Riedel: Messing, Hathaway for Guys and Dolls, Nero on Broadway?

Riedel's got a good one, today.

Debra Messing, Patrick Wilson, Anne Hathaway, and John C. Reilly for Guys and Dolls...at least, that what the producers want. Great casting.

Plus, more about Duncan Shiek and Stephen Sater's Nero and, of course, more Young Frankenstein updates.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08172007/entertainment/theater/giving_nero_a_new_forum_theater_michael_riedel.htm?page=1

Debra Messing? I don't see that...

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Updated On: 8/17/07 at 01:33 AM

That's pretty perfect casting.

It'll be interesting to see if the producers are able to nail down names of that magnitude.

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Updated On: 8/17/07 at 02:14 AM

I'm surprised they're not getting Jane Krakowski to reprise her Olivier-winning turn as Miss Adelaide. By the time the show begins she should be almost done with 30 ROCK. Though I guess she has no desire to do 8 shows a week and film 30 ROCK in the mornings.
Debra Messing is an excellent replacement for Krakowski. I'd love to see her sing "Adelaide's Lament."
Anne Hathaway would make a great Sarah Brown but isn't she a bit too young to be with the rest of the cast? I guess it'll work well for Sarah Brown though.
Patrick Wilson is an inspired choice for Sky as well as John C. Reilly as Nathan though I find him more appropriate for Nicely-Nicely Johnson (in a movie or something).
I'm glad the producers are trying to get stars who are actually right for each role.

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I didn't know Debra Messing or John C. Reilly could sing. Heck, I didn't know Debra Messing could act.

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I didn't know Debra Messing or John C. Reilly could sing.
You clearly didn't see CHICAGO or the last Academy Awards Ceremony where Reilly happened to be one of the high points of a rather dull night in his song & dance number.
The second part of your comment was negligible. Messing is a fine comedienne and Miss Adelaide is right up her alley, her singing voice is perfect for the role (she loved making fun of her singing in WILL & GRACE but she sings much better than her character Grace did), she's extremely sexy--which is a must for the role in this particular revival (though she doesn't have the innate sexual persona of Jane Krakowski, one of the many reasons I'm sad she isn't transferring with the production), and the kind of comedy the role requires comes natural to Messing (from NED & STACEY to WILL & GRACE to THE WEDDING DATE you can see how she's an inspired choice to play Miss Adelaide).
Hathaway's singing voice is perfect for Sarah Brown and perhaps casting someone much younger than the rest of the cast (if the cast does end up being the Hathaway, Wilson, Messing, Reilly foursome) will add an interest subtext to the piece. It'll definitely explain Brown's naivette and further explosive behavior once the Havana scene happens, it'll create an interesting sexual dynamic between the older Sky (Wilson), and it'll definitely make Adelaide's plight all the more painful since she's so much older than young Sarah Brown. Let's just say it's gonna be a riot seeing Hathaway and Messing singing "Marry the Man Today."
God, I can't wait for this revival!

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I think Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack already did their broadway bows on Seussical and Music Man (respectively) , if I am not mistaken?

J*

You're right. I didn't see CHICAGO or Reilly's performance at last year's Oscars.

As for Messing, I've only seen her on WILL & GRACE, and in my opinion, out of the foursome, her comedy appeared to come the least naturally and I always felt that she was pushing harder than the others in order to keep up with their flawless performances.

I can understand why she would be an obvious choice for Miss Adelaide, based on her performance in WILL & GRACE, but I'm really not very enthused by type-casting. That's what I liked about Krakowski's casting (I never saw her performance in London though). Krakowski was outside-the-box casting. It left me curious as to what she could do to make fresh this character that everyone thinks they are so familiar with. With Messing, it's more obvious what to expect. An overblown sitcom sketch with singing. Who knows, she may surprise.

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How can you claim to be interested in ,musical theatre and NOT have seen "Chicago" - the only movie musical to win "Best Picture int he past 38 years?

I'd see this. Messing is perfect for the role. Foster, you might not find her line delivery on Will and Grace funny, but that's because her style is physical comedy. She is very much willing to make a fool of herself for a laugh. I think she would rock as Adelaide.

EDIT: "We gonna have the (female) cast of "Will & Grace" on Broadway."
No, we won't have Shelley Morrison. Poor Rosario, everyone forgets about her. Now someone should get her to do a show.

Updated On: 8/17/07 at 10:58 AM

Patrick Wilson back on Broadway???? Hallelujah!

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I'd totally see this cast.