Riedel: CAT revival selling well, despite an investor pulling out; Sutton 1st to leave FRANK

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 6:53am

An investor has pulled out of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, leaving them with a 6-figure hole. Still, the show is nearly 70% sold out, and, apparently, Anika Noni Rose and Terrence Howard have great chemistry.

Sutton Foster will be the fist cast memeber to leave Young Frankenstein, having signed on to play Fiona in Shrek.

And the "Frank" cast has recently filmed a tv commercial...


http://www.nypost.com/seven/02082008/entertainment/theater/cat_puts_a_paw_out_717765.htm?page=1

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 9:21am

I don't think Sutton will leave until after Tony nominations, because she, I'm sure, would want to be considered for her role in the show.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 9:23am

she hasn't got a chance in hades with that clunker she's in!

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 9:27am

FolkyBoy: Two words:

Little. Women.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 9:37am

"she hasn't got a chance in hades with that clunker she's in!"

Agreed folkboy. Sutton deserves better than the snooze-fest that is YF.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:06am

I adore Sutton, as you all know, but I don't think she has a shot at a nomination this time around.

She honestly deserved her nod for LITTLE WOMEN, and that season there was room to fit her in.

With all three YF women in the Featured category, I think Sutton has the least chance of the three to land one of the five nomination slots.

Andrea Martin and especially Megan Mullally outshine her in this show.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:16am

I'm glad that she's moving to another project.. I think she will be fantastic as Princess Fiona... I agree .. she does not have a good chance of being nominated in YF...

The Featured Actress in a Musical is gonna be a tight race this year- just to be nominated: We have tons of great actress like:

1-2 Mary Testa & Jackie Hoffman (Xanadu)
3. Andrea Martin (Young Frankenstein)
4. Sherie Renee Scott ( The Little Mermaid) - if she will be nominated..

Plus we still have Passing Strang, Sunday in The Park with George, Gypsy in which Laura Benanti is sure to be nominated based on the message board's reviews...
then Harriet Harris from Cry Baby then you still have A Catered Affair...

very tight...

J*

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:18am

Not to mention Olga Merediz and Karen Olivo of IN THE HEIGHTS.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:22am

There won't be any room for Sutton I'm afraid--I think Jackie and Mary will both get in and Andrea Martin too...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:22am

And personally, after seeing SUNDAY IN THE PARK on Wednesday night, I think Mary Beth Peil should get a nomination for her absolutely heartbreaking performance of "Beautiful" at the end of Act I.

Plus, Loretta Ables Sayre could be a very likely contender for SOUTH PACIFIC, depending on how she fares as Bloody Mary.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:25am

Well, crap. Now I'm going to have to get out to NYC even sooner than I planned so I can see Sutton as Inga.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:29am

Is Sutton back in YF right now? I want to see it again, but only when she's back in. I'm thrilled about her being cast in SHREK!

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:31am

Audra McDonald was going to play Maggie but left in a huff when The Post reported that the producers thought she was a "regional theater actress" and were secretly trying to replace her with either Whitney Houston or Beyoncé...

No comment.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:55am

Huh? How is Anika Noni Rose any more or less famous than Audra? I know she was in DREAMGIRLS, but Audra has quickly become a NYC and critics' fave.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 10:56am

yeah.. I totally forgotten IN THE HEIGHTS & SOUTH PACIFIC...a very crowded race this year for featured actress..

J*

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 11:40am

And Laura Benanti, who will win the actual award.

[CouldaWouldaShoulda]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 12:22pm

After reading Riedel's article about how CAT is selling I am unsure whether I should wait to student rush the show or use an offer.

I had no idea this was going to do so well.

[Brick]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 12:39pm

CouldaWouldaShoulda, I agree. I was waiting, but now I'm thinking I shouldn't.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 12:40pm

"Mary Beth Peil should get a nomination for her absolutely heartbreaking performance of "Beautiful" at the end of Act I."

Heartbreaking? I thought her performance was flat as a pancake. But then again, I thought Sunday in general was a big dud.

[me2]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 1:05pm

With a cast like that, you'd have to be a fool not to invest. Terrence Howard isn't as known as P.Diddy, but he's still very well-known (and respected, plus you have Rose, Jones, and Raschad . . .
Broadway Blog: Trade Secrets: Guiding Principles Inaction

[fflagg]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 2:39pm

The problem is Debbie Allen. What the hell is she doing directing Tennessee Williams?

Note to Ms. Rashad: you are NOT Ms. Lena Horne. Stop pretending.

I wish Mo'Nique were in this production as Sister Woman. ["Maggie, bitch, I got me eight kids and you got a down low huuuusband!"]

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 2:41pm

"Note to Ms. Rashad: you are NOT Ms. Lena Horne. Stop pretending."

One of the funniest things I have read in quite some time.

[fflagg]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 2:52pm

It's true. She is a competent sitcom actress who stepped in sh*t and won a Tony for Raisin in the Sun.

Diahann Carroll should be Big Mama in this prod to reunite her with her "Claudine" co-star James Earl Jones.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 2:55pm

I did think Rashad was great in RAISIN.
But she was so dramatic on the TONYS that year.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 2:57pm

And Laura Benanti, who will win the actual award.

Can understudies pick up Tonys too? Just saying.