Spamalot Casting
Spamalot Casting
girlsings
Chorus Member Joined: 8/19/05
#1Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 7:38pmWith Spamalot at 77% you'd think they'd find someone better to cast than Merle Dandridge. The most boring and unfunny Joanne I've seen. I said before that below average casting will send this show down the same path as The producers.
#2re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 7:40pmClay Aiken is coming back next month. That should help.
girlsings
Chorus Member Joined: 8/19/05
#3re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:06pmI think Merle is an amazing talent and deserves this role. Not only is she beautiful, but she has a voice that I know I could listen to for hours. I'm hoping she does an amazing job. I'll definitely be there.
::bust a move::
#4re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:19pmI wasn't referring to talent, just strictly in terms of box office draw.
#5re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:21pmSo? Every part in the show doesn't have to be stunt cast. People with immense talent like Merle are good enough to get good parts without having to be stunt cast.
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
#6re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:29pm
I can't imagine the Lady of the Lake being stunt cast. That woman would have to have the power in her voice and the perfect comedic timing to do it, and be able to do it (hopefully) 8 performances a week. I've seen the show 4 times now, and 2 of them (Broadway and tour) just couldn't cut it for me. And Broadway shows are their career.
If they were to bring Sara back, then maybe that would be "successful stunt casting" based on where she is with her career now... but I don't see that happening.
::bust a move::
#8re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:43pm
Joanne?
I am so confused.
Merle has an amazing voice... and she sounds glorious on TARZAN (wish she did a full version of the song)
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
girlsings
Chorus Member Joined: 8/19/05
#9re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:45pmCurious what Zepka has seen her in that makes her qualified for Lady of the Lake. Boring, beautiful but boring. Sorry.
#10re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:55pmObviously she has something going for her if she was cast. We'll see what she starts. But that can't stop me from being excited for her and thinking she deserves it based on how she's performed in previous roles.
::bust a move::
#11re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 8:58pm
Britney Spears? Right....
I'm looking forward to Merle. Hannah was beyond amazing. She had the voice, the looks, and the comedic timing. I'm sure Merle will do a great job too.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#12re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 9:19pmMerele Dandridge is just keeping the part warm until Barbara Cook can take over.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#13re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 9:27pm
This has been in the works for months, so it isn't anything done to do "box office draw". She announced she'd be going back a few months ago just when she announced she was going back to RENT. She was supposed to close out RENT and then go, but Tracie came to RENT and Merle going into Spamalot earlier. No other lady of the lake other than Sara (and even then she wasn't too big of a name) i would count as a box office draw outside of "theater people".
I think she is going to be great and have been so excited since I first read the news.
BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless
SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!
#14re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 9:35pm
Merle Dandridge is so amazing! I just wish she was going to be in the final cast of RENT. I was really looking forward to seeing her on the big screen.
Broadway Mouth: 16 Going On . . .: Analyzing Comedy, Part II
Ole Chum
Leading Actor Joined: 12/6/07
#15re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:11pm
wow. someone complaining about a show NOT stunt casting. i guess thats original at least? are you under the impression Marin Mazzie was filling seats?
Merle is not my favorite Joanne- but shes insanely talented, has an INCREDIBLE voice, and will rock out those songs. shell belt her head off in Divas Lament and Find Your Grail, and blow all those tourists away... cant wait.
girlsings
Chorus Member Joined: 8/19/05
#16re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:18pmIt's not about stunt casting it's about if they keep hiring average (beautiful but average) talent for Spamalot, any role, men and/ or women, the closing notice will come quickly. There are more talented people out there and at 110 bucks I don't care who they are but they better be the top of their field. Boring and beautiful means people go home and tell their friends "it was alright ..." Instead of "great! go see it!"
#17re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:22pmShe hasn't started yet. It's wrong to make observations about "average" talent when we haven't seen what she can do with it in the role yet.
::bust a move::
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:50pmI agree. I can't say I know much about Merle personally, minus minimal audio hearing... but I am glad they haven't taken Lady of the Lake to stunt casting yet. I'm not looking forward to that day, but I am interested to see how she does as the Lady.
#19re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/20/08 at 11:08pm
ONE NIGHT ONLY:
PATTI LABELLE
is
THE LADY OF THE LAKE!
Take THAT you "stunt casters"!
"To love another person is to see the face of God!"
#20re: Spamalot Casting
Posted: 8/21/08 at 8:22am
If Britney Spears isn't available, maybe Posh Spice?
I wish Merle all the best and hope she has fun with the part.
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