The next Desiree should be Nicole Scherzinger

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/12/25 at 10:31pm

I've been thinking about this lately, and it's a controversial take, but it feels like the right time to post it (for obvious reasons.) I think Desiree in the next A Little Night Music revival should be Nicole, not Audra. 

Nicole has the perfect glamour and sex appeal for the role (a la CZJ) - and it would be easy to understand why two men are fighting over her Desiree. 

It would also give Nicole the chance to excel in a lighter and funnier role. Yes, her voice is overqualified for it, and there's a chance she'd oversing it, but the same goes for Audra!

I know Sondheim wanted Audra in the role, but I keep picturing Nicole in the role, and it feels so right.

Thoughts?

 

Updated On: 6/12/25 at 10:31 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/12/25 at 10:45pm

I wouldn’t be at all mad at that. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/12/25 at 10:45pm

I would rather see Audra. And I see no reason why two men wouldn't be fighting over her. She is a gorgeous woman.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/12/25 at 10:57pm

Nothing wrong with a vocally overqualified Desiree. It’s not a role that requires you to be poor technical singer; it just allows the space for actors who might not otherwise consider themselves ideal musical performers.

I think Nicole would be lovely. Seeing how heightened her Norma is, it would be nice to see her do something a little more grounded. But I, too, would rather see Audra. If it’s at the Beaumont, even better.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/12/25 at 11:11pm

I want to see Nicole's Phyllis more than her Desiree.

I'd still like to see her Desiree!

But would also be thrilled with someone like Carey Mulligan or Emily Blunt.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/12/25 at 11:20pm

Give me Toni Collette any day 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 12:04am

Absolutely. Let Audra do FOLLIES instead!

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 12:05am

Would love to see her in this part, hopefully played “traditionally” enough (or far from a Jamie Lloyd style) that I wouldn’t just be seeing Norma. The imprint is strong.

Hard to believe she’s five years older today than Catherine Z-J was when she played it.

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 12:11am

So what I'm gathering is... a Follies revival starring Audra as Sally and Nicole as Phyllis? So delicious. But I wouldn't be mad at either woman as Desiree.

[cirque]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 12:16am

FolliesCabaret said: "So what I'm gatheringis... a Follies revival starring Audra as Sally and Nicole asPhyllis? Sodelicious. But I wouldn't be mad at either woman as Desiree."

This! The two of them together would be electrifying. Been dreaming of just how incredible Nicole's "Leave You" would be!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 12:17am

Okay okay now we are cooking. That is an event. 

[binau]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 4:14am

Nicole’s singing can be incredibly intimate and vulnerable. I think if she has the right director her ‘send in the clowns’ would be perfect and not over sung. 

I didn’t see it, but now I do if I could choose Nicole would do Night Music and Audra Follies. Or an Audra/nicole follies would be something but I’m more confident in Audra than Nicole for that show. 

Jamie Lloyd has done Sondheim before (assassins & passion). So it’s not impossible to imagine something, but Nicole seems to imply she wants new work. 

I still think Nicole’s 2nd Tony could be ‘kiss of the spider woman’ though. That’s a role to show off her voice and glamour. I can’t think of anyone better for the role right now and a revival is urgently needed. Even the whole movie thing means that Jamie Lloyd’s kind of direction might work for it should Nicole want to make a comeback, I mean a return. 

Updated On: 6/13/25 at 04:14 AM

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 5:43am

Y'all are missing the obvious -- Nicole and Audra should replace in Death Becomes Her.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 6:13am

The next thing Nicole should do is take a long vacation then Kiss of the Spiderwoman (encores ring ring) or Amneris in Aida. 
My dream revival is also the Magic Show she can play Charmin 

list goes on and on lol

Updated On: 6/13/25 at 06:13 AM

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 6:18am

TheatreMonkey said: "Y'all are missing the obvious -- Nicole and Audra should replace inDeath Becomes Her."

Too bad we lost Loretta Swit. Imagine her and Nicole

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 6:54am

This would be a great way to get me to NOT see one of my favorite musicals.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 8:38am

The world is her oyster now- with Tony and Olivier wins for Sunset---she can do whatever she wants- maybe a new musical- maybe a concert tour- maybe a beloved revival- all eyes will be on her, whatever she decides to do. Probably the will take a long break after the marathon runs in London and NY--but she needs to parlay this triumph into something really big to keep the momentum going.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 9:17am

iluvtheatertrash said: "This would be a great way to get me to NOTsee one of my favorite musicals."

Stay mad.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 9:25am

To people saying she should do KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN... doesn't the role needs a latin actress? wouldn't be a problem to cast someone who isn't? 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 9:37am

Spider woman would be silly anyway with the film release. Night Music feels regal and sophisticated. But her and Audra in Follies would be insane. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 9:59am

BWAY Baby2 said: "The world is her oyster now- with Tony and Olivier wins for Sunset---she can do whatever she wants- maybe a new musical- maybe a concert tour- maybe a beloved revival- all eyes will be on her, whatever she decides to do. Probably the will take a long break after the marathon runs in London and NY--but she needs to parlay this triumph into something really big to keep the momentum going."

I'm not sure this is true. If her Sunset Blvd performance were more traditional, or if the Tony and Emmy were for different shows, I'd agree. But in so many ways this production was a one-off, so I'm not sure we know yet whether she was simply perfectly cast for this very idiosyncratic production or is a major new star in the word of musical theater. Outside of musical theater aficionados, I'm not sure yet how big a reception she'd get in a revival of Night Music, or Anything Goes, for that matter. No horse in this race, for what it's worth. I'll be totally happy for her if her success continues. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 10:42am

MadsonMelo said: "To people saying she should do KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN... doesn't the role needs a latin actress? wouldn't be a problem to cast someone who isn't?"

 

Aurora (The “Spider Woman”) - Age 20’s - 40’s. Strong Alto: Bottom Low C#, Moderate/Strong Dance. Attractive, menacing, mysterious, seductive. Must be a strong dancer.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 10:49am

ljay889 said: "I've been thinking about this lately, and it's a controversial take, but it feels like the right time to post it (for obvious reasons.)I think Desiree in the next A Little Night Music revival should be Nicole, not Audra.

Nicole has the perfectglamour and sex appeal for the role (a la CZJ) - and it would be easy to understandwhy two men are fighting over herDesiree.

It would also give Nicole the chance to excel in a lighter and funnier role. Yes, her voice is overqualified for it, and there's a chance she'd oversing it, but the same goes for Audra!

I know Sondheim wanted Audra in the role, but I keep picturing Nicole in the role, and it feels so right.

Thoughts?

"

 

FOLLIES at the Beaumont '27-28 season, Directed by Sher and his creative design team a must!

Updated On: 6/13/25 at 10:49 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 11:41am

OhHiii said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "This would be a great way to get me to NOTsee one of my favorite musicals."

Stay mad."

I'm not mad. I simply didn't care for her work in Sunset Boulevard. That's called an opinion. You're welcome to yours. I'm welcome to mine. And the world goes round, toots. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/13/25 at 11:56am

Would love to see Michael Arden's take on any Sondheim musical...but particularly Follies and Night Music. And Sunday.