Last night had me saying HELLO, VANESSA! Vanessa Williams- HELLO, DOLLY!

Dame, I've been saying this all along!! I mentioned it in the Bernadette as Dolly thread as well.

Updated On: 7/24/17 at 12:27 PM

Maybe she's the Donna Murphy to Queen Latifa?

Vanessa has the comedic chops as well.   It was funny.. I spotted many young gay men with the bright red "Bette Midler-Hello Dolly" T-shirts last night.

And that awful lifetime tv show she is on will never get picked up.. So maybe????

DAME said: "I saw the Sondheim evening at the Bowl last night.. and Vanessa Willams worked the hell out of the Hollywood Bowl passarelle.  Which had me thinking.. wouldn't she be fabulous?   In a instagram video taken backstage after act 1 her and Jesse tyler Ferguson talk about a small technical issue she had when starting the number last night.. the video ends with him saying to her.. you better get used to the Pasarelle... 

 

"

YES! YES! YES!

Eh, I think I'd want someone who is more of a ham. She's a little to regal for me.

How about in a touring company.  Its steady work, she is known on the road due to Miss America, Ugly Betty, TV in general.  Not sure they know what a talented person she is...that will be the reward.

And why wouldn't anyone who replaces Midler not do 8 performances, unless the person is at least as old as Midler and with the same negotiating ability?

Updated On: 7/24/17 at 03:25 PM

Adore Vanessa Williams. I think she would be a fantastic choice and would truly light up the place with her charisma. 

Saw everything she did in NYC, and always thought she would've made the best post-Smith Phyllis in "Follies" (and I loved Maxwell's take).  She just looks like an ex-"Follies" girl.  Looked like she might've been that woman. I've never thought of her as Dolly, but it would be truly elegant.  And yeah, she's funny. I still remember her galvanizing "Spiderwoman," one of the sexiest performances in a musical.  

Pham,  its there .  There's a little 5 second follow up.    And check out his husbands instagram as well.  

She has my vote! Would be interesting to see what she would do with the role. 

I wonder when an announcement will be made?

Miserent said: "Am I the only one who thinks Sheryl Lee Ralph would make an utterly fabulous Dolly???

 

Maybe as an alternate or in the last month of its engagement.  The show has always done best when it was fronted by a star, which Sheryl Lee Ralph is definitely not.  In the 36(?) years since Dreamgirls opened, I am not sure what she has even done, particularly on Broadway.