Roles they were born to play...but haven't! — Page 2

I think Patti actually could have been a great Cinderella. In the late 70's she had that ingenue look (and was beautiful in The Baker's Wife). By the time Into the Woods happened she probably was already well-known for belting all her leading men, and she would have been thrilling as the Witch (or possibly even the Baker's Wife). Hell, Patti LuPone could have played most parts on Broadway and probably would have been wonderful.

Toni Colette as Diana in "Next to Normal".

I don't see Patti as Cinderella at all. The gentle tenderness that Kim Crosby brought to the role was essential, especially in No One Is Alone, in my opinion. Patti would've suited much better belting out "Last Midnight". She still should in a new revival.

Updated On: 12/14/15 at 01:35 PM

Sally Durant Plummer, I don't see Patti Lupone as Carlotta. I don't really think of Patti as having the operatic soprano voice necessary to play Carlotta. Audra McDonald is more of a mezzo, but I think she'd be terrific as Carlotta. So would Sarah Brightman -- perhaps for the 30th anniversary.

I would love to see Brian d'Arcy James and Christian Borle team up in "The Odd Couple" or "La Cage Aux Folles."

I would love to see James Barbour as Javert, but he may have played it. He'd also be a superb Emile DeBecque, to Mary Michael Patterson's Nellie Forbush.

I'd like to see Tam Mutu get a shot at the Phantom in POTO, and not just in LND.

Finally, I'd like to see ANYBODY as ANYTHING in Rebecca.

AHLiebross said: "Sally Durant Plummer, I don't see Patti Lupone as Carlotta. I don't really think of Patti as having the operatic soprano voice necessary to play Carlotta. Audra McDonald is more of a mezzo, but I think she'd be terrific as Carlotta. So would Sarah Brightman -- perhaps for the 30th anniversary. "

That post was referring to Follies, not Phantom. Speaking to the part of Carlotta in Phantom, however, I believe ALW actually suggested Patti for the movie before being reminded she despises him.

Updated On: 12/14/15 at 11:22 PM

"Mandy Patinkin - Tevye"

How has this not happened?

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Mandy Patinkin as Tevye -- I thought he played the role in the extremely forgettable movie. However, I may be mixing Fiddler up with Yentl.

^ YES, Kate Winslet as Diana in a Next to Normal movie!

Toni Colette as the Chaperone

I don't remember if an offer was officially made or if she withdrew herself from consideration before an offer could be put forth, but Winslet was definitely on the short list for the Night Music revival.

"Tracey Ullman as Mrs. Lovett"

Yes!

"Hell, Patti LuPone could have played most parts on Broadway and probably would have been wonderful."

Also, this.

I would kind of like to see Laura Benanti do Bridges of Madison County. And I wish I could have seen Lesli Margherita in Kiss Me, Kate.

TerrenceIsTheMann said: "I don't see Patti as Cinderella at all. The gentle tenderness that Kim Crosby brought to the role was essential, especially in No One Is Alone, in my opinion. Patti would've suited much better belting out "Last Midnight". She still should in a new revival. "

She certainly would not have been right for the Cinderella that ended up in the show as we know it, but I have to believe that if she had been cast the role would have evolved into something much different from what we know it, for better or worse.

Carolee Carmello - The Baker's Wife

Orfeh - Amneris in Aida

Emily Skinner should have done Ursula in Little Mermaid. Was she in the running at some point, I don't remember?

Eden Espinosa - Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde

I always thought a younger Adam Pascal would have been great as Tommy.