Posted: 7/21/16 at 3:28pm
I heard from someone today that MY FAIR LADY is back on track for Lincoln Center, coming this spring with Colin Firth.
Anyone else heard anything new about this?
Posted: 7/21/16 at 3:35pm
I hope Benanti is pulling every favor she's owed and is making call after call.
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 03:35 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 3:38pm
you mean every favor she's owed?
Posted: 7/21/16 at 3:38pm
COLIN. FIRTH. Dear sweet lord, PLEASE let this be true.
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 03:38 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 3:43pm
Colin Firth!!!
I'm also excited about Michael Arden's My Fair Lady production at Bay Street Theater (starting previews in two weeks I believe)-
http://www.baystreet.org/calendar/my-fair-lady/
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 03:43 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:04pm
I still have my fingers crossed for O'Hara. :)
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:17pm
Would make sense as the Beaumont is currently vacant.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:25pm
It better be Benanti. Colin Firth is perfect, but Benedict Cumberbatch would be interesting too.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:28pm
As much as I love LB, I'm sure they would want someone who will actually do 8 shows a week. None of this "no matinees" nonsense.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:30pm
I'd say Amalia is a harder sing than Eliza.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:35pm
What about Alison luff? Lol. I love Colin firth his acting in what a girl wants is SUPERB
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:44pm
I don't think it would be the best idea to cast an almost unknown actress in the lead role. I'm sure that Alison Luff and Whitney Bashor would be wonderful, but they will not sell tickets.
Since it is Lincoln Center, it might be safe to say that Sher is attached. We know Sher adores Kelli O'Hara (as do I), but she reads a smidge too old to play Eliza. Laura Benanti has the beauty, elegance, humor, and voice to play Ms. Dolittle. Amalia is a harder vocal part and I know that she had some health problems throughout the run. I really think that she's the best choice for the role.
Btw Gavin Creel would make a stellar Freddie, but I think he's attached to Hello, Dolly! (I think?).
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 04:44 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 4:54pm
Jordan Catalano said: "I heard from someone today that MY FAIR LADY is back on track for Lincoln Center, coming this spring with Colin Firth.
Anyone else heard anything new about this?
It's been floating around for some time. I do know that he is interested in doing a revival, but there are no plans of bringing it to LCT. I hesitate to mention this because I'm aware of how it appears, but I happen to know him personally.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:09pm
I don't think O'Hara reads too old for Eliza. Really, I think a role like Eliza, which has been essayed by so many people over the decades, should be approached the way that Shakespeare characters are approached and just cast people who'd be spectacular in the part with little regard to their age (within reason, naturally). I'm sure O'Hara would be great as Eliza Dolittle, but it's the type of role she can play in her sleep. I'd love to see her do something very different from THE KING & I next.
Laura Benanti is made for the role. The reason she'd be my top choice is that she can be such an exciting force on stage. She is hilarious and tough and then she slays you with this gorgeous soprano voice. She is one of the few actresses of her generation who could make you laugh out loud with her "Just You Wait," make you feel all the feels in "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" and "I Could Have Danced All Night," and then be tough as nails in "Show Me." As long as they don't cast Kelsey Grammer, I don't care much about who plays Higgins, but I would buy my tickets in a heartbeat if Benanti is cast.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:24pm
Benanti or bust.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:27pm
IdinaBellFoster said: "I'd say Amalia is a harder sing than Eliza."
I'd say you're crazy.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:27pm
CindersGolightly said: "Benanti or bust."
THIS!
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:32pm
This would be great for a live TV production to introduce it to a younger audience.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:33pm
I don't care too much for My Fair Lady, but Laura has been campaigning this for YEARS and I wish for her that she gets to play her dream role on Broadway! It would just make me so happy for her, and yes, she would be amazing in it.
I want Kelly to do another role like Bridges next, in which I much preferred her to King and I (and I still think she should have won the Tony that year, and then Kristin could have won last year and everyone would be happy... but that's a different story 
)
Back to the topic, fingers crossed for Laura!
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:37pm
Call_me_jorge said: "What about Alison luff? Lol. I love Colin firth his acting in what a girl wants is SUPERB"
I'm cackling at What a Girl Wants being brought up in this thread. What an early 2000s throwback.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:39pm
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Eliza is considered a famously hard sing not just because of the notes but because of the accent work. Cockney accents are very rough and guttural, and it can do a number on your voice when you then have to switch into this proper refined voice for later in the show. So between that and the high notes, it's very easy for an actress playing Eliza to damage herself vocally if she isn't careful. Amalia is also not easy, but at least the actress playing her doesn't have to undergo such a startling vocal switch during each show.
Benanti would be great, but my dream casting is Lauren Worsham. Obviously she has the voice, but I think she'd nail the comedy perfectly.
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 05:39 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:45pm
belrowley said: "Call_me_jorge said: "What about Alison luff? Lol. I love Colin firth his acting in what a girl wants is SUPERB"
I'm cackling at What a Girl Wants being brought up in this thread. What an early 2000s throwback."
plus it's a terrible film lol
I wish Phillipa Soo could play Eliza, I think she'd be fantastic.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 5:48pm
I want Kelli to do another role like Bridges next, in which I much preferred her to King and I (and I still think she should have won the Tony that year, and then Kristin could have won last year and everyone would be happy... but that's a different story).
Though the problem with that would be if Kelli had won for The Bridges of Madison County and Kristin won for On the Twentieth Century with Cynthia Erivo winning this year, Jessie Mueller would start to become overdue like Kelli.
And I personally prefer seeing Kelli take on classic roles because she really seems made for them.
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 05:48 PM
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