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 ...
Posted: 1/26/18 at 10:27am
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.
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.
Posted: 6/25/18 at 11:30am
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:46pm
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.)
Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:55pm
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?
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?
Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:30pm
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.
Posted: 6/25/18 at 3:22pm
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.
Posted: 6/25/18 at 3:32pm
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...
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!
Posted: 6/25/18 at 4:40pm
