Perfect casting for a revival that never has happened

After seeing Mary Poppins, I am convinced that Emily Blunt would make a great Mame. While the role has slowly gotten older, Angela Lansbury was 40 when it opened and, in the story itself, Mame takes in Patrick, who I think is supposed to be 8 when the show begins. Since he is her older brother's son, it is not unreasonable for Mame to be in her 30s. Vera would have to be younger, but Julie Harris was already considered a theatre actress for the ages in her 30s, so that could work, too. Finally, since Gooch does get pregnant the old-fashioned way, its is reasonable for her to be in her 20s or 30s.

I'm not giving up hope but i think Donna Murphy could make a great Mama Rose.

Next to Normal with Carmen Cusack as Diana, Austin Mckenzie as Gabe, Alexandra Socha as Natalie, and Andy Karl as Dan.

Don’t hold your breath on seeing Emily Blunt on stage in any musical as she’s stated recently while doing press for MARY POPPINS RETURNS that she has no interest nor has it ever been on her Bucket List to do a musical on stage. She’s quite aware of her vocal limitations and the demands of an 8 performances a week schedule. She’s definitely interested in returning to the stage in a play, but not a musical.

LizzieCurry said: "Bonnie Milligan as Pennywise in Urinetown when she's age-appropriate! But I don't want to wait that long for Urinetown."

This!! Bring back Jeff McCarthy as Lockstock! To get a little buzz for the show... Andrew Rannells as Bobby.

Updated On: 1/18/19 at 12:18 PM

Jane Krakowski is MAME. That is all.

Alright, so I picked Dance of the Vampires, but more like Europe and less like NY... don't judge.

Generalities:

Pre-set in my head: smaller cast, smaller venue, smaller orchestra, shorter show. (Note to European followers on that last bit: more or less the 2009 revival version minus the new ending, and not the three-hour monstrosity it once was, as delightful as that would be to super-fans.)

Cast size is 20, with 5 ensemble men, 6 ensemble women, and Chagal / Magda / Rebecca / Herbert / Koukol doubling as ensemble when not in use as leads.

Cast:

Count von Krolock........Drew Sarich (I like the vibe he could project of a used-up rock star just beginning to age, young enough to be attractive to a young girl [i.e., lending an allure and sense of experience to Sarah's perception of him] and old enough that, even if he were mortal, there would be a disquieting sense of jaded cruelty about him)

Professor Abronsius.........Brent Spiner (I'm thinking less Albert Einstein spoof, as the European version normally has him, and more like Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, very "abrasive former college football star who wants to be admired for his brains"; besides, he's a lovely singer, way more versatile than people who only know him from Star Trek realize, and has Broadway credentials)

Alfred......Daniel Radcliffe (alright, hear me out: number one, he's done a lot of offbeat stage projects you don't expect him to do, with and without stars; number two, it's fine to cast a non-musical actor who can sing decently with help, because his being the least accomplished singer in the cast is an adorable character point; number three, "For Sarah" being kind of vocally underdeveloped but well-acted is a fair trade-off for some much needed star power to offset the existing flop stench)

Sarah......Taylor Iman Jones (pulled off very young very well in Head Over Heels, voice is in the right zone)

Chagal........Roger Bart (he could find more comedy in an old lech than being "Tevye but grabby," and what has he done lately anyway, let's give him some work)

Rebecca........Gelsey Bell (great character voice, has a good wispy look about her that can easily translate into faded with costuming, great comedic timing, unusual but very strong vocal range in general useful for filling out ensemble doubling)

Magda........Bonnie Milligan (a standout from Head Over Heels, just the belter this role needs)

Herbert........Brendon Urie (some more star power, and an established androgynous performer that makes the character less of a gay joke and more of a mind-freak for Alfred)

Koukol........Richard O'Brien (don't think Igor throwback, think more like the type of manservant described in Gothic novels, an eerie presence that cuts a silent but menacing figure, as in the Finnish productions; Riff-Raff without pushing it into camp, and great voice for "Carpe Noctem" if we give him that)

Spiner, Radcliffe, and Urie alone would make this a box office bonanza for millennials.

(Alternate for Abronsius is Jeremy Kushnier [has the cocky Gaston type I have in mind down pat] and alternate for Herbert is Jinkx Monsoon [prominent non-binary performer that has the vibe I'm looking for].)

Updated On: 1/18/19 at 05:22 PM

I am so over Glenn Close in anything so I want Nicole Kidman and Jonathan Groff in the film version of Sunset Boulevard---thank you world.

Owen22 said: "Jane Krakowski is MAME. That is all."

Woah. Yes. We need this.