Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque to lead WORKING GIRL at La Jolla Playhouse

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/17/25 at 4:51pm

Begins October 28th

https://playbill.com/article/leslie-rodriguez-kritzer-and-joanna-jojo-levesque-to-lead-cyndi-laupers-working-girl-musical

The cast will also feature Ashley Blanchet (Frozen) as Cyn, Anoop Desai (What We Do in the Shadows) as Jack, and Joey Taranto (Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl) as Mick. In the ensemble will be Jacqueline B. Arnold, Jesse Bhamrah, Michael Genet, Bailey Lee, Amy Hillner Larsen, Ashley Levin, Nathan Madden, Alisa Melendez, Sydni Moon, Jennifer Perry, Julio Rey, Elliot Sagay and Ian Ward; and Swings: Patricia Jewel, Jaxon Smith, Gabi Stapula, and Sean Watkinson.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/17/25 at 4:54pm

Same principal cast as their presentations and industry readings from these last couple of years.

Perhaps Kritzer can replace Simard in DEATH BECOMES HER in between the LJP and Broadway runs for this?

Updated On: 9/17/25 at 04:54 PM

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 9/17/25 at 5:22pm

One of my fav movies, but this seems all so wrong I don’t know why. Leslie is no Katharine Parker.

Updated On: 9/17/25 at 05:22 PM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 9/17/25 at 5:46pm

WldKingdomHM said: "One of my fav movies, but this seems all so wrong I don’t know why. Leslie is noKatharine Parker."

Because Katharine shouldn’t be funny. She should be a stone-cold bitch. Icy. I agree that the whole cast doesn’t work for me.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/17/25 at 6:06pm

DramaTeach said: "WldKingdomHM said: "One of my fav movies, but this seems all so wrong I don’t know why. Leslie is noKatharine Parker."

Because Katharine shouldn’t be funny. She should be a stone-cold bitch. Icy. I agree that the whole cast doesn’t work for me."

I'd (respectfully) disagree with that.  In the movie Sigourney Weaver was quite funny (and earned an Oscar nom) as an "ice princess", similar to the way that Meryl was as Miranda Priestly.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/17/25 at 8:23pm

"additional music and lyrics by Rob Hyman and Sammy James, Jr."

^ was this known previously? Wonder what the extent of their work is... I know Stephen Oremus did a lot of "massaging" of Cyndi Lauper's score for KINKY BOOTS in his capacity as music supervisor/orchestrator (and he'll serve the same capacity here).

[TalksAboutBruno]

Posted: 9/18/25 at 7:49am

Happy to see this adapted, but what a perfect vehicle this could have been for Carly Simon.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/18/25 at 8:17am

If Carly Simon's Best Song Oscar winner "Let the River Run" isn't in this, I'm so not interested. That theme underscored the entire film. Also, Sigourney Weaver's "stone cold bitch" was a Master Class in comedic subtleness. She has so many hilarious nuanced moments like when she slaps the male nurse's hand when he touches her broken leg cast while she's in the middle of a phone call in her hospital bed. Only Joan Cusack's performance was played on the comedic level - everyone else played it subtle and nuanced, including Harrison Ford. This was a Mike Nichols film. He knew what he was doing.  

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 9/18/25 at 8:23am

WldKingdomHM said: "One of my fav movies, but this seems all so wrong I don’t know why. Leslie is noKatharine Parker."

There's this thing called acting. People can be funny and silly but also serious. You know about acting and versatility right?

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 9/18/25 at 8:35am

Kritzer was amazing in the What's New Pussycat? workshop.  Funny, smart and great vocals. She is the complete package. Hopefully that gets a theater in the spring and you can see her in a different light. 

Updated On: 9/18/25 at 08:35 AM