Maria Friedman

Yes, Maria Friedman is going to be recreating her role in NYC. No formal announcement has been made but both she and Martin Crewes are expected to be in the Broadway company as part of a British/AEA exchange along with Americans Jill Paice and Angela Christian

Yeah, she's pretty good! I wonder how her Mama Rose will be...

Michael Crawford qualifies as an "international star" and thereby doesn't need to be petitioned for the Equity exchange program. Michael Ball would also qualify for that "internatioinal star" visa, though I hear the producers aren't ruling out some interesting American names for that role.

Thanks for your response Michael!

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I saw Michael Ball and Maria Friedman in the Sondheim PASSION transfer to London some years back. They had great chemistry together in that dramatic musical.

Seeing them again together in WOMAN IN WHITE further strengthens my impression that these two thespians really have wonderful chemistry onstage. Both have gorgeous singing voices and they seem to hit if off well in both dramatic and comedic scenes. It would be a loss not to see that wonderful connection when the show transfers to Broadway. So, I hope the producers and Andrew Lloyd Webber cast Maria and Michael Ball in the same roles when the show comes over. I would also like to see a new song written for the show, one where Count Fosco sings a "tentative" love ballad, expressing his "tendresse" for Marian. Their scenes together really uplift the show!

Jo

Updated On: 4/18/05 at 09:37 PM

M_J, It is ironic that you're going to London in August, which is when shell be playing Rose here in the US- trading spaces I suppose.