Santino Fontana will play the lead in Tootsie the Musical- Page 2

[newintown]

Posted: 1/26/18 at 9:44am

I'm dubious about this project's book writer, who was responsible for the unbearably tortuous 13, a few gags for one Dame Edna show, and the scripts for a handful of lower-tier sitcoms. Perhaps he possesses unexplored depths of talent, but ...

[Balthazar Chasen]

Posted: 1/26/18 at 10:27am

This is going to sound out-of-nowhere random yet I'll be looking to who is cast as the soap ingénue Geena Davis portrayed in the film. Geena went from that role to winning an Oscar seven years later. That's quite impressive.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/26/18 at 12:13pm

This is going to sound out-of-nowhere random yet I'll be looking to who is cast as the soap ingénue Geena Davis portrayed in the film. Geena went from that role to winning an Oscar seven years later. That's quite impressive.

It really is random because Tootsie was her first screen gig.  She had roles in numerous TV and film projects afterwards, including her own sitcom "Sara" with Afre Woodard, Bill Maher and Bronson Pinchot (which I loved, though it only ran 13 episodes), The Fly, Beetlejuice and Earth Girls are Easy, leading up to her role in The Accidental Tourist.  It wasn't like Tootsie catapulted her straight to an Oscar because of that role.  

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/8/18 at 4:05pm

Bumping this to see if anybody's heard about casting for Chicago in a few months. I know Stephanie J. Block was attached to an earlier reading, but she's doing The Cher Show now. I would love if Annaleigh Ashford was in the Teri Garr role. Hard-pressed to think of somebody for Jessica Lange role.

I am so, so excited for this one.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 11:23am

Fiiiiinally!!!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Lilli-Cooper-Sarah-Stiles-and-More-Complete-Chicago-Cast-of-Broadway-Bound-TOOTSIE-20180625

[Danielle49]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 11:30am

Lookin' good!

Does this mean SpongeBob's definitely closing within the next couple of months or that someone will simply replace Lilli Cooper?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 11:50am

Danielle49 said: "Lookin' good!

Does this mean SpongeBob's definitely closing within the next couple of months or that someone will simply replace Lilli Cooper?"

Yes.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 11:53am

This cast is exciting! There's (presumably) going to be the best kind of scenery-chewing on that stage with Julie Halston, Michael McGrath, and Reg Rodgers.

I don't think Cooper's casting means anything for Spongebob's future -- she probably negotiated to leave SB early, or had a clause in her contract that allowed her to leave.

Updated On: 6/25/18 at 11:53 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 11:54am

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:23pm

SomethingPeculiar said: "This cast is exciting! There's (presumably) going to be the best kind of scenery-chewing on that stage with Julie Halston, Michael McGrath, and Reg Rodgers.

I don't think Cooper's casting means anything for Spongebob's future-- sheprobably negotiated to leave SB early, or had a clause in her contract that allowed her to leave."

Most shows will allow actors out of their contracts, especially when the role they are leaving for is a step up.  

 

It's funny, when this was out of town there was lots of chatter about Cooper.  Heard almost nothing once it got to town.   I really liked her in the Boston run of Natasha, Pierre.   Looking forward to seeing this.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:31pm

dramamama611 said: "SomethingPeculiar said: "This cast is exciting! There's (presumably) going to be the best kind of scenery-chewing on that stage with Julie Halston, Michael McGrath, and Reg Rodgers.

I don't think Cooper's casting means anything for Spongebob's future-- sheprobably negotiated to leave SB early, or had a clause in her contract that allowed her to leave."

Most shows will allow actors out of their contracts, especially when the role they are leaving for is a step up.

That is incorrect.  There are no outs on a term contract for a principal, unless it is for something specifically agreed on during negotiations. 
 

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:35pm

It's fairly common for most principals (that aren't big-name stars) to have an out clause in their negotiated contracts as long as ample notice is given. Most even have "can take X number of unpaid days to film a movie/tv project" during their run. No one is seeing Spongebob FOR Lili at this point, so I'm sure producers would gladly let her out of her contact for a new job. 

I really don't see her fitting into this Jessica Lange role, though. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:46pm

Lilli Cooper in the Jessica Lange role is an interesting choice. I think it’s important to diversify the show and not make it all-white like the movie. However, having a white guy in the lead and then relegating a POC to the Bill Murray or Terri Sands sidekick roles would be a bad idea, so I’m glad they didn’t do that.

However, as a white male who has previously been in a relationship with a black woman and is now married to a Latina woman, this “color conscious casting” adds a whole new layer to the show. If they are going to make the character of Julie black, they need to actually make her black - as in, have it get talked about in the script. In interracial friendships and romances, the acknowledgment of racial and cultural differences do get talked about (hopefully in a positive way). If they are going to make this unexpected casting choice (which I fully support), they need to not “whitewash” the character.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:54pm

ANYTHING can be re-negotiated.   The current production has every right to refuse, but unless it's a star that's selling tickets, they don't have much of a reason to do so.    

 

Also, it's pretty close to her one year contract, so they aren't "giving" all that much.  (Depending when they are actually starting, of course.)

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:55pm

Is the honeymooners musical dead?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:08pm

This is the show I'm most looking forward to next season, so I pray it's good and does well... but realistically, do we think this has any chance of commercial success when Santino Fontana is the cast's biggest name?

[Solipsist234]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:20pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "This is the show I'm most looking forward to next season, so I pray it's good and does well... but realistically, do we think this has any chance of commercial success when Santino Fontana is the cast's biggest name?"

This is what I've been thinking about too. Tootsie is definitely a very popular title, but we all know what happens when producers think they can bank on the movie's popularity when advertising the musical (Groundhog Day and Rocky come to mind, and Pretty Woman is probably going to be in the same boat as well when it opens.) On the subject of Santino's name, that is a non-issue; Santino Fontana is pretty popular in the Broadway/musical theater world, but what ticket-buyer is actually going to realize that he was the voice of Hans in Frozen?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:30pm

The show is VERY funny and I love the score. I’ve seen two industry readings and it’s only gotten better with time. I’m sad that Stephanie J Block won’t be able to be in this because just judging by her at the reading, she probably would have gotten a supporting actress Tony for her hilarious Sandy. I’m also very sad that Marc Kudisch isn’t continuing with the show.

Nothing against the cast, but there’s no real selling point to the show now. As incredible as Santino is, he’s not a name that sells tickets to tourists and I’m not sure if a 36 year old movie that isn’t on anyone under 30’s radar can sell based on name alone.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:32pm

Jordan, how is Yazbek's score? One of my all-time favorite movies with one of my all-time favorite composers just seems like a match made in heaven.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 3:22pm

I told my friend after the first reading that it might just be my favorite thing he’s ever done.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 3:29pm

Did they include the 2 songs from the film’s soundtrack composed by Dave Grusin?   I hope so.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 3:32pm

No, I don’t believe any of he films music was used.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 4:27pm

I agree, BroadwayConcierge...the film is an incredibly clever piece with a clear, powerful moral- even if said moral has been tainted somewhat by the report that it taught Dustin Hoffman nothing.

I have been waiting for Michael McGrath to return to Broadway ever since he had to leave She Loves Me. I just love him...he's one of my favorite character actors working today.

David Yazbeck's having quite the year, isn't he?! So wonderful when talent gets thrust into the forefront...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 4:34pm

Danielle49 said: "Lookin' good!

Does this mean SpongeBob's definitely closing within the next couple of months or that someone will simply replace Lilli Cooper?"

If spongebob doesn’t close, would love to see Emmy Raver Lampman replace her!

[Kad]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 4:40pm

I like this cast a lot- a good, eclectic bunch of character actors (even the absurdly handsome John Behlmann).

I suppose they're banking on the title being the name. We'll see. The pedigree behind this one is certainly there. Santino's not going to sell this, as great as he is. He's not a name- not even a Broadway name. He managed to sneak in and out of Hello Dolly without very many people caring.