QueenAlice said: "The only person I can think of who might replace, would be right for the role and would sell tickets the way Lea Michele would is Sara Bareillas"
She has never crossed my mind among these discussions…but I now I want to hear her sing some Funny Girl. She’s certainly funny enough for the part.
Lea has extended through May 28. It'll probably close then but I could see them bringing in a name to keep it running through the summer.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I honestly can't think of one performer out there who can top what Lea is doing on that stage. The show should close in May. I can easily see this going out on tour in the Fall of 2023.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
bwayphreak234 said: "I honestly can't think of one performer out there who can top what Lea is doing on that stage. The show should close in May. I can easily see this going out on tour in the Fall of 2023."
The thing is, if it DOES tour, who on earth would you cast?? I highly doubt Lea would go on tour....right?
hearthemsing22 said: "The thing is, if it DOES tour, who on earth would you cast?? I highly doubt Lea would go on tour....right?"
Never say never. Prior to her image revamp and this revival, she was touring with her costume performances. However, that can be a little more flexible scheduling, as she does have a toddler.
It would be amazing if during said-tour she stepped in for a brief stint, like the Los Angeles stop or something.
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "The thing is, if it DOES tour, who on earth would you cast?? I highly doubt Lea would go on tour....right?"
Never say never. Prior to her image revamp and this revival, she was touring with her costume performances. However, that can be a little more flexible scheduling, as she does have a toddler.
It would be amazing if during said-tour she stepped in for a brief stint, like the Los Angeles stop or something."
I don't know...I'd be extremely surprised if it does tour.
I really think it could tour. Julie and Ephie proved that you can put an unknown in the part and the show will still work as long they can sing it and I think Lea has built up enough interest to launch a tour that would sell well just based on the property.
Doesn't Julie have something else lined-up come the Spring? I'm sure there could be a young Broadway name that would be able to tour this.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
The show is "tour-ready" from a physical design standpoint. That alone combined with the facts that this is well known property and touring markets have built in subscription-based audiences are enough to warrant a tour in my mind.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
bwayphreak234 said: "The show is "tour-ready" from a physical design standpoint. That alone combined with the facts that this is well known property and touring markets have built in subscription-based audiences are enough to warrant a tour in my mind."
From a physical standpoint...really? After all the complaints about the design? I don't know. With a tour even if there are subscribers whose packages include the show, they could drop it, they could give the tickets to someone else...do you think producers want to take that chance? I'm more excited about Company going on tour than ever getting my hopes up for a Funny Girl tour (I don't even really want one or think we need one).
hearthemsing22 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "The show is "tour-ready" from a physical design standpoint. That alone combined with the facts that this is well known property and touring markets have built in subscription-based audiences are enough to warrant a tour in my mind."
From a physical standpoint...really? After all the complaints about the design? I don't know. With a tour even if there are subscribers whose packages include the show, they could drop it, they could give the tickets to someone else...do you think producers want to take that chance? I'm more excited about Company going on tour than ever getting my hopes up for a Funny Girl tour (I don't even really want one or think we need one)."
I never said the set was pretty - it would just be easy to tour. And as for dropping/giving their tickets away, the same could be said for ANY show going on tour. I'm not saying the show is GOING to tour, but it certainly seems possible and wouldn't surprise me if it did.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
I have to agree with you bwayphreak234. I mean the touring model is perfect for a show like this - all they need to do is fill 1-2 weeks of seats in each city and that is much easier to do in a known property than something more unknown. I'm surprised people are skeptical about its ability to tour even without Lea Michele.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
binau said: "I have to agree with youbwayphreak234. I mean the touring model is perfect for a show like this - all they need to do is fill 1-2 weeks of seats in each city and that is much easier to do in a known property than something more unknown. I'm surprised people are skeptical about its ability to tour even without Lea Michele.
"
People don't have to think it will do well on tour. It's my thought. That's all. No need to be surprised.
hearthemsing22 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "The show is "tour-ready" from a physical design standpoint. That alone combined with the facts that this is well known property and touring markets have built in subscription-based audiences are enough to warrant a tour in my mind."
From a physical standpoint...really? After all the complaints about the design? I don't know. With a tour even if there are subscribers whose packages include the show, they could drop it, they could give the tickets to someone else...do you think producers want to take that chance? I'm more excited about Company going on tour than ever getting my hopes up for a Funny Girl tour (I don't even really want one or think we need one)
Word cannot describe how much better I thought Company was than Funny Girl; however, I would bet money that John and Joan Q Public living in Tampa or Buffalo or Tempe would be happier to see tickets to Funny Girl than Company in their next season's subscription package. There is a reason Sondheim show do not have long-runs...tourist (who are the subscribers in the hinterlands) generally don't like Sondheom shows. Super over-simplification, but still true.
Jarethan said: "hearthemsing22 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "The show is "tour-ready" from a physical design standpoint. That alone combined with the facts that this is well known property and touring markets have built in subscription-based audiences are enough to warrant a tour in my mind."
From a physical standpoint...really? After all the complaints about the design? I don't know. With a tour even if there are subscribers whose packages include the show, they could drop it, they could give the tickets to someone else...do you think producers want to take that chance? I'm more excited about Company going on tour than ever getting my hopes up for a Funny Girl tour (I don't even really want one or think we need one)
Word cannot describe how much better I thought Company was than Funny Girl; however, I would bet money that John and Joan Q Public living in Tampa or Buffalo or Tempe would be happier to see tickets to Funny Girl than Company in their next season's subscription package. There is a reason Sondheim show do not have long-runs...tourist (who are the subscribers in the hinterlands) generally don't like Sondheom shows. Super over-simplification, but still true."
bwayphreak234 said: "I have to say that I underestimated Lea Michele's box office power when she was first announced. I thought the first few weeks of her run would do well and then it would taper off... Glad to have been proven wrong. The stakes were high as hell when Michele went into this production. There was no room for her to be anything but an absolute revelation in the role, and it sounds like she has more than delivered. I look forward to seeing her for myself next weekend."
I thought the same.... but omg, the legion of Glee fans is a force! I had a feeling they would come through for her and they did!
QueenAlice said: "The only person I can think of who might replace, would be right for the role and would sell tickets the way Lea Michele would is Sara Bareillas"
Not unless Fanny is supposed to be in her 40's...lol
I was in the camp of no one can replace Lea but having just seen the tour of Tina with a relatively unknown cast, I think I’ve changed my mind.
I was blown away by the performance this week. While as long as Lea is on, I don’t think it would make any sense to intentionally see anyone else on Broadway, I am now more open to the idea of watching it again on tour as long as the lead is a competent singer/performer.
babykitty_00 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "I have to say that I underestimated Lea Michele's box office power when she was first announced. I thought the first few weeks of her run would do well and then it would taper off... Glad to have been proven wrong. The stakes were high as hell when Michele went into this production. There was no room for her to be anything but an absolute revelation in the role, and it sounds like she has more than delivered. I look forward to seeing her for myself next weekend."
I thought the same.... but omg, the legion of Glee fans is a force! I had a feeling they would come through for her and they did!"
That’s a very common understanding, based to a large extent on the underlying notion that Glee created Lea/Rachel (and subsequent fan loyalties). It may well have been the other way around. I, of a drastically different generation, believe Gleeks first responded to Lea, and for essentially the same reasons experienced critics did to her performance in FG. Sometimes, you see, it is the children that “shall lead them.”
Gaga would be awesome! As for Rosie O Donnell..... gosh no. Find someone who can actually sing.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)