Sunday in the Park looking likely

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 10:50pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=11364

This makes me so happy...I really hope it transfers.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:02pm

I really hope this transfer happens. This production looks amazing.

So exciting!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:05pm

I concur. I'll even make the trek to New York to see it.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:11pm

Saw it a month ago...


It was breathtaking..

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:12pm

I am ecstatic!! Sunday in the Park with George is due for a Broadway revival.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:23pm

My life will be made if I have the opportunity to see Sunday after seeing Company and Sweeney Todd. Wow! I can't even begin to imagine!

[Color and Light]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:31pm

Oh my goodness! If it does transfer, it will make my year!

[BobbyRobbyBobbyBaby]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:32pm

All I can say is I hope they bring over the entire cast. All are fantastic but the leads are phenomenal.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:39pm

I want Toni Collette to play Dot so badly.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:43pm

That's so great to know! This will be one of the few musicals that deserves to occupy a theatre on broadway! (unlike Legally Blonde...)

I'm REALLY excited and hoping the transfer will happen!

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:46pm

Jenna Russel is a fabulous Dot....


She'd better come over!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:03am

Yay! Hopefully this will run long enough for me to be a replacement in. Broadway needs more non-dancing, mostly singing musicals.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:34am

Would it be done by the Roundabout or would it have a commercial run?

Also, it would have to be an all-new American cast, as per Equity regulations (I don't think anyone in the West End cast would be considered a "star" and therefore an exception to the rule). Who might be a good George? Douglas Sills maybe?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:46am

It's going to be a commercial production.

Not sure what their plans are vis-a-vis Equity and casting. While the UK cast got mostly very good reviews (and Equity has an exchange program), I'm guessing that they're going to re-cast it with American performers (as did Sweeney Todd). If nothing else, they'll probably want to have at least slightly bigger names to a Broadway audience than Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell for the lead roles. Recall that even with Patinkin and Peters (who weren't really major names then, but were somewhat known generally to the public from their film, tv and stage work), the original production was a flop at the box office.

Updated On: 8/6/06 at 12:46 AM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:50am

As much as i'm excited about this production (and really, I am!!)... I only see it delaying the revival of A Little Night Music, which i'm REALLY REALLY excited for!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:09am

I would think the budget for this production is comparitively a lot smaller than the budget of the original. The rather complicated scenery of the Lapine production has almost entirely been replaced by projections, and the orchestrations have (very effectively) been reduced. I think its entirely possible a staging in New York City could make money if it is well received, though I'm not completely convinced. this won't end up at a not-for-profit theatre.

I adored this staging and found Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell to be a huge part of its success. They are absolutely radiant together.

But yeah, I think they will probably go for Broadway names. Hopefully not Michael Cerveris.
Updated On: 8/6/06 at 02:09 AM

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:10am

Good God I would die if this crossed over! It looks like an amazing production. I kind of hope they re cast simply because I would love to see who some of our Bway people tackle this show. Toni woudl be amazing as Dot as would Julia Murney and a bunch of others. I still cherish my memories of Audra as Dot at Ravinia.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:15am

Julia Murney really is all wrong for Dot. She would make a very good Yvonne though.

I actually suggested Toni Collette for Dot in another thread, but a friend of mine recently did an interview with her and she said she has no real desire to return to Broadway anytime soon. Apparently, the situation with Patinkin and THE WILD PARTY really turned her off from working in New York theatre.

Of the name suggestions I've heard, the realistic possibilities who most fit the directorial concept of this particular staging are Neil Patrick Harris and Jane Krakowski.

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:17am

"Neil Patrick Harris and Jane Krakowski."

dear God I hope not! There are soo many better people out there for these parts

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:23am

But, you have to understand that the magic in Sam Buntrock's casting is that Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell (and I supose Anna Jane Casey before her) are very specific and completely different than Patinkin/Peters.

Evans reads very young. His George is filled with frustration but also almost a child like quality. His George is less angry and more optomistic.

Russell as Dot is incredibly earthy. Her Dot is not smart. She wants so much to connect with George but she doesn't have the capacity to understand the complexity of an artist. Her Marie is wise - knowing and sad. She is not conventionally pretty but strangely sexual - luminious.

Alot of the actors people are going to suggest are just not right. I can not see Raul Esparza or Manoel Felciano or Michael Cerveris as George in THIS production. Nor can I see Audra, Chenoweth or Laura Benanti being especially effective either.

In casting this revival for New York, you kind of half to forget what you've seen in previous productions. And isn't that the entire point for bringing it to Broadway in the first place?

Updated On: 8/6/06 at 02:23 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:25am

I haven't seen the production, but I think making George too sweet and optimistic would be a mistake, at least for act one.

Anyway, Neil Patrick Harris has a decent singing voice, but George is really out of his league.
Updated On: 8/6/06 at 02:25 AM

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:27am

No I guess and trust me I realize not many of the people mentioned above would fit this produciton. I know that for me at least what I meant was that I would love to see those peoples take on the roles someday, maybe not on Broadway or in this production...and truth be told I'm sure Neil Patrick Harris would be great true he's not a huge singer and if you are looking for a different kind of Goerge than I could see him I guess...I'm just really not a fan of Jane. I understand if they want to go a different direction, that's awesome and I'm all for that...but not Krakowski

Updated On: 8/6/06 at 02:27 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:28am

I think that Neil Patrick Harris would be great in the part, actually, if they're casting for name recognition. Having heard the London recording but not seen the production, I kind of think that Manoel Felciano could work, although I'm at a loss to explain why. If it takes names, though, I think that Neil would do well.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:28am

I think he could sing it just fine. Again, the emphasis in this production isn't exactly on the vocals anyway, even though Evans and Russell are both solid vocally - they aren't exactly Patinkin or Peters.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:29am

I could see Mano doing it.