Positively permanently punished Penny Pingleton portrayals?

I saw Brooke as Penny, and I also saw Jenn, both were great. I thought Jenn definately had the "dorky"ness down.

Brooke and Jenn were both great as Penny. I don't know how correct your story is about why Brooke was fired though. Brooke played the role with a mix of Kerry, Jenn, and her own things. I saw her twice in the role and she had really grown into it the 2nd time. It was so sad to here that she was leaving but now she is a simply spectacular Belle.

---

"Tansley had been in the cast of "Hairspray" for two years, playing the role of Penny since mid April. She was fired on June 13 when the director decided Tansley wasn't what he wanted for the role. 'That's show biz,' shrugged Tansley. 'It happens to everyone once. One door closes and another door opens.'"

This is from the article. Here is the link, if you'd like to read it yourself.

http://fast.rep-am.com/news/story.php?id=1997

Does it go with out saying Kerry was my favorite Penny? Yeah, i think it does.

---

i've seen Kerry Butler, Brooke Tansely, Jenn Gamby, and Tracy Miller . if i had to choose i like Jenn the most she was funny, she was a good singer and was really cute as penny. but im also a big fan of Tracy Miller, i love her penny voice and shes really ditzy,funny, and dorky. i had no problem with kerry as penny she was great. and i didnt like brooke as penny at all, kinda uhh boring i guess. but i do know i saw like her second performance as penny soo. i wasnt a fan until i saw her as belle, she was awesome.

---

Well, not that it really has to be said but Jenn Gambay is my fav Penny! She just had the role down to a T, she got all the laughs and her voice was just amazing for the role! I don't have enough words to describe how much I loved her in that role!

Kerry was great as well obviously! She is a very talented gal!

Brooke I like a lot better as Belle but she more like Kerry in the role then Jenn, but she had learned the role u/s Kerry and stuck with that, which is just fine!

Hollie Howard (OBC u/s and she went on for a week between Jenn and Tracy) was extra spazy in the role, she was really cute, I enjoyed her take on it a lot!

Michelle Kittrel (u/s for Jenn and then also went on after Jenn left before Tracy took over) ~ was again a very different take on the role, I'm not really sure how to describer her take on the role.. Like as to whom is was most like.. she was just her own kind of Penny I guess, I don't know.

Tracy Miller ~ Is again a VERY different Penny. I find her to be less animated then the others but still has her dorky charm. She kind of reminds me of the movie one a bit. Her Penny seems to have a bit more confidence form the get go but is a little more maybe brain dean at points.. I enjoy her take on the role as well.

But hand down Jenn Gambates will always be my favorite Penny Pingelton! She rocks my sox!

---

Chandra Lee Schwartz, current Penny on tour is fantastic. She has GREAT comic timing, a helluva voice and she is a dynamite dancer. She plays the role completely goofy and nails the laughs, buts he still manages to keep it reigned in so that it is genuine.

Updated On: 1/12/05 at 03:05 AM

here is my review of the current tour company.


https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=565260#568624

Hey,

I am most familiar with Jenn, Brooke, and Tracy. My favorite by FAR was Jenn Gambatese. Nothing against Brooke, but while Jenn played Penny as a sweet girl that was just a bit akward, Brooke played Penny like she was just dumb as a doornail. Also, out of all three ladies, Jenn's voice was the strongest.

Out of ALL Pennys, NO ONE can give the same justice to the line, "But now I've tasted chocolate, and I'm nevvvahhh goin' back!" as Jenn. Other girls may try, but I just love the fact that little sweet voiced Jenn is the best at that deep, guttural yell.

Thanks!

I have seen five different actresses in the role of Penny. Although they were all very good, I have to say that I liked Jenn Gambatese the best. Am I the only one who saw Ally Mauzey on tour? I saw her very first performance as Penny (understudy) and she was fantastic.

---

That has to be the greatest part of the show! I would LOVE to see someone play Penny with the little squeaky voice (like Kerry) and sing with that slightly nasal tone, but then once that oh-so-memorable line comes, they sound like freakin' Jennifer Holliday. I know that this is the basic idea, but I would like to see (and hear) two absolutely completely different sides to Penny. Totally drop the squeaky thing, and let the inner soul sister come out!

from what I understand the director hadnt worked with brooke, he just saw her and decided he didnt like what he saw. i think she mostly struggled with a few jokes and wasnt getting the response that jenn got from certain scenes- like with seaweed with the chewing gum and the muscles in her mouth bit. she is doing a fabulous job as belle in beauty & the beast.