No, No, Nanette Question- Page 3

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 12:53pm

Can we just talk about how thrilling it is that there is a discussion on this on the first page!!!! There is a musical theatre god!

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 1:53pm

Of all the fun shows, NNN is, perhaps, the most fun!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 2:37pm

Who'd be more adorable than Flora on a date?
You know who'd be good? Little Winnie would!
Little Winnie WOULD be good, but Betty would be GREAT!

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 6:10pm

But you all should really read Don Dunn's "The Making of No, No, Nanette" and not just for all of the dish.

He has this description of the first preview and the first time that Ruby Keeler tapped her heart out in "I Wanna Be Happy" that makes you feel as if you're there in the audience. You'll damn near feel goosebumps!

[alterego]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 8:40pm

Wonderboy I'm with you! How long can we keep this show on the first page?

I like in Don Dunn's book the chapter about the first dress rehearsal, how one of the beach balls rolled into the pit, Ruby Keeler standing there during Take A Little One Step announcing she would not dance another step... Updated On: 6/30/06 at 08:40 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 8:51pm

I saw it on Broadway (thanks, Dad) shortly after it opened and Don Dunn's description could not be more accurate. When Ruby Keeler came out in tap shoes, the audience practically stopped breathing and someone - I swear to this day it must have been a plant - whispered very loudly "She's got her TAP SHOES on!" What an electric moment. I've always felt that Broadway does not do enough to mine the vast treasures that it has in the senior stars. Shows that have had some of the greats of the past have done so well. I remember the "tap off" between Tommy Tune and Honi Coles was marvelous. And Sophisticated Ladies and Sugar Babies (thanks again, Harry Rigby) were a blast and very revealatory for younger audiences. Bring back Nanette.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 9:26pm

allofmylife, you just said a cotton-pickin' mouthful!

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 10:04pm

Let's cast the Thirtieth anniversary revival of the original revival, then!!!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 10:14pm

actually, the original production closed 80 years ago June 19th.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 11:03pm

Well, this year is my 30th anniversary, married to the girl who played Nanette in the production I was in.

[alterego]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 12:29am

Just who could you cast in a revival today? For Sue you'd want (preferably) a dancing star who has been out of the limelight for some years and that has a wholesome image. Not an easy call. Most of the women who are around now and were names in the 60's and 70's are not people you'd associate with tap dancing. Please no one mention Bernadette Peters or Idina for this.

Rosie O'Donnell could possibly be Pauline (anyone else?), Megan Mullaly/Christine Baranski/Patti Lupone for Lucille? Maybe Florence Henderson/Debbie Reynolds as Sue? Can Liza still dance?

Who else could we see in this? Updated On: 6/29/06 at 12:29 AM

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 12:51am

Debbie Reynolds can dance and she would be a tie-in to Harry Rigby (producer screwed out of the millions from the revival) who produced her "Irene". (God, the fact that I know all of this right off the top of my head scares even me!)

Though, the harder part to cast might be Jimmy. He has to be lovable, and a bit gullible, but not stupid and not a dirty old man.

I'd think maybe, though they aren't "Box office" names, Alix Korey or Judy Kaye for Lucille.

[alterego]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 12:53am

Judy Kaye -yes! How about Lucie Arnaz?

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 1:14am

sondheimboy2 don't let a little info scare you. It's impressive.

BTW, I am glad someone said "Don't suggest Idina Menzel". I made 100 bucks on a bet today. I bet a friend that this forum couldn't get through a full page talking about the new London Evita production without mentioning Idina as a possible Evita. Actually in the thread, her name is mentioned thrice on page one as "and please don't suggest Idina" but that was close enough.

Hello, Telecharge....

[alterego]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 3:08am

allofmylife, does that mean you collect 3 times?

[wildcat]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 4:19am

Robert Morse for Jimmy Smith
Donna McKechnie for Lucille

Wait a minute, what am I saying??

Sandy Duncan as Lucille!

Tommy Tune as Billy?
Updated On: 6/29/06 at 04:19 AM

[alterego]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 9:09am

I love the idea of Donna Mc Kechnie and Robert Morse. Lee Roy Reams as Billy?

Posted: 6/29/06 at 9:52pm

alterego - Love the idea of Debbie Reynolds as Sue!

Michael Berresse as Billy (too young?) and Karen Ziemba as Lucille.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:18pm

And Rosie as the maid.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 1:10am

I loooovvveeee the idea of Robert Morse. He needs to be back on Broadway.

Though I would hold out for Kaye Ballard as the maid. I want to see her in a musical on Broadway before either of us dies!!!!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 2:05am

Around 1990 there was a concert of NANETTE at Carnegie Hall. What made this concert interesting is that somone (I forget who) had discovered boxes in an attic. Turns out the house belonged to producer H.H.Frazee and in the boxes were stored all the original orchestral parts of the 1925 production. The concert was supposed to be recorded, but sadly it never was.

[alterego]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 9:02am

While I'd like to hear the original orchestrations, I think for this exercise I'd prefer to stick with the 1971 Ralph Burns orchestrations.

I like the way this cast is coming along, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Morse, Donna Mc Kechnie, Rosie O'Donnell/Kaye Ballad...I'm a little unsure about Billy though. Tommy Tune I can't see, I don't know who Michael Berresse is, Harry Groener? Anyone else?

Posted: 6/30/06 at 11:13am

Michael Berresse played Bill Calhoun in the KISS ME KATE revival. He's a great song and dance man. He is currently appearing in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and will be playing Zach in the CHORUS LINE REVIVAL. He may be a bit young for Billy. He'd be great in the part though.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 11:51am

I like your cast, alterego, with Michael Berresse as Billy. I can't see either Tommy Tune or Lee Roy Reams in the role. I can see Tune directing and choreographing, though. And yes, the 1971, superior orchestrations!!

Posted: 6/30/06 at 7:07pm

I hope some producer reads this thread! JohnBoy2 - Glad you like the idea of Michael Berresse as Billy. I adored Debbie Reynolds in IRENE and would love to see her back on Broadway. She's marvelous on stage. What a perfect Sue she would be!
Updated On: 6/30/06 at 07:07 PM