I think the biggest misconception with the Pasadena and Atlanta productions was that the producers were looking to transfer the show commercially in the state it was performed regionally, which was certainly not the case (everything would be on a much bigger scale for a Broadway production).
I saw the show toward the end of the Atlanta run and enjoyed it immensely. The score was extremely enjoyable, and I thought (most importantly) that the creative team managed to retain the uplifting spirit that made the film so great while adding new dimensions that were equally as fun.
While Dawnn Lewis did an absolutely terrific job in the arduous task of filling Whoopi Goldberg's shoes as Deloris, the show really is a vehicle that, to be sucessful, requires a star. Queen Latifah came to my mind as the best fit for the role (the show really plays to all her strengths, with the vocal score being right in her range and the comedy in the style of what she does best).
From what I understand, everyone involved was extremely happy with how far they were able to come with the show and hoped to do one more round of out of town engagements (the cities I heard mentioned were Chicago and Detroit) before ultimately making the final tweaks to move it to New York.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 11/2/07 at 09:33 PM