Leona Lewis replacement

[FANtomFollies]

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]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 9:02am

Heather Headley!

https://youtu.be/7v_A6DalQUc

<drops the mic>

[broadwayguy91]

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

[gleek4114]

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]

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.

[gleek4114]

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]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:44am

Ripley would have been phenomenal.

And so would Heather Headley.

[buhbuhbilly]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:11pm

how much on stage time does this role even have? 

[RW3]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:19pm

buhbuhbilly said: "how much on stage time does this role even have? 


Between 12-13 minutes

 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:19pm

buhbuhbilly said: "how much on stage time does this role even have? "

Approximately 12 minutes. 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 1:45pm

Ripley would have been perfect, as she can act and sing. 

[sparepart973]

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. 

[JBroadway]

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. 

 

[Steve C.]

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!! 

[gleek4114]

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

[Steve C.]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:30pm

Thanks Gleek!!  Enough Said!!! Let's start the petition now!

[trpguyy]

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?

[Steve C.]

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.

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 04:35 PM

[trpguyy]

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

[Bettyboy72]

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. 

[everythingtaboo]

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? 

[trpguyy]

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]

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.

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 08:44 PM

[everythingtaboo]

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?

[VintageSnarker]

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.