Leona Lewis replacement
Leona Lewis replacement
#1Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:59am
I'm wondering if people think since the production started by stunt-casting Grizabella if the replacement(s) will also have to be a 'celebrity' or if they will go with non-name (or even a Broadway name). Also how long do you think her contract is for? I can't imagine her having signed for a full year.
Updated On: 8/4/16 at 08:59 AM
whatacharacter
Leading Actor Joined: 8/19/05
#2Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 9:02am
Heather Headley!
https://youtu.be/7v_A6DalQUc
<drops the mic>
broadwayguy91
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
#3Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 9:28am
whatacharacter said: "Heather Headley!
https://youtu.be/7v_A6DalQUc
"
In would love to see heather in the role
#4Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:24am
It won't happen, but at Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner's 54 Below show they talked about how Alice had been in final callbacks, but didn't get it. She sang some of Memory and it was beautiful. I'd love if Alice Ripley got the chance to do it (even though we all know it's not the Webber role she wants to play the most).
broadwayboy223
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
#5Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:38am
Wow I can't believe Alice didn't get it. It was so ****ty to audition all these awesome Broadway actresses and then pick Leona Lewis. At least that's awful in my opinion.
#6Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:43am
Apparently a TON were called in. They wanted to see Emily Skinner as well. Emily said she went in to appease her agent, knowing that Alice was the perfect choice.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#7Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:44am
Ripley would have been phenomenal.
And so would Heather Headley.
#8Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:11pm
how much on stage time does this role even have?
RW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#9Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:19pm
buhbuhbilly said: "how much on stage time does this role even have?
Between 12-13 minutes
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#10Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:19pm
buhbuhbilly said: "how much on stage time does this role even have? "
Approximately 12 minutes.
10086sunset
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
#11Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 1:45pm
Ripley would have been perfect, as she can act and sing.
sparepart973
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/12
#12Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 3:41pm
Am I the only one who thinks Ripley can't sing anymore? Her voice is shattered.
I think they are solidly looking for someone who can give a rather contemporary-sounding/pop-ish rendition, if we were to go by the way they've casted the show in London recently with Nicole, Kerry and Beverley.
#13Leona Lewis replacement
Posted: 8/4/16 at 3:59pm
sparepart973 said: "Am I the only one who thinks Ripley can't sing anymore? Her voice is shattered."
I think her voice has recovered somewhat since Next to Normal. Personally, I still hate the sound of her singing, but that's just me. I do think she is vocally capable of playing Grizzabella.
To be honest, I think pretty much anyone can play this role, as long as they can hit the notes. Even Leona Lewis managed to semi pull it off despite her mediocrity. We can name Broadway belters until the cows come home, and any one of them could make a good Grizzabella.
#14Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:02pm
it's really sad that Alice Ripley didn't get Grizabella! Considering that she gave such a tremendous performance(s) as Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard. I have such great memories of seeing that show! She and Alan Campbell were just beautiful together! What does ALW think at times?
Just buy Leona out (like Patti LuPone) and get Alice in there PDQ!!
#15Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:26pm
I'm just gonna leave this here....
http://fourchairsandakeyboard.tumblr.com/post/148461587822/alice-ripley-emily-skinner-that-time-alice
#16Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:30pm
Thanks Gleek!! Enough Said!!! Let's start the petition now!
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#17Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:31pm
I'm going to ask a very genuine question that will probably get me into trouble. Was Ms Ripley trying to sound good in that clip?
#18Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:35pm
Hi trp, you're not in trouble; but imo, just the funny lyric changes were enough to jab back. I think Alice was trying to sound like "how it should be" and "should not be" sung! Take that ALW!
Nothing against her trying, but Leona Lewis is just too young. The voice acquires wisdom and a certain depth with a little age, that she just does not have..Grizabella has to have that.
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#19Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:52pm
I agree that Grizabella should certainly not sound immature. I wonder if in two years, when Ms Lewis is the same age as Elaine Paige when she originated the role, her voice will have that mature quality.
Updated On: 8/4/16 at 04:52 PM
#20Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:56pm
I also agree that Ripley would be ideal. She's not carrying the show vocally and she's a killer actress who would slay that song.
Hell, honestly Betty could still do it and bring the house down. Maybe even more believably at her advanced age.
#21Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:22pm
Does age matter in this role? Betty was 34-35 when she won the Tony, Elaine was about the same age when she did it in London. Leona is 31. Are we saying go older to give our aging divas a job, or because we can't believably see anyone in their thirties playing this role?
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#22Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:38pm
everythingtaboo said: "Does age matter in this role? Betty was 34-35 when she won the Tony, Elaine was about the same age when she did it in London. Leona is 31. Are we saying go older to give our aging divas a job, or because we can't believably see anyone in their thirties playing this role? "
Elaine was 33 when she originated the role.
broadwayguy91
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
#23Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:44pm
the difference is that Elaine and Betty can act circles around Leona. and betty, even at 35 years old, had a distinctive and MATURE SOUNDING voice that fit the character perfectly. Elaine and Betty coujld also convey emotion (subtle and overt) through how they sang the phrasing. CLASSIC, TEXTBOOK musical theatre acting at its best.
Leona is noting more than a miscast pop singer. and no shade, but she doesn't have the intelligence for acting. there's nothing much going on in her head I feel.
Hopefully she gets replaced soon. Her being Grizabella is a spit in the face at every single theatre actress out there who work their way up through rank and file to earn the chance to even audition for these type of roles.
#24Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 9:45pm
I'm not saying I disagree about Leona, I was underwhelmed when I saw her the other night. So then based on the reality they're likely always going to skew towards actresses in their 30s, who then is an ideal replacement when she goes?
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#25Alice Ripley Yes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 9:59pm
I can't comment on her as an actress because I haven't seen Cats but Leona's season of The X Factor was 10 years ago. She's been paying her dues so to speak, though I do think it would have made more sense for her to go into Chicago or something like that. Comparing her to similarly aged theatre actresses, she's been singing professionally for about the same amount of time. It's not like they handed the part to the last winner of The Voice.
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