Last night had me saying HELLO, VANESSA! Vanessa Williams- HELLO, DOLLY! — Page 2

Vanessa Williams as Dolly, Beyonce as Irene? I can dream right?

>I was about 16 at the time I saw her in it.  I thought she brought more glamour to the role  than any other Dolly I have seen and I remember her performance as being very warm.  That said, I also remember her singing as being really lousy.<

One example here. It's not a huge voice and she doesn't really sustain notes, but I wouldn't call it lousy. It's on pitch, it has character, and the brisk tempo serves the song well. So Long Dearie

Jarethan said: "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.  

 

 

"

I saw her do APPLAUSE for Reprise LA about 12 years ago. Obviously, she's not a name that will sell tickets, but she could still sing and she certainly held the stage in a "vehicle" role.

Very previously (i.e., in 1977), I worked with Ginger Rogers when she brought her night club act to the 3,000-seat theater where I worked in Miami Beach. Not much dancing: she showed dancing clips from her films and told war stories. But her singing was okay and she still had enough charisma to fill our barn of a house.

Updated On: 7/26/17 at 12:00 AM

In 1974 Pearl Baily did an all black cast version of Dolly.  I think all black cast days are over and today audiences will accept a mixed color blind cast.  I would nominate Queen Latifa since she will bring back memories of Pearl Baily with the same earthy sense of humor.

Love the idea of VW and Michael Urie together again! ^