Posted: 6/10/15 at 1:39am
Kelli's obviously not a belter, but she has done some strong chest belting such as Pajama Game and Bells Are Ringing. Although Back To Before has some strong belting in it, it gradually builds to it and its not high belting. I think Kelli can mix those and use the same type of technique she used in Bridges to make it work.
Updated On: 6/13/15 at 01:39 AM
Posted: 6/10/15 at 4:05am
Mary Martin was 46 when she played Maria in The Sound of Music, but if Kelli O'Hara ever end up doing that show, she could be the Mother Abbess.
Other Roles I'd Love to See Her Play:
The Baker's Wife-Into the Woods
Desiree Armfeldt-A Little Night Music
Mother-Ragtime
Posted: 6/10/15 at 4:34am
I've heard Kelli in Sunday and, while she sings it beautifully (although she hadto take parts of the score up an octave) the speaking lines (for everyone involved) were atrocious. I think because the incredible original production has been recorded, they were all trying to NOT do the show like them that they all forgot to actually say them in a way that makes sense. Her "We Do Not Belong Together" was gorgeous, though.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 5:51am
You are obviously asking about revivals, when most of us would like to see her in a new great show (and the same goes for Kristin, or anyone else)
Anyway, here's some plum roles in musicals which - whether or not they will ever be revived, or revived soon enough, or at the suitable later time, for Kelli to remain or in the future prove to be, castable in them - seem right (from ideally to at least arguably) for Kelli:
Amalia in SHE LOVES ME, but of course that won't be happening, as Laura is playing her this coming season, and it probably, alas, won't be revived again until Kelli is aged out. (ideal, the role Kelli was born to play)
Eliza in MY FAIR LADY, but of course that won't be happening unless potentially she is cast in this upcoming season's revival (ideal, unless one is stuck on the age thing, which I'm not)
Juno in JUNO (ideal)
Liza in LADY IN THE DARK (ideal)
Susan in LOVE LIFE
Lily in TAKE ME ALONG
Tatiana in TOVARICH
Mimi in SAIL AWAY
Sally or Phyllis in FOLLIES (ideal x 2)
Agnes in I DO, I DO
Aurelia in DEAR WORLD (ideal)
Ninotchka in SILK STOCKINGS
Gabrielle in COCO (ideal)
Lilli in KISS ME, KATE (ideal)
Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD
Bea in BALLROOM (ideal)
Edith in MY ONE AND ONLY
Rebecca in RAGS (ideal)
Mame in MAME
Mrs. Johnstone in BLOOD BROTHERS
Norma in SUNSET BOULEVARD
Ruth, Elvira or Madame Arcati in HIGH SPIRITS (ideal x 3, maybe too bad she can't play all of them)
Hesione in TRIUMPH OF LOVE (ideal)
Pistache in CAN-CAN
The Witch in INTO THE WOODS
Ruth in WONDERFUL TOWN
Marmee in LITTLE WOMEN
Little or Big Edie in GREY GARDENS
Agnes in A CATERED AFFAIR
Cora or Fay in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (both ideal)
Vera in PAL JOEY
Desiree in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Helen in FUN HOME
Mother in RAGTIME (ideal)
AND finally:
Fosca (ideal)
"She's too pretty for Fosca."
Have you ever seen Donna Murphy?
Updated On: 6/10/15 at 05:51 AM
Posted: 6/10/15 at 6:04am
Oh she would be great in Lady in the Dark
Posted: 6/10/15 at 9:41am
Thankfully, no one has mentioned Mama Rose.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 9:47am
I'd like to see her originate a brand new role. Enough with the revivals!
Posted: 6/10/15 at 10:52am
Oh my goodness I have chills thinking of Kelli one day playing Margaret in Piazza. That is the most beautiful thought and I'm sure would be one of the most incredible performances and such an important and historic production.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 12:02pm
Updated On: 6/10/15 at 12:02 PM
Posted: 6/10/15 at 12:03pm
"I'd like to see her originate a brand new role. Enough with the revivals!
I sort of agree... It seems like Broadway is going the way of opera sometimes. Everyone rushes to see TOSCA, AIDA, Mozart, Wagner, etc. I haven't really heard of an opera in the last 20 years that has become a tried-and-true warhorse.
I'd like to think that there will be amazing new roles written for Kelli and others. Two or three generations from now, it would be great if some of these shows were being revived and talked about with the respect we now show THE KING AND I, GYPSY, FIDDLER, etc., etc., etc.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 2:01pm
She's already done both My Fair Lady and She Loves Me and unfortunately, she's pushing the age boundary for both. I would like to see her do My Fair Lady on Broadway but I doubt it will happen. I think she's much more suited to Amalia then Laura Benanti though, who I've never bought as an ingenue.
I would love to see her in a new role too. I was thinking it could be a country show combined with some operatic stuff, songs in the same style as They Don't Let You In The Opera if You're A Country Star. What did you guys think of her in Far From Heaven?
Posted: 6/10/15 at 2:09pm
I think she's much more suited to Amalia then Laura Benanti though, who I've never bought as an ingenue.
Do you mean Eliza? If you do, I disagree. Kelli doesn't have the comedy skills for Eliza. Benanti will slay that part if she ever gets to do it.
What did you guys think of her in Far From Heaven?
Uninspired and I feel like we've already seen her play that type of part countless times. She should do something different.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 2:30pm
Bilbo, Amalia is the lead character in She Loves Me which is being revived with Laura Benanti.
She was brilliant in Far From Heaven - although the design of the show was so wrong for a 50s setting. If Far From Heaven ever returns (and I hope it does, as the score is gorgeous), I hope they can rework it so it captures the tone of the film. It needs to actually call back those 50s films, satire them, but keep Cathy's struggle and the problems featuring race and such real and poignant.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 2:48pm
A new musical written for her would be great.
I'd love to see her as Fosca in PASSION or Margaret in PIAZZA.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 3:21pm
In what world is blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned Kelli "ideal" to play a Jewish immigrant named Rebecca Hershkowitz?
In the world of...you know...theatre...and fiction. In addition to being a fictional character (and therefore, cannot be defined by an accurate physical representation of her, photographically or otherwise), Rebecca is not only Jewish, but Russian. And unless a Broadway revival of Rags is staged using cameras broadcasting close-ups on a big screen, there is no reason to believe Kelli would not have the usual conventions of makeup, costume and lighting normally found in live musical theatre productions.
She'd sound gorgeous on the score, but it would be absolutely inappropriate for her to ever actually play the role.
No, it wouldn't. And she'd probably prove a better actress than the Greek-Canadian Teresa Statas, who sang beautifully, but growled most of her dialogue.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 3:47pm
She would be such a great Lilli in Kiss Me, Kate. She is so funny, I would like to see her show that off.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 3:50pm
Bilbo, Amalia is the lead character in She Loves Me which is being revived with Laura Benanti.
Well don't I feel stupid right now.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 4:06pm
Yes, lets give her another show where she really cannot sing the score as written and she cannot deliver the goods on the accent, etc., so she can certainly win a Tony over other performers who did more than the show called for vocally and dramatically and provided more than enough comedic talent. Yes lets do that.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 4:40pm
-I think I would die if Kelli, Bart Sher, Steven Pasquale and Jason Robert Brown all got together again to bring PARADE back to Broadway. Or better yet, if they all got together again to bring A NEW ORIGINAL MUSICAL to Broadway.
-Margaret in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in 10-15 years is obvious.
-Desiree in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
-Sharon McLonergan in FINIAN'S RAINBOW
-Mother in RAGTIME
(ironically, Kelli could have played any of those three roles in 2009-2010, but having a baby is a little more important)
-Lili in KISS ME, KATE (though I think Chenoweth would be the one who would really hit a home run with this role)
-Fosca in PASSION (so what if she's "too pretty?" Just get a good makeup artist)
-Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD (in 15-20 years...this NEEDS to happen)
-Margaret in CARRIE (I'd love to see her play crazy/evil)
-Lizzie in 110 IN THE SHADE
-Either of the GREY GARDENS ladies
-Lily in THE SECRET GARDEN
I'm sure I'll come up with more later.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 5:36pm
"In what world is blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned Kelli "ideal" to play a Jewish immigrant named Rebecca Hershkowitz?"
There are, in fact, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned Jews. Not to mention that it's theatre, as Mister Matt has said.
A great many Jews have blue eyes and fair skin (myself included!) and if you really want a darker haired Rebecca, there are such thing as colorists available.
(God, how often do we have to have these ethnologically goofy conversations on BWW?)
Updated On: 6/10/15 at 05:36 PM
Posted: 6/10/15 at 5:40pm
I keep hearing Will You from Grey Gardens with Kelli's voice.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 12:03am
OMG Kelli as Lilli in Kiss Me Kate? YES! Sign me up! Can we bring back Brian Stokes Mitchell too?
Most of the shows listed probably wouldn't be successful on Broadway, but would be great Encores! productions.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 12:11am
-Margaret in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in 10-15 years is obvious.
This won't happen soon but I don't think we'll have to wait THAT long. She's almost 40 and successfully played the mother of adult children last year in Bridges. I could see her being ready in 5 years, but will there be interest in a revival of Piazza by then?
Posted: 6/11/15 at 12:18am
Tevye-Fiddler on the Roof
Jean Valjean-Les Miserables
and I'd kill to see her play Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 12:27am
"-Margaret in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in 10-15 years is obvious.
This won't happen soon but I don't think we'll have to wait THAT long. She's almost 40 and successfully played the mother of adult children last year in Bridges. I could see her being ready in 5 years, but will there be interest in a revival of Piazza by then?"
I don't think we'll see a revival of Piazza until the theater-lovers who worship the show (such as myself) are of the age where they are the ones who are the theater-makers, and to me that seems like a good 10-15 years in the future. I'd love to be proven wrong though, the faster Piazza is back on Broadway the better.
I'm sure there will be a sizable search for the perfect Clara, and a new star will be born in whoever gets the role. O'Hara was the definition of a revelation in the show.
