darquegk said: "Jackman and Sutton would be an interesting Sweeney and Lovett together; after seeing Younger, I can really see Sutton Foster as the charming yet conniving oddball Lovett."
I....do not want to hear Sutton sing this score. Sorry.
My dream Lovett is Amber Gray, but Annaleigh will be delightful. I think this role is much more suited to her comedic talents than Dot/Marie which is a much more dramatic role. Can't wait.
Updated On: 4/7/22 at 01:01 PM
bdn223 said: "Am I the only one excited to see Ashford's take on Lovett? I am assuming it would be bringing back the role to Lansbury's original more comedic take on the character. I know in all subsequent productions the role has grown darker and become essentially a musical version of Lady MacBeth for actresses to sink their teeth into, but the original production was mounted as a dark comedy. If there's one thing Ashford's great at its bringing heart and edge to larger than life comedic performances, which is very much in line with Lansbury's original performance. Her wit and timing always have me laughing one minute, then asking "Wait should I be laughing at this?, the next, which I think is perfect for Lovett.
Also her casting clearly isn't set in stone because ifB Positiveis renewed for a third season (which I am assuming is unlikely at this point due to Asford's alleged attachment, and the fact it ended its season early), she won't be able to do both."
RE: "Wait should I be laughing at this?"
I can't think of one performance where she has done this? Wicked, Kinky Boots, Sylvia, etc. She's very good with comedy but vocally, I'm just not excited to hear it? Maybe Lupone has just ruined me, ha.
Just realized Jessie Mueller would be perfect as the Beggar Woman. I would’ve thought the part would be too small for her, but apparently the same has been said about her current role in The Minutes, so who knows. And if they ever went the route of combining that part with Pirelli then it’s pretty decently sized part. She also would’ve been an exciting choice for Lovett.
ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure said: "Just realized Jessie Mueller would be perfect as the Beggar Woman. I would’ve thought the part would be too small for her, but apparently the same has been said about her current role in The Minutes, so who knows. And if they ever went the route of combining that part with Pirelli then it’s pretty decently sized part. She also would’ve been an exciting choice for Lovett."
Eeek....she's not right for either of those roles. Bobbie? Yes. Lovett or Beggar Woman? Under no circumstances.
OhHiii said: "ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure said: "Just realized Jessie Mueller would be perfect as the Beggar Woman. I would’ve thought the part would be too small for her, but apparently the same has been said about her current role in The Minutes, so who knows. And if they ever went the route of combining that part with Pirelli then it’s pretty decently sized part. She also would’ve been an exciting choice for Lovett."
Eeek....she's not right for either of those roles. Bobbie? Yes. Lovett or Beggar Woman? Under no circumstances."
Curious why you think she’s not a good fit for Beggar Woman. I do agree however that she isn’t the best choice for Lovett.
There are a thousand people who could play the Beggar Woman, Toby, and Johanna, and do it extremely well. The supporting roles in that show are good, but not that hard to cast well. (AND YET sometimes they are still miscast...)
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Curious why you think she’s not a good fit for Beggar Woman. I do agree however that she isn’t the best choice for Lovett."
I don't think she has the range as an actress. Personally, I find her performances very very bland. :/ I respect those who feel differently, but I kind of group her and Sutton in the same "don't need to run to see them in anything" because I know what they can do, and it's just fine.
Encore's Wild Party a few years ago really exposed the limits of Sutton's range (vocally and acting chops).
OhHiii said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Curious why you think she’s not a good fit for Beggar Woman. I do agree however that she isn’t the best choice for Lovett."
I don't think she has the range as an actress. Personally, I find her performances very very bland. :/ I respect those who feel differently, but I kind of group her and Sutton in the same "don't need to run to see them in anything" because I know what they can do, and it's justfine.
Encore's Wild Party a few years ago really exposed the limits of Sutton's range (vocally and acting chops)."
I have to agree. I LOVE them both and I was beyond excited for that Wild Party and all of it was such a let down.
I would still prefer to see Jessie Mueller as Lovett than Ashford hehe.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
BJR said: "I think it's interesting it's Kail. He has primarily been a new works director, no? The biggest revival I can think of was his WIZ with Ashanti...
"
Agreed. I'd much rather we get an Alex Timbers revival. He knows how to do large scale musicals.
Kail is in the middle of developing a new Fiddler on the Roof film.
Just thinking about how wonderful Denee Benton would be as Johanna, plus the great comet reunion with Groban would be sweet. On top of that, if this doesn’t go into the St. James the Imperial would probably be perfect for it
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RippedMan said: "OhHiii said: "I have to agree. I LOVE them both and I was beyond excited for that Wild Party and all of it was such a let down."
It was the revival we all THOUGHT we wanted, but it was such a glaring miscast. Case of something sounding good on paper, but the reality is unfortunate.
I think Annaleigh would be an interesting Lovett. We also don't know what the concept for this will be yet or anything (or if it's even a thing), so who's to say what world her and Josh's Sweeney will inhabit. The subject matter of the show is particularly poignant these days (those up above feed those down below/eat the rich and all that), so it could go in a few different directions.
I do think there are some more inspired choices for Lovett though. Patina Miller comes to mind.
Call_me_jorge said: "Kail is in the middle of developing a new Fiddler on the Roof film."
I'll believe that's happening when cameras start to roll. There has been zero word about it since May 2020. At that time, MGM was looking to be bought, and was trying to announce and package a lot of projects to make itself seem like a viable/active studio –– and now it's owned by Amazon.
What about Tommy Kail's wife, Michelle Williams, as his Lovett or Tevye!
I think Groban is good casting. I prefer an older Lovett and I think Bernadette would be the perfect level of camp in this role. Sexy, funny, big hair, iffy accent. Would be perfect.
BCfitasafiddle said: "I wish this would happen at LCT with a huge orchestra and ensemble. Maybe it’ll still be grand in a commercial production, but I worry."
The only place I see a large-scale production is LCT. I think audiences today couldn't sustain a commercial run. They'd probably be like, "I liked this better with Johnny Depp."
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
I was just thinking about this last night. Do we know anything about this potentially happening?
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince