Next To Normal Tour Idea (Diana Suggestion List)

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 3:13pm

Does anyone think that the tour will have people of "any race" like they said in the audition post on Playbill a few weeks ago? I think that it would work so well. And honestly, it wouldn't really matter since the show is written for any person. If they make the family an African-American one, I think Merle Dandrige could play Diana. I think her voice can handle the score. Good or bad idea? It just came to me and I wanted some opinions on it.




Diana suggestions I remember seeing on the boards:

Julia Murney
Andrea Burns
and now Merle Dandridge
-Amy Spanger
-Lisa Brescia
-Heidi Blickenstaff
-Sherie Renee Scott
-Leah Hocking
-Andrea McArdle
-Pat Benatar
-Idina Menzel

and the list goes on and on...
who else would be good?

Updated On: 4/6/10 at 03:13 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 4:33pm

Although I don't agree with the whole race idea...Merle Dandridge would be an amazing amazing Diana. I don't think shes old enough though.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 4:36pm

Henry could be black.

[hannah_bway]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 4:40pm

I wouldn't mind them changing the race of the family as long as they keep the family all the same race. Casting a black Diana and an Asian Dan and a white Natalie, for example, would be something that I feel would be strange enough to detract from the story.

Although, I suppose Dan and Diana could be different races, but then Gabe and Natalie would have to be consistent with that. As long as it's consistent, I don't think it makes a different what race they are. Updated On: 4/5/10 at 04:40 PM

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 6:42pm

^Areed.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 6:45pm

I have no problem with color blind casting whatsoever, but I can see how the family not looking "consistent" could take others out of the story.

I'm always happy to see more people of color in any acting gig.

Updated On: 4/5/10 at 06:45 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 6:45pm

(Sorry, my fingers went crazy causing a double post!)

Updated On: 4/5/10 at 06:45 PM

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 8:22pm

Updated On: 4/6/10 at 08:22 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 8:38pm

I love Merle Dandridge to death. Love the woman.

However, I think she looks far too young to be a woman has a teenaged child. I have no idea how old she really is, but she looks way too young.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 8:41pm

Add Amy Spanger to the list. Didn't she play Diana in a workshop?

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 8:47pm

^ Ah yes. With Annaleigh Ashford as Natalie and Anthony Rapp as the Doctors.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 8:47pm

I'd like to see Lisa Brescia's take on the role. It would be a stretch for her, but she's a great actress.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 8:48pm

Spanger's voice would never hold up.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/5/10 at 9:05pm

I know it seems like I'm just naming people, but how about Heidi Blickenstaff?
Updated On: 4/6/10 at 09:05 PM

[k8tve]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 6:01pm

Although I'm all for color blind casting, I agree that the family needs to b consistent in this case since the show revolves so strongly on the topic of the family. In my opinion it would just seem off if they weren't consistant.
Another Diana suggestion: Sherie Renee Scott. She played Diana in the very original work shop and I think her voice could blow the role out of the water.
Random, but does anyone know any information about auditions for the tour?

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 6:29pm

^ If they haven't happened already, they'll probably be in the summer.

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 6:48pm

Merle is one of my Broadway goddesses! While I agree she is still too young (but could knock it out of the park), my other goddess would be even more perfect in the role: Leah Hocking. Please.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 6:58pm

My hope would be for Ripley to tour with the show. If not, then I will take Julia Murney or Andrea McArdle. Please. If they want to do some stunt casting, I'll gladly take Pat Benatar. I think a rock chick could nail the role.

I echo that Merle while divine perfection looks way too young to have late teen children. Jessica Phillips is even a stretch in that department.

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 7:04pm

Julia singing "So Anyway"

[k8tve]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 7:29pm

I'm sorry. This is somewhat random. But can I just say that this - "The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal - just made me laugh so insanely hard. Thank you for that! And while I admit there was an INSANE amount of sexual tension between Gabe and Diana it was absolutely PERFECT! Did you see it with Aaron Tveit or Kyle Dean Massey?

Another Diana idea: I haven't thought all that much about this one. I'm just kinda throwing it out there, but Idina Menzel? She certainly has the voice. Thoughts anyone?

[steven22]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 7:38pm

k8tve,
YES! YES! I can see her as Diana when she is a little older. But why would she wants to replace someone at this point in her career?

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 7:41pm

I'm one of the biggest Idina fans out there, but she does NOT have the acting chops. Not even close.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 8:21pm

I just saw the Julia Murney video - fantastic! I really like her soprano voice with the vibrato.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 10:13pm

k8tve, "The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal, was when I saw it with Aaron and Alice. The woman was really upset and was like, "why is she all over her son and why does she keep lifting her leg when she embraces him-this is too much-suicide and incest with dead people." I was laughing so hard I could barely keep it together.

I still vote for Murney or McArdle. I think Sherie would be great but I don't think she will tour.

[Here_I_Go_Again]

Posted: 4/6/10 at 10:16pm

im clear there to old but dee hoty, carolee carmello or Donna murphy could do WONDERS to the role