Leona Lewis OFFICIALLY cast as Grizabella — Page 2

Honestly, last time I heard anything about her career, her latest album was being sold for $4 on Grindr, so I wouldn't exactly say she has any relevance in the US as of late, either.

I remember liking her when she was on X Factor, but was never a big fan of her live performances of her songs. Scherzinger also had a background in theatre. I worry about Ms. Lewis getting lost behind the makeup.

I'm sure it's my naivety speaking, but if they weren't going to cast someone who would boost ticket sales, why couldn't it have just been a Broadway actress? Someone like Christine Dwyer, or even Alice Ripley might have done more to convince us jaded theatre people to give Cats a second chance. I'm disappointed all around.

I've never heard of her, but I still plan on seeing this.

FWIW, she also sang the forgettable end credits song from AVATAR



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YDz-ftqr1g

devonian.t said: "I still don't understand how casting someone who is such a beauty helps with the whole point of this character- the faded beauty in need of reincarnation. There is no way Nicole Scherzinger looked "faded" in London. ALW seems to be determined to willfully misunderstand his shows, (I cite casting of the Phantom in recent times as another example)."

Are you not aware that casting agents cast shows, especially ones that have been running for decades?

Simon Cowell really pushed Leona as the next Mariah and she just wasn't. ALW does seem hell bent on tapping the non existent reality singing competition market audience

trpguyy said: "Are you not aware that casting agents cast shows, especially ones that have been running for decades?"

While I know devonian.t is VERY well aware of how shows are cast, I can also tell you point blank that no Phantom is cast on Broadway without ALW's (and Cameron Mackintosh's) approval, even beyond that of the associate director at the very least, if not Hal Prince (although this may not happen so much these days given various different factors).

While a casting agent may suggest a principal, it is not normally their call as to who is eventually cast.

It's not exactly a secret that since Love Never Dies became reality the Phantom's casting has been very much sexed up to fit a vision of the part as being something of a romantic lead (and the end of the show has been redirected to fit). That's not going to be down to a casting agent, but whoever has instructed them.

(also worth noting that Phantom isn't cast by agents in the UK, but directly by the Mackintosh office's casting team, which directly reflects much of what happens on Broadway)

she hasn't been relevant in about ten years but I was a fan of that song Bleeding Love (I think Jessie McCartney wrote the song). in a revival such as this, I'm kind of glad no big theater stars are wasting their time on it.

if you look at her Wikipedia page, she's technically not a one-hit wonder since she's had more then one single on the charts. but she hasn't had one in several years.

I'm just really pissed off that some amazing Broadway people were called in to audition and they were all told no because they were so sure that Nicole was going to do it and now....Leona was cast. Why waste everyone's time if you were just going to cast an irrelevant pop star the whole time?

Updated On: 5/26/16 at 02:03 PM

Its theatre, not geopolitcs

What a disappointment

Well, I guess it's a sort of comeback for Leona. I think she has a great voice and I'm rooting for her. When I first heard her, back in 2007, I thought she'd go further with her career...this could possibly do it.

I originally thought they'd need a big star name, but I now agree with some of the other posts here; CATS is the star of the show. It's just great that we've got someone who should serve MEMORY well.