back with his fiance" question,  

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

he does!  But first they have to learn important life lessons.....which again teeters on the verge of being preachy but is saved (somewhat) by the song "Money isn't Everything." 

 

Updated On: 6/2/22 at 11:00 AM

[barcelona20]

Posted: 6/2/22 at 11:21am

Thank you Southern, sounds like they definitely put this movie through the "musical" wringer. I wonder if there will be any official reviews. 

[SouthernHope1]

Posted: 6/2/22 at 1:10pm

oh there will absolutely be official reviews....when The Prom premiered at the Alliance, they had 3 or 4 local reviewers (but with a strong presence), a reviewer from Variety, and one from Broadway World itself.

Now the Prom was broadway royalty so that's one reason.....but Kenny Leon has a strong following and interest in his work so we shall see.

Opening night is this Saturday. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/2/22 at 2:53pm

I'm more interested in this show than most other movies turned musicals coming down the pike.  

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/2/22 at 3:07pm

Jordan Catalano said: "RippedMan said: "Yeah the casting is eh, but I love Thomas Lennon. And I didn't HATE First Date. So could be cute."

You shut your face. Kudisch makes this casting amazing."

Yes! What Catalano said! I love TRADING PLACES so I'm looking forward to this.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 6/2/22 at 3:19pm

Yes! What Catalano said! I love TRADING PLACES so I'm looking forward to this."

The question is, how much of this is truly Trading Places? Hopefully it comes to NYC so we can find out.