Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of "Cats."

#1

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of "Cats."

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:15pm

Stephanie J. Block has been cast as Grizabella in a production of "Cats," which will take place at the Muny Theatre in St. Louis. The show will run from July 19-25. This isn't one of my favorite musicals, but I think she will do very well with this role. I hope she will bring the trouble and pain that this charcter goes through. The show will also feature Ken Page (Old Deuteronomy) and Lara Teeter (Munkustrap).

https://stlouis.broadwayworld.com/article/Gary_Beach_Stephanie_J_Block_et_al_To_Perform_at_The_Muny_20010101

#2

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:17pm

More excited for Ashley Brown as Maria in SOUND OF MUSIC. But still great!

---

"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

#3

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:17pm

Oh, thank God. Finally my chance to see Stephanie J. Block playing Stephanie J. Block as a cat.

#4

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:18pm

"More excited for Ashley Brown as Maria in SOUND OF MUSIC. But still great!"

I saw her as Mary Poppins and she was wonderful. She sure loves playing Julie Andrews roles.

#5

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:19pm

Ken Page is still playing old Deutoronomy? Might be time to move on, huh?

Oh, thank God. Finally my chance to see Stephanie J. Block playing Stephanie J. Block as a cat.

I'm sure she'll bring the same blank looks to this "role" she does everything else she plays.

#6

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:21pm

I don't know if it's the blank looks so much as the unnecessary intensity she brings to everything. It was fine in PIRATE QUEEN but c'mon girl - Find a new character to play!

#7

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:25pm

Find a new character to play!

She can't act. Never could.

#8

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:27pm

"She can't act. Never could."

That's not a very nice thing to say. She made some very good acting choices when I saw her as Elphaba back in 2005.

#9

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:27pm

Oh, adam. You're so mean.

#10

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:40pm

Ashley Brown told me at the stagedoor that Julie Andrews is one of her idols. So I am sure she is beside herself knowing that she will have played 2 of Julie Andrews iconic roles.

#11

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:42pm

Julie Andrews was in CATS?

#12

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:42pm

Ashley Brown as Maria sounds like inspired casting.

#13

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:46pm

It sounds like obvious casting. What's she gonna do next, Victor/Victoria?

#14

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 9:16pm

I'm not crazy about the MUNY, but I'll go to see THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Not crazy about CATS either, but I admit, I do love me some SJB. Although Stephanie has received a lot of criticism for her "wooden" acting, I think she can belt like a mofo.
Hope those poor bastards in CATS don't pass out from the heat...

---

The Overture is part of the show, people. Please shut your pie hole.

#15

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 10:34pm

That's not a very nice thing to say.

Go away. Seriously though, he's right. I've been a fan of SJB for years, but she's not much of an actress.

#16

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/13/10 at 10:53pm

Most surprising news I've heard all day...I love her singing voice. Hopefully she can bring out some better acting for this part though.

#17

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 5:55pm

"She can't act. Never could."

Josafina Scaglione acted the heck out of the role of Maria in "West Side Story," but SJB got a Drama Desk Nomination over her.

#18

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 5:57pm

And Josefina got a Tony nomination over SJB. That was a HORRIBLE point you tried to make, lol.

#19

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 6:01pm

SJB can't act? I loved her "acting" in 9 to 5. She was extremely animated. In the LA version at least.... before broadway fugged it up.

#20

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 6:31pm

"Ken Page is still playing old Deutoronomy? Might be time to move on, huh?"

A job is a job.

I'm lost on how people say Steph isn't an actress. But then again I think Alice Ripley and Mandy Gonzalez aren't the greatest things since sliced bread either!

---

Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!

#21

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 7:08pm

Val, I thought it was only Alice's singing that you dislike? I don't think Stephanie's acting is awful as some are saying. Just very over-the-top and lacking in subtlety. She could be incredible if she toned it down several notches. Her voice and stage presence are what I've always liked about her.

#22

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 7:17pm

"I'm lost on how people say Steph isn't an actress. But then again I think Alice Ripley and Mandy Gonzalez aren't the greatest things since sliced bread either!"

...

...

...I don't think I can talk to you.

---

"I think of avant-garde as downtown shows where you rub waffles and chocolate on yourself."- Hunter Bell

#23

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 11:11pm

I think Maria is a Mary Martin role.

#24

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/14/10 at 11:38pm

"Just very over-the-top and lacking in subtlety."

That worked well for her as Liza in THE BOY FROM OZ.

#25

Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats

Posted: 4/15/10 at 2:06am

I admit - I'm still a little bitter that she got replaced in WICKED at the eleventh hour.
There. I said it...
:)

---

The Overture is part of the show, people. Please shut your pie hole.