Stamos, Gershon, Houdyshell, Irwin Will Put on a Happy Face in Broadway Birdie- Page 3

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 3:59pm

Well, in the case of Janet Leigh, they gave her an Italian last name a removed anything having to do with being of Hispanic descent.

And I thought Vanessa Williams was a fine choice for the role. It certainly makes more sense to have a black actress in the role than a white lady.

Updated On: 4/2/09 at 03:59 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:03pm

Plus, Vanessa Wiliams had played Aurora on Broadway before.
At least we had a reference.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:05pm

I like Gershon, she's great on stage, but I do wish one of the few Latina roles in the canon had been cast with an actual Latina. Obviously they thought Andrea Burns wasn't name enough, which is a pity since she has talent to spare, would have knocked it out of the park, and ultimately would have been a better choice. Either way, I'll probably see this just because.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:10pm

Didn't Bianca Marroquín read for Rosie at one point? I seem to recall hearing something like that. Perhaps they felt she would read as "too young" opposite Stamos.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:15pm

If anything she was probably "too nobody."
Updated On: 4/2/09 at 04:15 PM

[changinandhow]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:27pm

They already had Stamos for their name, it's not like Bianca is completely unknown in the Broadway community.

Eris, she did Rosie at North Shore in Boston this past summer -- and got raves across the board for it. Unfortunate that they felt the need to cast a name instead of a true latina, I was so excited about the prospects for this revival but this leaves me rather disappointed.
Updated On: 4/2/09 at 04:27 PM

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:35pm

I am ECSTATIC to hear Gina's name in this!!! She was stunning in cabaret, beyond brilliant. I can not wait to see her in BBB!!!!! My day has been made :)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:42pm

Been in the Biz a long time.
Never heard of her.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:45pm

Do we know if Andrea Burns definitely auditioned? She really seemed like the obvious choice, it's such a shame.

Imagine if they cut/replaced SPANISH ROSE? Like the Reinking/Tune tour did. Updated On: 4/2/09 at 04:45 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:46pm

changinandhow, thanks. With so much theatre news every day sometimes it's heard remember where you heard what. But I knew I remembered hearing something about her being attached to the show.

Regardless I'm looking forward to seeing this show. BBB was my first professional production. The tour with Tune, Kudish, Egan, and Zahn (Reinking was out the day I went).

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:47pm

Been in the Biz a long time.
Never heard of her.

I'm sure by now she's very close with Charlotte d'Amboise as the actress with most performances as Roxie in the Chicago revival.

She'll be playing her again this summer.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:52pm

I'm sure I am in the minority but I don't care where a person is from, as long as the person cast is right for the part and talented.

I understand the character of Rosie has Latina roots. And whoever pointed it out (my apologies I forget) is absolutely correct in that Rosie's background is a big underlying current of the show and the reason Albert's mom doesn't approve of them. Now will Gina Gershon be right for this role? Eh? Don't know. She wouldn't have been my choice but maybe she will surprise, who knows.

But I think the latest revivals of WSS and G&D have proven that you can have a talented and ethnically appropriate cast, but that doesn't mean they are right for their roles in which they have been cast.

And personally I would rather have a bunch of unknowns that are really talented and fresh on Broadway than "name" people who aren't right for the show (please see Guys and Dolls.) The name Bye Bye Birdie will sell tickets without it having to be cast with "names" to draw it.

But only time will tell if this is a good cast for this production. I'll go see it!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:54pm

I agree. I can't wait to see Nathan Lane singing "Old Man River" in Showboat!

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:59pm

Carol Channing in Dreamgirls.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 5:02pm

Her "Ain't No Party" will be legendary!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 5:05pm

Donna Murphy as Caroline Thibodeaux, woo-woot. Glad hmpeterson cleared that up for us.
Ljay, I doubt Andrea Burns was even asked to audition, it seems like they were looking for a "name" all along. Gershon was probably just asked to do the part, I imagine. I really had high hopes for Burns since she understudied for Roundabout in the Rosie Perez THE RITZ.

Updated On: 4/2/09 at 05:05 PM

[PattiLover]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 5:58pm

Gina Gershon is no stranger to Broadway. She was a phenomenal Sally Bowles, the best one I've seen. And forgive me, but that includes Natasha. John Stamos is also a great theatre actor who's always playing replacements but never gets to create a new character.

I am optomistic about this...Bye Bye Birdie is a show that is so overdone it has probably scared many producers away. I believe that Bye Bye Birdie needs names to sell on Broadway. Otherwise, people will go see a nobody in one of the millions of high school productions that pop up all over the country.

Gina Gershon is a fantastic actress, and I think she'll serve the part well. If not, I'll happily eat my own words.

[Kev]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 6:39pm

Andrea Burns as Rosie. Groundbreaking.

The casting of the versatile Gershon intrigues me and I look forward to seeing what she brings to the role of Rosie.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 7:02pm

I am excited to see this happen. I think it will go over well. The only thing is that I kinda wish Bianca was Rosie, (as previous) people had hoped

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:28pm

Excited about Gina Gershon. She was great in Boeing Boeing, and even better in Cabaret. Give her a shot.

[dg22894]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:32pm

Tony Yazbeck(sp) as conrad would be great. I would love to see Allie Trimm or Elizabeth Egan Gilles or Denali Moro as Kim or Ursula

[dg22894]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:40pm

Any details about the Henry Miller?

[itsahopi]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 10:28pm

Rose's last name in the original production was Grant. Somewhere along the line it was changed to Alvarez, possibly named after Chita's original standby: Carmen Alvarez.

Also, if anyone is familiar with BRING BACK BIRDIE, they will know that Mae is also part Spanish. This is why she is so territorial of Albert and against any attraction he may have to a Spanish woman. She "knows how those senioritas" can be...Since she IS one.

In my opinion, Rose should be Spanish American. She should not have an accent, but be completely Americanized. All that should be Spanish about her is her background.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 11:28am

I missed this the first time I read the article...

Strouse previously told Playbill.com that Longbottom may incorporate a version of the 1963 film's title song into the stage show (the number is not usually part of the Broadway score).

That will be wonderful. I can see it as a group number replacing the overture, or as a number for Ursula and girls during the show, like the 95 movie did. Also, Mae's song really needs to be added.

Updated On: 4/3/09 at 11:28 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 12:29pm

Making Mae Spanish was probably one of the reasons BRING BACK Bombed, terrible idea.