Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of "Cats."
Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of "Cats."
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#1Stephanie 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
#2Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:17pmMore excited for Ashley Brown as Maria in SOUND OF MUSIC. But still great!
#2Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:17pmOh, thank God. Finally my chance to see Stephanie J. Block playing Stephanie J. Block as a cat.
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#3Stephanie 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.
#4Stephanie 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.
#5Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:21pmI 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!
#6Stephanie 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.
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#7Stephanie 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.
#8Stephanie 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. 
#9Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:40pmAshley 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.
#10Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:42pmJulie Andrews was in CATS?
#11Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:42pmAshley Brown as Maria sounds like inspired casting.
#12Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 8:46pmIt sounds like obvious casting. What's she gonna do next, Victor/Victoria?
#13Stephanie 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...
#14Stephanie 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.
Pianist3912
Leading Actor Joined: 7/12/07
#15Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/13/10 at 10:53pmMost surprising news I've heard all day...I love her singing voice. Hopefully she can bring out some better acting for this part though.
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#16Stephanie 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.
#17Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/14/10 at 5:57pmAnd Josefina got a Tony nomination over SJB. That was a HORRIBLE point you tried to make, lol.
Poody
Swing Joined: 9/25/08
#18Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/14/10 at 6:01pmSJB 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.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#19Stephanie 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!
#20Stephanie J. Block to play Grizabella in Muny Theatre's production of 'Cats
Posted: 4/14/10 at 7:08pmVal, 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.
Trekkie2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/7/06
#21Stephanie 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.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#22Stephanie 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.
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#23Stephanie 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.
#24Stephanie 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...
:)
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