Scott Rudins next big splashy production

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 11:09am

After the big splashy and star driven revivals of hello dolly and music man. What revival do you think/hope Rudin will take on next.

My hopes would be:

MAME - with Cher and Christine Baranski
FOLLIES- with a collection of broadway stars from the generations (yes I am aware of the $$$$$$$ of this) how incredible it would be had it been done as a Kennedy Centre event for Sondheim at 90: Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Lea Michele, Audra MacDonald, Lea Salonga
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - Julie Andrews, Cate Blanchett, TImothee Challamet
HAIRSPRAY - Shawn Mendes or Harry Styles as Link
KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN - Alice Ripley, Jonathan Groff, TImothee Chalamet

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 11:22am

Mame with Toni Collette, allegedly in the 2021-22 season. Allegedly.

Why would the Kennedy Center do FOLLIES less than 10 years after its previous revival (and subsequent Bway transfer)? And what does any of that have to do with Rudin?

I would say, get your head out of your you-know-where for some of those ideas.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 11:27am

MAME with someone like Maggie Gyllenhaal-- an actress who can sing and be glamorous, and who will surprise us all with those talents as Angela Lansbury did originally. 

And before you give me your faux-progressive nonsense, Mame Dennis is a loving bon vivant who practices inclusiveness and tolerance, and the title song is a satire on cliches of the "Old South", not an ode to the Confederacy. We need more joyous and loving Auntie Mames in our lives, and I think it's time for us to revisit Beekman Place. 

And it's never "too soon" for another FOLLIES. 

Updated On: 1/14/20 at 11:27 AM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 11:30am

I hope its not Toni Collette. My sister in law is her doppelganger, and I can't stand my sister in law for more than an instant let alone a 2 and a half hour romp!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 12:08pm

Just pick a musical from David Merrick's resume. That's mostly what Rudin has been doing.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 12:15pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Just pick a musical from David Merrick's resume. That's mostly what Rudin has been doing." 

?

He has lead-produced ONE Merrick musical in his career.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 12:17pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Mamewith Toni Collette, allegedly in the2021-22 season.Allegedly.

Why would the Kennedy Center do FOLLIES less than 10 years after its previous revival (and subsequent Bway transfer)? And what does any of that have to do with Rudin?

I would say, get your head out of your you-know-where for some of those ideas."

2021-2022 season? So... we should be getting an announcement... any day now!? 

*Kidding. Of course.*

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 12:38pm

I have prayed everyday to the theater gods ever since hearing the Mame rumor that it is in fact true and that Toni is in fact the new Mame. 😂 In all seriousness, wow, wow, wow, strike the band up, what a glorious revival that will (hopefully) be. Next to Dolly, Mame is my favorite Herman score, but I have never had the chance to see a full production live. Can’t think of a better way to see it live for the first time....

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 1:01pm

MAME - with Cher and Christine Baranski

Baranski already tackled MAME back in 2006 to lackluster reception.  Some ideas sound better on paper.  The glorious Harriet Harris was her Vera Charles.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 1:13pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "MAME - with Cher and Christine Baranski

Baranski already tackled MAME back in 2006 to lackluster reception. Some ideas sound better on paper. The glorious Harriet Harris was her Vera Charles.

I saw that disappointing production of Mame.  The major reason for the disappointment was that Baranski was miscast, as was Harriet Harris as Vera.  (IMO Harris was atrociously bad).  Truth be told, the production values were pretty cheesy, as well.  I have always thought, however, that Baranski would make an incredible Vera.  I can't think of anyone who would be that perfect.  People will say Alison Janney -- who I am not overly fond of -- and I have to  admit that she would probably be very good in the role, but baranski would be great.

"

 

 

[binau]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 1:17pm

I hope Bernadette Peters or Patti LuPone or Donna Murphy could be Vera, if not Mame in the first place of course. Or a combination of them in the two roles.

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 1:33pm

Jen Simard as Gooch. Just saying.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 2:01pm

Am I the only one who thinks Toni Collette would actually be better as Vera? Opposite someone like Nicole Kidman or Renee Zelwegger or some other major major star as Mame (likely the only way this show would actually ever be revived?)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 2:03pm

Why not GUYS AND DOLLS? Feels like we're due for a (good) revival. Jake Gyllenhaal, Megan Mullally, Josh Gad, Laura Benanti, James Cordan...

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 2:16pm

ACL2006 said: "Why not GUYS AND DOLLS? Feels like we're due for a (good) revival. Jake Gyllenhaal, Megan Mullally, Josh Gad, Laura Benanti, James Cordan... "

A good revival would be great.  I do wonder if GND has become one of those shows now that you’d need to stunt cast to get bums in seats now.  But actually that’s a great list 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 3:01pm

Me and My Girl

 

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 3:54pm

A Scott Rudin produced Hairspray sound so ludicrously funny to me

[Valentina3]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 5:22pm

Call_me_jorge said: "A Scott Rudin produced Hairspray sound so ludicrously funny to me"

Will close in 1.5 years after Harvey leaves. What's even the point.

PS - I know it's not her "type", but I'd love to see what Jessie Mueller would do with Miss Baltimore Crabs.

[George in DC]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 5:55pm

Jarethan said: "I saw that disappointing production of Mame. The major reason for the disappointment was that Baranski was miscast, as was Harriet Harris as Vera. (IMO Harris was atrociously bad)."

 

 

 

I couldn't disagree more about Ms. Harris. She was wonderful -  an opinion shared by most of the reviewers too.

[BJR]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 6:05pm

QueenAlice said: "Am I the only one who thinks Toni Collette would actually be better as Vera? Opposite someone like Nicole Kidman or Renee Zelwegger or some other major major star as Mame (likely the only way this show would actually ever be revived?)"

Renee Zellwegger is actually a fantastic idea. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 6:37pm

Highland Guy said: "Me and My Girl
 

It's a sin this show hasn't been revived yet.

"

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 6:43pm

Guys & Dolls either needs stars (who would commit to a year) or STELLAR reviews after its last revival bombed so hard. Honestly, I wouldn't hate to see Jerry Zaks re-revive his 1992 revival with a fresh cast.

Similarly, Mame needs a major star to sell tickets. Even if it opens in the Spring and is a critics darling and sweeps the Tonys, I don't think it's the type of show that grosses 800k+ per week, even with a semi-star like Toni Collette.

With most of these shows, it's a matter of getting past Month 3. As we've seen with recent commercial revivals of old chestnuts (Carousel, Saigon, Fiddler, On The Town, Annie, Porgy and Bess, JCS, La Cage), they start out strong with New York theatergoers and groups, and then they dip somewhere between the 10th and 20th week. And in most cases, the running costs were so high that they couldn't be sustained to recoup, even if some could eke out a year-long run.

Updated On: 1/14/20 at 06:43 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 7:39pm

I love Toni Collette and imagine she would be a fantastic Mame. Mame is an odd character though ... she's very affected 20's east side. Very pretentious. Very extra. Yet she's also extremely warm. A life force. Rosalind Russell captured this perfectly. I'm guessing Angela Lansbury did as well.

My choice for Mame has always been Jane Krakowski.

[David10086]

Posted: 1/14/20 at 10:12pm

I always thought Glenn Close would be a great Mame. She will be 73 in March, so she may not be the ideal age.

[msmp]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 1:13pm

qolbinau said: "I hope Bernadette Peters or Patti LuPone or Donna Murphy could be Vera, if not Mame in the first place of course. Or a combination of them in the two roles."

A Bernadette Peters revival with Donna Murphy as the alternate (a la Dolly w/Midler) would be fantastic. I know Donna has said Mame is her dream role in the past, but she also has said she's reluctant to take on a full 8-show commitment with her daughter in high school.