Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Latifah is denied the role of Effie
#0Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:46pm
Though they had Queen Latifah in mind for the role of Effie Melody White, they had to deny her the role, simply because she was too old.
My Source: The Village Voice.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#1re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:50pmProbably she was denied because Corine organized a letter writing campaign for her to get the role.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#2re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:52pm
That's sad 
What do you think of her as Motormouth in the Hairspray film? The story on playbill.com said they're looking for high profile TV and music celebs to play roles besides Tracy...
www.christopherviolett.com
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#3re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:00pm
Latifah is a nice lady and a decent enough actress with a cute little voice, but c'mon, she couldn't sing Effie in a million years -- she just doesn't have the range or power for it.
As far as Motormouth, she's about 20 years too young for that part (and also too underpowered vocally to sing that role).
Too young for one, too old for the other and not up to the vocal demands of either -- maybe somebody should write a show tailor-made to her unique talents.
How about Loretta Devine for Motormouth? Or Patti Labelle? Or Aretha?
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 3/3/05 at 06:00 PM
courtneyanne
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/05
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
#5re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:03pm
Aretha would be glorious! Is she healthy? I haven't seen her anywhere in so long. Can you picture her singing those songs!?
That is truly perfect casting!
chasgoose
Stand-by Joined: 2/19/05
#6re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:04pmI actually think Latifah is a great singer, although her voice is definitely more suited to jazz. Not only was she good in the movie of Chicago, but the jazz CD she released last year was excellent.
#7re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:05pm
I agree that Latifah would be a great Pearl Bailey, because she looks like a young version of her - not in a One Woman show, but more like a bio-epic...
Doesn't matter. Latifah is now a huge star, and will be getting other roles written specifically for her.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#8re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:10pmI know Latifah was interested in recording I Know Where Ive Been a while ago... Mary Bond mentioned it when I interviewed her for spouzic.com. Updated On: 3/3/05 at 06:10 PM
#9re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:19pmBeaver, I know what you meant...but a one woman show on stage would limit her talents to those only in the town she is performing (i.e. NYC). But, if she did a film version, then EVRYONE would get to see it. (Besides, Pearl Bailey was not the nicest person in the world, very difficult to work with, and it would come off so much better to see how other's reacted to her)
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
Caleb
Understudy Joined: 11/16/04
#10re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:38pm
Margo, I was thinking Patti LaBelle in that role as well!
This is off subject, but did anyone see Mary Bond Davis in the reading of The Mistress Cycle? She was phenomenal, as was every lady who participated in that reading.
Also, as far as the Dreamgirls movie goes, I would love to see the three original Dreams in a cameo as the Stepp Sisters. It slips my memory now how many girls there are in that group, but I would love it if the movie started with the three of them together, in costume, singing their hearts out. It would be great because they wouldn't stick out in the film for people who don't know who they are, but anyone who knew who they were would get a huge kick out of seeing them kick off the movie. What do you think?
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#11re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:40pm
There were four Stepp Sisters so you could have Holliday, Ralph, Devine and Debbie Burrell (the original Michelle).
Now whether those four with those egos would EVER agree to such a thing is a whole other question.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#12re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 8:31pm
"It would be great because they wouldn't stick out in the film for people who don't know who they are, but anyone who knew who they were would get a huge kick out of seeing them kick off the movie. What do you think?"
"Now whether those four with those egos would EVER agree to such a thing is a whole other question."
Chita did a one-liner in the movie version of Chicago. If she can do it, as great as she is, then they should lay aside their egos and do it.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#13re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:15pm
Goth darling,
I only did that for Harvey. Mary Bond Davis would be an amazing Effie.
#14re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:20pmOff-topic- Patti LaBelle would be a perfect Motormouth.
#15re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:38pmI'm sorry, well not really, but Queen Latifah cannot act. Period. And she's too old. Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#16re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:41pmLaBelle has a good sense of comedy. I liked her as Duane Wayne's mom on "A Different World".
#17re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:45pmI agree Margo. I'm waiting for Jennifer Holliday's letter of complaint about how she was denied playing Effie in the movie. Um...she's too old, period.
#18re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:46pmI think that Latifah could do Motor Mouth.....
#19re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:55pmShe can't even make a Pizza Hut commercial work...I think she is very overrated, and slightly annoying on screen. Her oscar nomination was a FLUKE.
#20re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/3/05 at 11:27pm
I never saw Queen Latifah as Effie but I do think she can act. She just hasn't had the best luck in picking movies. She was great in "Set It Off" and a knockout in "Chicago." But I might be biased since I'm also a fan of "Living Single" (I mean, in a '90s kinda world, I'm glad I got my girls...) cheesy as it is. I wish she could have a cameo in the film but I don't see a place where she could fit. Speaking of the cameos (or some of the roles that could be cameos in the film), how are they going to fill those? The people who I would love to have cams (Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, etc.) are all a little ahem mature to play the other acts and what not. Hell, even En Vogue is too old to play the Stepp Sisters. Ahh well, maybe Beyonce can convince all the former members of Destiny's Child to play them. On a different (but sorta related) note, Patti Labelle must play Motornouth in the Hairspray movie. She would be firce with the song and is the only woman who I can imagine saying things like, "Everybody hussle, here comes Von Tussle." Also, there would be no need for craft service tables because she would cook for the entire cast and crew. Lord, I love that woman.
Zach
"You're not a kid anymore, Robby. I don't think you'll ever be a kid again, kiddo." - Joanne, Company
#21re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/4/05 at 12:10amLatifah can definitely act but I have to agree with Margo (and others) on this one. she's a great performer but she just wouldn't do it as Effie. Not for me alteast.
jim coleman
Stand-by Joined: 1/10/05
#22re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/4/05 at 1:59amPatti LaBelle is terrible in CHICAGO. Can't act her way out of a paper bag, and it looks like she isn't even trying to play Mama Morton. Just terrible!!!
BatonMan
#23re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/4/05 at 2:17am
Bobby,
Latifah can't act? Well, someone should tell that to her agent who is getting her all this acting work.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#24re: Latifah is denied the role of Effie
Posted: 3/4/05 at 6:50amHer acting ability is less relevant that ner ability to sell tickets. Let's see how BEAUTY SHOP does. After that TAXI turkey, she needs a hit.
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