I don't know who Margo is, but she's cracking me up. Huzzah!
And I have to disagree with the sentiment that it takes an A+ star to lead a big show. As someone else pointed out, the biggest hits on Broadway right now don't have anyone famous in them. Kinky Boots. Matilda. Motown. Once. They have name recognition, yes. But no stars. And I think that for a show like Hello Dolly or Mame, neither of which has been seen in the recent past, just getting a great production would be enough to move tickets. Just look at Pippin.
Even Annie is still riding along and didn't switch to star casting until 8 months in. And that show got lukewarm reviews at best. And look how well South Pacific did--admittedly, that was at a not-for-profit theater.
I think there's more room for the old feel-good greats than some might think.
After reading the article, I have a couple of things to say to Midler:
1. You didn't "win" that award, because it was not in a competitive category. It was a special award and you were "presented" it for adding "lustre" to the Broadway season. It was a slow year with only three musicals nominated for the Tony - Raisin, Over Here!, and Seesaw - not exactly a bumper crop.
And you weren't the only concert performer given that same award that year, Liza got one too. And there were five other special awards given out to boot.
2. Stop complaining about how hard everything is. On David Letterman you complained how hard it was to do a weekly TV show - even though the medium had been around for over 50 years and by that time so many others had already done it longer and better than you.
Newsflash - people know how hard it is to do a Broadway musical because great talents have been during them for over a century - again, way longer, better, and some even older than you.
Maybe you should go back to putting out songbook cds. That seems easy enough for you.
Update: I might pay up to a couple of dollars to buy "Bette Midler sings the Eydie Gorme Songbook".
"Newsflash - people know how hard it is to do a Broadway musical because great talents have been during them for over a century - again, way longer, better, and some even older than you."
So many gifs. So much wasted space. On another note, I do appreciate that Margo has decided to venture beyond the thread about All That Chat. How exciting. Who knows what will come next?
Personally I would love to see Harriet Harris get a shot as Dolly. She is a gifted comedienne - she nailed every laugh in "Noises Off", "Millie" and "Cinderella" not to mention all the episodes of Frasier - as well as a wonderful actress. Her portrayal of Maggie in "Man Who Came to Dinner " was really quite moving. Unfortunately, if they do bring back Dolly, it will be with a major star.
The woman certainly had a work ethic but like most people who become movie stars...anything OTHER THAN film work seems like a huge pain in the ass...
Look at Streisand, Brando, Andrews ....Once you catch the film making bug - killing yourself every night for 3 hours for 6 to 9 months doesn't seem worth it...
"There's no damn business like show business - you have to smile to keep from throwing up." - Billie Holiday