Quuen Latifah in HELLO, DOLLY?

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 2/25/12 at 11:25pm

This would be fantastic! Just heard this from a friend in the biz, could it be true? It's been a long time since this show was done on Broadway, and Queen would be amazing! Anyone else hear this?

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/25/12 at 11:27pm

It's been talked about for years. I can see it working. The LuPone production SADLY fell through.

[random person 112]

Posted: 2/25/12 at 11:35pm

Well i don't know dosn't she have a new talk show coming out?

And there is no Quuen Latifah it's Queen.

Updated On: 2/25/12 at 11:35 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/25/12 at 11:58pm

I really like her, and god knows she would sound incredible.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 12:14am

If only.

I have seen her say she is not up to an 8 show a week schedule and this role is work.

Maybe a movie, if Tyler Perry doesn't do it first.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 10:24am

A match made in musical comedy heaven.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 10:24am

Yeah this is old. Queen Latifah as Pearl Bailey in Hello, Dolly OR Queen Latifah as Pearl Bailey in St. Louis Woman OR Queen Latifah as Pearl Bailey in House of Flowers OR Queen Latifah as Pearl Bailey in Carmen Jones OR Queen Latifah as Pearl Bailey in The Pearl Bailey Story. Take your pick.

Updated On: 2/26/12 at 10:24 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 10:50am

I'd love to see an all-black production of Hello Dolly with Tonya Pinkins as Dolly, Chuck Cooper as Horace, Nikki Renee Daniels as Irene, and Brandon Victor Dixon as Barnaby. But I doubt any revival of this particular show will come around without a majorly bankable theatre/film/television star attached.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 11:12am

Why all-black, AC? Because it would sell or do you think having a black star means you need to have an all black cast or some other reason? I ask because I value your opinion and to me Hello Dolly is the kind of show that easily lends itself to neutral casting.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 11:19am

The mention of Latifah got me thinking about the famous all-black production starring Pearl Bailey, and I started thinking of African-American actors who probably wouldn't normally be cast. The production doesn't have to be all-black, of course. The show does lend itself to color-blind casting and neutrality, to borrow your word. As I said, regardless of any factors, I doubt we'd see a major production any time soon without a wide-reaching name, so people like Pinkins and Cooper (who, I think, would be perfect as Dolly and Horace) are really just a pipe dream.

I'd actually love to see Latifah play Dolly, but as someone already mentioned, I seem to remember her stating that she didn't think she'd be up to 8 shows a week.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 11:34am

Unfortunately, I think you are right about major name insistence, a Latifah, Parton, Reba, etc. But Pinkins would be so exciting and, as I've mentioned on btw, I'd love to see Katie Finneran as Dolly.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 12:02pm

I agree with Carlos.

It's way too much like a Pearl Bailey "recreation" rather than a revival. How about a fresh take on the role?

If you want an African American star, I think Whoppi Goldberg would be fantastic in the part. And while she might invoke Pearl a tiny bit, hers would definitely be an original interpretation.

Other names who could be great: Sara Ramirez, Christine Ebersole, or Viola Davis

[ArtMan]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 12:10pm

In Jacksonville, a production of Hello Dolly is starting this week at our dinner theatre. Starring.....SALLY STRUTHERS. A friend wants to go. I stated ..."only if you pay!"

[Brick]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 12:14pm

Latifah was being mentioned as a Mame, not a Dolly. Patti's DOLLY was the closest to get off the ground and I'm still upset about it.

[random person 112]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 12:31pm

Oh she'd be a killer Mame. I still wish herman would get in touch with dolly parton to do it, she's wanted to do it in the past and with him behind her we could have something.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 12:45pm

I stand by my suggestion of Goldie Hawn for Dolly. She'd be absolutely fantastic.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 1:10pm

I would like to see Whoopi, Viola Davis, or Christine Ebersole in a production of The Matchmaker.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 1:20pm

Any color-blind casting of HELLO DOLLY has to be truly color BLIND. Logically, there would not be an African-American "half millionaire" living in Yonkers at that time. So, a multi-ethnic cast makes as much sense as an all black cast. Hispanic Barnaby? Sure! Asian Irene? Why not! It's all good!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 2:00pm

Jon, Madame C.J. Walker was a millionaire (no half about it) at the time in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. BTW, in 1919 she moved to a mansion just a few miles from Yonkers in Irvington-on-Hudson. At the time, the house cost a quarter of a million dollars to build.

I'd also suggest reading the epilogue of Uncle Tom's Cabin where Harriet Beecher Stowe lists many freed African Americans who, if not half-millionaires (very few Americans were back then), were quite successful in business. That was half a century before Hello Dolly takes place.

Updated On: 2/26/12 at 02:00 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 2:03pm

"There were gazebos and there were no negroes ..."

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 2:20pm

I'd love to see Sally Struthers in Hello Dolly. Field Trip!

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 2:53pm

Only if Joyce DeWit is playing Irene Malloy.

Then I'm SO there.

[undercoveractor]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 3:05pm

Oh Please no! She seems like such a nice person, but I just don't think she has the comic chops for this role. She has always left me disappointed....especially in CHICAGO.
Just my opinion.

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 4:00pm

Listening recently to the London cast recording with Mary Martin, I was wondering if Joanna Gleason would ever consider doing this role. I think she'd be amazing.

[musicaltheatreman2]

Posted: 2/26/12 at 4:22pm

what happen with the lupone production? why didnt it take off?