Roles Kelli Can Win Another Tony For

She's to pretty to play Fosca. Plus, she's more of a Clara. I think she's a little to old for The Sound of Music and The Music Man unfortunately. She would be incredible in Ragtime, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park with George though. She has recently said that she's taking a break from theatre after The King and I, but I hope she does another show soon. I also hope she creates many new roles.

WHAT? If anything she looks younger than 36 especially on stage with that Anna Wig on. Overall I think she pretty much looks her age. Maria and Marian are supposed to be in their 20s.

Really? If I hadn't looked up her age online, I would have guessed about 44 or 45. Part of it may be that she kind of exudes the air of someone in their 40s. I don't know how to describe it, but she just seems like a 40 something year old women. Not in a bad way though.

Your boyfriend is stupid, then.

I think she's beautiful, she just looks old.

Fun fact: Kelli did in fact play Dot in Sunday in the Park in LA with Manoel Fenciano as George. I've heard some audio of her performance and she's amazing.

I think Kelli is certainly pushing the age boundary for The Sound of Music, but I think they could pull it off. I don't know that these are roles she would be guaranteed to win for, but here are some of my personal Kelli dreamcasts:

Frau Schneider - Cabaret (in a few years)

Sally - Follies

Lucille - Parade

At the rate she is going, she won't be getting a tony for another 12 years.

I agree that Kelli would be great in Music Man, but as noted she is a bit to old. I recently saw the concert production of Music Man in Cincinnati with Will Chase and Betsy Wolfe, and I would love for that production to get another life. They were both wonderfully cast and Betsy commanded the stage. I chatted with Betsy after the show and she said she hoped it wouldn't end there. I mentioned Encores and she said that would be nice, but she would want to do it even longer. Maybe if next year's live musical is in fact Music Man, Betsy and Will could do it again. As for a role Kelli should play, I'd love to see her try a straight play. I'd be interested to see her put her wonderful acting/comedy chops to work in a non-musical setting.

Kelli has spoken quite openly and honestly about how miscast she was when she played Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. She's said she loves Jason Alexander for giving her the opportunity to do something she'd never otherwise be cast in, but she feels she "had no business doing it" and never felt like the role was a good fit for her, both during the production and since. I think the last time she talked about it was during her most recent Chatterbox with Seth Rudetsky.

I don't think Mother in RAGTIME is an ideal role for her either. Mother's musical journey within the show from her a soprano to a belter mirrors her discover of her inner voice. Kelli's instrument is stunning, but by her own admission, that kind of belting is not what she does. A full throated anthem like "Back to Before" couldn't be further from her wheelhouse.

That being said, as has been mentioned, she would be a stunning Sally in FOLLIES and a terrific Desiree in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. I also think it's only a matter of time before we see her play Margaret in the inevitable revival of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. That will be a performance for the ages.

Updated On: 6/9/15 at 11:40 PM

Kelli O'hara in the Music Man is the most uninspired casting I've ever heard. Whatever Kelli does next, I hope it's something exciting and not the usual type of roles she plays. Nellie Forbush+Anna+ Billie Bendix=Snoresville. Bridges was exciting though.I hope finds more experimental roles and stops being the poster girl for Roger and Hammerstein.

Updated On: 6/9/15 at 11:52 PM

Soaring29, I believe you can watch the Chatterbox through Seth Rudetsky's website (though it may require a subscription to his video service.)

It's a fascinating interview. She gets very emotional talking about what happened with Celia Keenan-Bolger and PIAZZA in more detail than I've ever heard her discuss it before. She admits she loved playing Franca so much that she never connected with Clara and to this day doesn't feel like she ever really understood her. She says she went back and saw the show after she'd left with Katie Rose Clarke and thought, "That's what it should be."

Updated On: 6/10/15 at 12:12 AM

Kelli is 39