Revivals — Page 2

If THE GOOBYE GIRL didn't work with Bernadette Peters and Martin Short, then nobody can make it work. They are doing a TV remake with Patricia Heaton and Jeff Daniels.

The Kennedy Center did concert versions of CARMEN JONES and PURLIE. CARMEN was wonderful and it would be great to see a full production. PURLIE works best as a concert now. Maybe Encores will do it.

Wish I could have seen that CALAMITY JANE in London (revised and revamped score) with Debbie Shapiro.

CAT was not-that-long-ago revived on B'way with Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin. I look forward to Judd but wish she was paired with Brendan Fraser, who played it in London. I think Patric is a good actor, but that Brendan is more suited. But Patric could surprise me, who knows? I didn't know he did stage work at all.

I agree about DROOD (one of my favorite shows) and I love Sarah Uriate Berry.

The real Mabel Normand was not only more Chenowith's size ("midget") than Krakowski's or even Bernadette's, but I particularly think that faultin a person for the state of their birth is a pretty far reach. Normand was born on Staten Island, but in her biography published in LOOK Magazine in 1930, claimed to have spent most of her childhood in Atlanta. Do we then need an actress who can do a combination of New York and Southern dialect? Chenowith can belt beautifully (CHARLIE BROWN) and has a very good legit top for the rest of the score (MUSIC MAN). And again, as I have posted elsewhere in threads on this forum, there is no need to insult someone else's choice for a role ("twangy" "mouth too big for her face") just because it doesn't match yours. If your choice is truly suited (and I think Krakowski definitely is), running down other possibilities doesn't really make your case for her any stronger. It just looks desparate and immature. And it doesn't suggest you really "tried to see her" in the role at all.

So may theatre people I respect love FANNY that I need to further investigate that show!

Finally, I think ABNER is also a great score with a hopelessly dated book (not the setting or time period, but the nature of the characters themselves, as their comic strip has passed from popular consciousness). On the other hand, ANNIE still works without the companion strip. Perhaps it depends on the treatment of the libretto....

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What you think is definitely your right and your business. How you expressed it in an open forum is all I took exception to. I gave specific examples of your choices which did not support your side of the discussion, is all. And when I noted that I had posted in other threads on the issue of alleged "rival" choices for roles, it was not meant to imply all those posts were directed solely at you. It is simply an unfortunate trend I see on this board.I was careful to try and not insult you, and if I did so anyway, I apologize.

P.S. Staten Island should be proud to claim you. It's not where you start, it's where you finish, Tommy Tune. *grin*

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Updated On: 6/30/03 at 03:43 PM

La Cage Aux Folles

starring Nathan Lane as Albin and Gary Beach as Georges.

It was Lee Roy Reams who was set to go into LA CAGE before it closed. I saw him play Albin at the Westbury Music Fair. He was quite good in the role, actually.

My dream cast for a STREETCAR revival:

Stanley-TSMrW
Stella-Mary Louise Parker
Blanche- Cherry Jones
Mitch- John Ellison Conlee
The Mexican Flower Seller-Dollypop (gotta be there to see TSMrW shirtless every night!)

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Updated On: 6/30/03 at 09:54 PM

Wow Dollypop you want a revival of TWHM. I'm suprised you'd except anyone in that role besides Carol Channing.

where to start...

I'd love to see a revival of Mack and Mabel too. And I can see Kristin Chenoweth as Mabel, but I'm also sure there are plenty of other actreses who could play her well too.

I'd like to see Barnum revived because I saw it when I was very young and can't remember much, so I'd love to see it again. A few of my friends were in a local production 2 months ago actually, but I never got to see them in it.

and also, Pippin, and anyting Fosse really.
But that's just me.

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If TGC isn't available, they can always "Call on Dollypop" to play the title role in TWHM!!!!!!!!!!!

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To The Big Baloney:

You can bet that Lauren Bacall, in anything , would not be at the TDF booth

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Has BroadwayLady gone into the public relations field?

I knew she was looking for a new job, but now she's announcing upcoming shows.

Most impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch out Lizzie Grubman!!!!!!!

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Updated On: 7/1/03 at 10:22 PM

Shows I'd like to see revived?

The Roar Of The Greasepaint, The Smell Of The Crowd
Woman of the Year
Drood
They're Playing Our Song
Dear World

In Neil Simon's autobiography he says that the problem with The Goodbye Girl was that it essentially is about three people and by opening the story up (to include others) it throws the whole thing off balance, also when the show was trying out in Chicago, Bernadette Peters realised that she had no laughs ( she plays straight man to the Martin Short charcater) and wasn't happy and wanted her own gags and at this point things started to fall apart.

I, too, would love to see MACK & MABEL come back, but Jane Krakowski as Mabel???!! Jane's a good actress and has wonderful stage presence, but Mabel has to be a big ol' belter -- and Jane's weakpoint is her vocal ability.

Possible Macks:
Douglas Sills (wasn't he slated for a revival at some point?)
Howard McGillin (did it in London, didn't he?)
Marc Kudisch
Chris Seiber
Shuler Hensley
Michael Cumptsy

Possible Mabels:
Kristin Chenoweth
Vicki Lewis
Paige O'Hara
Jennifer Gambatese
Kate Reinders

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A revival of ON THE 20TH CENTURY would be great! Signature Theatre in VA. is doing an "adaptation" of the play 20TH CENTURY by Ken Ludwig as the first show of their new season.