Patti and Bernadette NEED to perform together

i can't believe the Ethel Merman and Mary Martin of the modern age have never dueted. Surely this is something we need to see happen in our lifetimes. May I suggest one of the following: ** A Musical version of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" ** "Senior Shiz"-- a BCEFA concert of Wicked with Patti as Elphaba and Bernadette as Glinda ** A recreation of the infamous Fords Duet between Mary Martin and Ethel Merman.



Other suggestions?

Updated On: 3/14/16 at 09:55 PM

Patti would never.

This is my nightmare.

How about an Encores revival of Over Here? Get Donna Murphy for the Janie Sell role. I think it would be incredible. I still play this CD with some regularity. Pastiche or not, the score is fun.

Lettice and Lotte A NEW MUSICAL
with Patti and Bernadette alternating roles

Martin was very deferential to Mermen when the performed together in the '70s. Martin realized her voice had some issues at that point and was really happy to let Merman "steal the show". Watch the joint interviews from that time and you'll see what I mean.



I can't see Bernadette acting similarly.

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 01:09 PM

Funny that they wouldn't even have to change "TWO-TIME TONY AWARD WINNERS" if they replaced Ebersole with Peters given they have the same number of Tonys.

War Paint seems to be selling well in Chicago. Should they receive good reviews and cast Bernadette it shouldn't be impossible to find backers for a road to Broadway. A brand new (hopefully) high-quality musical with Broadway's two biggest female stars is an event!

NOWaWarning said: "Not to mention that Ebersole and Peters aren't really interchangeable. We haven't heard the score to judge what the vocal requirements are, but the two women have very different, distinct voices and capabilities."



I'm really curious about the score, because I also don't think Ebersole and Donna Murphy are interchangeable, so I wonder where Elizabeth Arden's role is written. But Ebersole and Peters might be even less interchangeable, and I certainly don't think Ebersole would be dumped if the show was coming to Broadway.

Well the role of Elizabeth Arden in War Paint was originally conceived for Donna Murphy who is also pretty different in type from Ebersole. If so it will be interesting to see what it ends up like in actual performance. Peters would definitely sell more tickets than Ebersole or Donna Murphy but yes this is all fantasy talk.

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 11:00 PM

Audra is pretty much equal to Patti and Bernadette- she's getting a lot of focus now because of Lady Day and Shuffle Along, but I think they are all equally well-known to the public.

I love both of them (though I'd pick Patti if I had to) but I truly can't think of a show that I'd like to see them perform together. Honestly, they're pretty singular performers in terms of style, and I don't know the show and production that would equally highlight both of their strengths.

Maybe it has something to do with her husband's health? Like Michelle dockery who withdrew from liaisons dangereuses to spend the last weeks with her boyfriend.

Murphy is also in the PBS series MERCY STREET, which just got picked up for a second season. I'm not sure to what extent that would have gotten in the way of her doing the Chicago run (probably not much), but it may have affected her availability for a long-term commitment. I believe Josh Radnor had to drop out of SHE LOVES ME to do the show too. I didn't realize there were any health issues involving her husband and hope he is well or gets well. She is such a master of her craft, it's a real shame she didn't continue with this.



Any notion that Peters would be involved in WAR PAINT is ridiculous. They didn't pick Ebersole as a placeholder. Some people here are talking about it like it's a real possibility and it's so not.

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Wait a minute, though...

Patti as Vera
Bernie as Auntie Mame
"Light the candles, get the ice out / Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Huh? Huh??"

Ain't NO way Patti would play second fiddle to Bernie. Patti would play a smaller part (Women on the Verge, for example), but she'd never be Vera to Bernie. They'd have to switch the roles nightly or something.