Paula Deen in Chicago?

[southeronbway]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 2:45pm

I just heard from a casting person that they are trying to get Paula Deen in Chicago as Mamma Morton. I heard they want her to come in this winter but her schedule won't allow it so they are pushing for September when she moves to NYC.

Thoughts?

[goodoneinlou2]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 2:47pm

Good Heavens!

Instead of tomatos, watch out for flying hams!

[Kalimba]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 3:12pm

Paula is that you creating an account today to stir up some buzz? Take that talent-free, annoying persona of yours back home where it belongs. Broadway doesn't want or need you.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 3:14pm

There's no way. She won't take the pay cut.

Paula Dean commands $100K for a personal appearance.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 3:42pm

Maybe Paula's LARNIN' how to sing and wants to try it out . . . . with a stick of butter, of course!

Updated On: 11/24/09 at 03:42 PM

[evic]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 4:02pm

And Bobby Flay as Billy Flynn! Rachel Ray as Roxie! Sondra Lee as Velma! Emeril as Mary Sunshine!

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 4:03pm

Giada has to be Roxie. Rachael Ray could knock Velma out of the park.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 4:08pm

I would love to see Paula Deen as Mama. I love Paula Deen.

[Londonskyguy]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 4:11pm

"If you want my gravy.. pepper my ragu.. spice it up for mama..." mmmmm

[southeronbway]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:32pm

She's set to film her talk show in NYC starting in September - i heard it's for a short run, I don't think she'd mind the pay cut

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 7:22pm

So we have Rachel Ray as Velma, Giada as Roxie and Paula as Morton. What's next, Bobby Flay as Billy Flynn and Mario Batali as Amos Hart?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 7:27pm

I'd like to see Kelly Osbourne as Roxie now that she can dance and Louis van Amstel as Billy.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/24/09 at 7:34pm

Please God, no. No. No.

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 7:43am

Since "Chicago" specializes in stunt casting,this sounds like a pretty good stunt. I like Paula Deen. I think she might be fun in the role.

Certainly she couldn't be any worse than Melanie Griffith as Roxie. But then, no one could be.

[Sauja]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 1:11pm

There have been some horrendous additions to the Chicago cast over the years--Jerry Springer, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Samantha Harris (and that's just the Dancing with the Stars folks). I would be so much less upset about Paula Deen being cast as Mama Morton than I was by any of them. But lordy, I do just LOVE Paula Deen.

And CATS, isn't Kelly Osbourne as Roxie pretty much an inevitability now? She was so open about wanting it and then clearly won tons of new fans on DWTS. I'll legitimately be surprised if she isn't announced to take over after Ashlee Simpson leaves.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 3:30pm

...Or this goddamn show could close.

[singtopher]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 6:46pm

I'm so over this show.

[Kev]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 7:02pm

I love how folks continue to be surprised when anything CHICAGO/Weissler casting-related pops up. This nothing new.

There have been some horrendous additions to the Chicago cast over the years--Jerry Springer, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Samantha Harris (and that's just the Dancing with the Stars folks).

Just curious, did you see all of those folks in their respective roles?

Springer was passable, and Hamlin was lame. Surprisingly, Lisa Rinna is actually one of the finer Roxies I've seen in the revival; anything BUT horrendous. Stunt casting ain't negative all the time

Hell, I'd welcome Paula into the role. If she can carry a tune, talk about scrumptious fun!

[NeoNormal]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 7:29pm

No.No.No.

I'd travel to NYC just to throw a ham at her during curtain call

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/26/09 at 7:14am

Anyone smell a revival of WHEN PIGS FLY?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/26/09 at 9:05am

I think she'd be delicious.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/26/09 at 6:25pm

In a wine sauce.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 3:21pm

I've heard that Rick Domeier of QVC is in talks to do Billy Flynn for ten weeks if the Q agrees to it.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 12:47am

If Paula Deen comes to "Chicago" Broadway will have to dim the lights in rememberance of what once was a show that had some integrity and quality. Since when does being a pushy, emotionally manipulative, in-your-face cook/television personality who will snap up every profit opportunity to be had qualify one to act, especially on stage?

Anyway, I saw Mabel Moore blaze through that part. No way in hell am I going to allow Paula Deen to mar that memory.

[Kev]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 6:00pm

Anyway, I saw Mabel Moore blaze through that part. No way in hell am I going to allow Paula Deen to mar that memory.

I'm assuming you mean Melba Moore's Mama and, if so, I thought she was a travesty. A theatre vet she may be but, Moore couldn't act the role. A few neat vocal tricks couldn't save her bland and uninspiring performance.