More Chorus Line casting news

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 11:15pm

A poster on ATC is saying that Deirdre Goodwin has been cast as Sheila in the upcoming Chorus Line revival. Can anyone confirm this?
Updated On: 3/16/06 at 11:15 PM

[Al Dente]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 11:20pm

Yes, it's indeed true.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 11:31pm

Very cool. She seems like a perfect fit for that part.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 11:33pm

This could be the coolest cast ever, I gotta say.

[Bret]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:10am

Congrats to her.

One question though- Dierdre is Black. Will the book be revised at all? Richie is, after all, the one who identifies with his Black roots in the original. Will Sheila now sympathize with him? I'm all for color blind casting, but I'm curious as to how this will change the show.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:14am

I don't think it's a good match at all.

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:14am

Awesome. I am super excited for this show.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:40am

It's Deidre Goodwin. Deidre. Not Dierdre.

I think this is bad casting as well.

What, are they going to dig up all the CHICAGO leftovers and toss 'em all into the CHORUS LINE revival so they can originate parts? What happened to fresh talent? Unknowns? Next thing you know, Huey Lewis will be playing Richie.


Edit: Huey

Updated On: 3/17/06 at 12:40 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:45am

It's Huey Lewis. Huey. Not Hughey.

[liotte]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:47am

Smaxie to Foster- That was really funny.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:49am

Eek. I so asked for that.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:17am

I'm not for this at all.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:22am

I say why not. I bet she'd be great in the role. Are we recreating the OBC or treating it as if the script came in the mail today? I don't believe anything in the script says Sheila has to be white. And, I know Richie doesn't have to be the only black character. I did a production of the show where was Mark was black as well.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:44am

For me it has nothing to do with her being black or not.

I just don't think Deidre and Sheila are a good match...looking forward to her proving me wrong.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:46am

I have a feeling she will. Sheila is the tough (yet secretly vulnerable) "been there done that" smart ass. Goodwin can play that.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 8:58am

And please, Charlotte d'Amboise is not a Chicago leftover. She is considered one of the best Roxies of all time. And is without the doubt probally one of the greatest Triple Threats on Broadway today.

Goodwin also has played Velma full time, and was a VERY successful Velma. She is NOT a leftover. Both of these ladies were highly acclaimed in Chicago.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 10:33am

I love Deidre, but the last thing I saw her in was NINE, and she was aboslutely DREADFUL as The Lady of the Spa. I mean horrific, and she was asmall part and I still remember it.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 10:54am

Well, it's going to lessen Richie's impact, and his one "big" joke. After he steps forward and introduces himself, he scans the rest of the dancers in the line, and then turns to Zach announcing, "...And I'm black."

...As if to point out he's the only one there who is. It was a very funny and truthful moment, but this line, the joke, and his "token" presence among the dancers isn't relevent now.

Don't know if this is "progress" or not. It's not going to kill the whole show or anything... just raise a few eyebrows (of people who remember the original) and lessen a few of (mostly) Richie's moments.

As far as Deidre... she must have given them a killer audition!

Updated On: 3/17/06 at 10:54 AM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 11:12am

And I am sure with all the estate and legal issues, that the final cast will be pretty damn good...

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 11:54am

I am for color blind casting....and I am African American. But I don't think I would like to see an African American Sheila. It has been so long since I have seen the show, but will this mean some changes in the script?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:11pm

There is no reference whatsoever in the book to Sheila's race/religion/ethnicity so there will be no need for any script changes. None. She simply needs to be STRONG, 30-ish, sharp-tongued, quick-witted, self-possessed, a little bitter and overtly sexual. There are actresses of all ethnicities who could be those things.

Not to mention, having a Sheila who is black (biracial?) might lend an extra dimension to her bitchiness and the regrets she feels about her childhood:

"Daddy always thought that he married beneath him
That's what he said
That's what he said...."

Maybe in the backstory for Goodwin's Sheila, "Daddy" was white and "Momma" was black. I don't know -- just thinking out loud.

Anyway, let's remember that Bob Avian -- who shared the Tony with Michael Bennett for creating the choreography the show and was assitant director on the original production, as well as Bennett's best friend and is directing this production -- knows this show better than anyone else. He wouldn't do anything that might harm or alter the genius of the original, so if he cast Goodwin as Sheila, she must be phenomenal and able to embody everything that Sheila is supposed to be -- and more.

Updated On: 3/17/06 at 12:11 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:19pm

I love Deidre. I adore her; I do. But why in God's name has she been cast as Sheila? Is part of the story being rewritten?

I think this has the potential to be disasterous.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:22pm

I'm completely flummoxed as to the sturm and drang embodied in this thread.

[matiboi]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:59pm

Yep, it's confirmed. :) I knew a few weeks ago, but couldn't say anything. Deidre'll be fierce . . . the final callback was between her, Colleen Dunn, and Rachelle Rak . . . that must have been a BLOOD BATH!

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:07pm

so whats the entire list, updated now? Im not scrolling through the other pages, but if someone else is MORE bored then I, id love to know where the cast stands now. :)