Roseanne Barr Headed to XANADU?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:03am

Word over on ATC is that Roseanne Barr may be headed to XANADU in an attempt to keep the box office numbers up post-Whoopi (I'm guessing she too would play Caliope.)

Anyone heard anything similar?

Updated On: 9/10/08 at 12:03 AM

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:05am

That would be meant to RAISE sales?... Um... HOW? We all know what happens when Roseanne sings...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:07am

They want ticket sales to increase so they bring in ROSEANNE? If they would've done this fifteen years ago, it would've been a major deal...does anyone even like her anymore?

I hope this isn't true...

They could get such amazing people to replace Testa and Hoffman...even some that would be considered stunt casting. This would be a bad move if it was true...if it is, I hope I'm wrong and that she's wonderful.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:07am

If she got booed singing THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, one of the most fool-proof ways to inspire a crowd, I'd love to see her pull this off.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:08am

She's a triple threat.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:09am

Think of all the amazing comedians who could play those roles though...some will never happen for varied reasons but Rosie O'Donnell, Kathy Griffin, Joan Rivers (!!!), Joy Behar, ...age doesn't seem to matter with the roles which is good and so many different people could take such interesting twists on the role.

I hope this rumor isn't true.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:17am

God, I hope not. Her show was great, but Broadway? No way...

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:23am

To add to your awesome list, WiCkEDrOcKS: Lilly Tomlin, Candice Bergen, Bonnie Hunt (once that talk show is canceled in 5 seconds), Jane Curtain; Again, most are unrealistic, but any of those would be GREAT.

Updated On: 9/10/08 at 12:23 AM

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:30am

LOVES ME SOME BONNIE HUNT!

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:32am

Didn't she have a talk show before that got canceled? Or was it her own sitcom where she was a talk show host and it got canceled?

[jake6970]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:33am

Someone on ATC said jennifer coolidge fell through...how amazing would that have been! that certainly would have gotten me to see it again.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:36am

Have they tried to get Kathy Najimy? Any way, I wish Rosanne could sing because I love her, but then again it didn't stop Whoopi.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:37am

Names, people, names.

Kathy who? Bonnie who?

Are they going to sell tickets?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:38am

Are we really bashing one of the most revolutionary comics in the last 50 years?

True, not much of a voice, but does the role really need it. She could do some funny things with her bad voice (if I remember correctly, she did a children's video recently and her singing wasn't terrible) and would nail all the jokes.

And she's a name with a decent fan base.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:40am

Roseanne has a fan base?!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:46am

Yes, she does.

Her DVD's were huge sellers and her TV show is in reruns constantly.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:50am

Tracy Ullman?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:52am

Are these folks going to be willing to get up off their rear ends to dish out $55 a ticket to see her in a play, not to mention the airfare from Hoohaville and overnight stay at the Super 8 in Staten Island?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:55am

It doesn't matter what I say at this point. But, yes, I think she'd bring in a fair amount of traffic.

It's not like she has to fill The Gershwin or The Hilton!

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:09am

I love the Lily Tomlin idea, trekkie2.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:11am

I've heard Fran Drescher.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:13am

Kathy Nijimy is one of the funniest women around but I don't know how many people heard of her.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:13am

Lily Tomlin is a brilliant comedienne, haven't seen XANADU but judging from the cast recording, she'd be wonderful.
Now, is Jackie Hoffman leaving on her own terms or are they not renewing her contract in order to get some stunt casting done? I think it'd be somewhat unfair if it is the latter.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:28am

If I recall correctly she was pretty decent as the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz at Madison Square Garden...what...11 years ago? Though she didn't have a song and at the end when the whole cast sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" I'm pretty sure she was just moving her lips.

Tracy Ullman is a great suggestion. She was great in Once Upon a Mattress with Matthew Morrison and Carol Burnett.

And yes...Bonnie Hunt had a sitcom that didn't last long and, if I recall correctly, she was a talk show host. I only remember seeing one episode.

As for Kathy Najimy - I think more people know her than we realize. Hocus Pocus, Sister Act, WALL-E, the upcoming Tinkerbell, and she's the principal on "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" which is a very popular show among the tween set. A demographic the theatre seems to be reaching out for more and more. She's one of those actresses who seems to always be "around". People may not know her name but they know her. And I seem to remember her singing in "Cinderelmo" when she played the Stepmother.

[tourboi]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:51am

Both Mary and Jackie are signed through January.