RIALTO CHATTER: Riedel Says Zeta-Jones, Lansbury Set For 'NIGHT MUSIC'- Page 4

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:27pm

How amazing would it be if Lansbury won her 6th Tony for this performance. That would be amazing...lol.

[jennyish]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:29pm

Boyd Gaines as Frederik is a phenomenal idea. I would be more excited to see him than CZJ any day.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:36pm

CS those were my thoughts too! It would be amazing!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:44pm

I can't believe I might get to see Lansbury perform live in my lifetime. Unreal! So excited!

CSon, if you really wanted to see Lansbury perform, you could have seen her in her Tony-winning performance in Blithe Spirit this past season. It's not like she's been absent from the stage for years.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:50pm

Boyd Gaines was fantastic in the revival of She Loves Me back in the 90's -- he was no slouch of a singer. It's unfortunate that he was ill during most of the Roundabout's revival of Company -- and he was REALLY sick while doing that. Thank God he's fully recovered.

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:53pm

Its funny to watch you guy's work yourselves into a fit. First everyone is all for Zeta-Jones. Then one or two people are not for it. Then EVERYONE is not for her. None of you I would wager to say have HALF of the talent that she has, and I would trust Trevor Nunn and Sondheim before I trusted you guys. I think she will be AMAZING, and you will feel like an idiot after you see her performance.

But then we all know how that will turn out. She will do an amazing job, and then you guys will talk about how much you love her. That is till someone see's her and does not like her. Then you will all hate her and anyone who likes her is an ignorant "fan girl/boy". Get over yourself and stop tearing her apart before you have seen her.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:56pm

^^^WTF?

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:02pm

You know its true, sir

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:03pm

Say it ain't so.

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:03pm

So

[tthomas76]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:13pm

I'm really hoping this is at least in previews while we're out there... We'll be there December 2 - 6th.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:22pm

Overall comments:

-I think Catherine Zeta Jones is incredibly talented, has stage experience, and I think she even managed to show vulnerability playing Velma in CHICAGO (I'm thinking specifically as the shot we get of her right after Roxie dismisses post "I Can't Do It Alone," in the Broadway show, we get a reprise, in the movie, we just get a shot of Jones' face, and there's the vulnerability we'd never seen. I'm not saying this is the same kind of vulnerability called for "Send in the Clowns" but it's there). I'm also glad that now thanks to the high profile quality of Jones, this revival will be quite high profile, as it deserves to be. And it's also interesting that Lansbury herself wanted to star alongside a star.
-I'm thrilled and excited that Jones is starring in the part. I still think Marin Mazzie would have been perfect for the role, and in a way, it's a shame we didn't get to see her Desiree.
-My beef with Waddingham (and you can go back to the threads, and read my comments) was NOT that she was British. It was that she is a NO-NAME British actress. I wanted a film actress from day one. If they were going to get a theater actress, I thought it would have been absurd for Equity to say that Waddingham was the most capable actress to play the part when we know there are 10-15 actresses Broadway actresses, who would be ideal for the role.

Can't wait to know who Fredrick is. Can't wait for a full cast announcement. Can't wait to see the show.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:24pm

Annas, you are generally correct about the ficleness and bitchery on such matters, and why I keep reading, it's fun.
But in this situation, Zeta Jones is a name I don't remember hearing in the mix (and I am not going to reread that other thread that went on for weeks), so now we have her to discuss.
Like I said, I am not a fan, but I hope for the sake of this revival, she pulls it off.

Somethingwicked, that is a different story about her auditioning, and if your version is true, I can see why she would be put off.

And I would love to see Gaines added to this cast.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:32pm

For as many times as he's done the show, if Marc Kudisch isn't involved in some way it really wouldn't seem fair.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 1:41pm

None of you I would wager to say have HALF of the talent that she has

And that has relevance because .... ?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 3:00pm

As usual, I'm with Phyllis. That it's such an irrelevant and ultimately unnecessary argument. As Phyllis said in another thread, just because we aren't chef, it doesn't mean we can't judge good/bad food (I paraphrase since Mrs.Stone said it more eloquently).

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 3:08pm

I've never produced a flop, never cast the wrong actor for the role, and never ruined a classic piece of theater. So clearly, I know best who should be cast.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 3:15pm

Y'ALL ARE JUST JEALOUS!

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 3:39pm

If both Marc Kudisch and Christopher Sieber are cast, who gets which role?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 4:00pm

By the way, in that ENDLESS last thread, Zeta-Jones was indeed mentioned for Desiree with the idea that Chita should play Madame Armfeldt alongside her. I commented on it. I have no idea what page it was on.

Probably 312.

But CZJ was mentioned!

The more I think about it, the more I like it. It's really hard to strike a balance between "show" and "business." Yes, there are better actresses for the role. That would be the "show." Yes, there are even bigger names that could sell more tickets. Like Paris Hilton as Desiree. That would be some "business."

Zeta-Jones seems to work enough for both. A big enough name with a big enough talent. And I'm glad that some people who might never see this show, or any Sondheim show, will now buy a ticket in NYC to see a "real live movie star" on stage.

And they might just walk away having seen one of the best romantic musical comedies ever written. But we won't tell them that it's "good for them," too. That'll turn 'em off.

I'm liking the idea of Boyd Gaines, too. He knows how to hold his own on stage with a larger-than-life presence. Lord knows.

I think he'd be good in the part, too.

[broadwaybound882]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 4:13pm

I am thrilled at this news regarding Night Muisc. I feel it'll be great to watch Zeta Jones take on Desiree as well as have Lansbury return to singing classic Sondheim. In terms of a Fredrik, I'd sorta really like to see James Barbour in the role. I know he's not a real favortie here and may look kinda young opposite Zeta Jones, but I'd like to see him do the part.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 4:16pm

How amazing would it be if Lansbury won her 6th Tony for this performance. That would be amazing...lol.

That would be awesome! I can't wait to see her on stage again, and in a musical at that. I would go see this for her alone (and for the show itself of course). Catherine Z-J and the rest of the [rumored] cast will be the icing on the cake.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 4:26pm

Despite beliefs to the contrary...this production managed to find a star that (practically) everyone is satisfied with.

Score one for the producers.

Add to that, Riedel has really been on target this week and last. First with addressing the WSS absentee issue and the demise of spider man and now announcing what has been a hotly discussed issue on this board. My appreciation for the man is reaffirmed.

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 04:26 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 5:27pm

If Angela won her sixth Tony Award for this performance, that would be the best news of 2010 (just as Angela winning her fifth Tony Award in 2009 was the best news of this year).

I am extremely happy with this casting so far.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 5:39pm

Thanks Best12 for doing the research.

And Jordan, the role does not go to the actor who has done the show the most.
That said, he is the perfect Mangus, I'm trying to picture Aaron with Catherine.