Sunday in the Park looking likely- Page 2

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:31am

I could but now Michael Bennet you've got me thinking and now I really would like to see Neil's take on the role. As I haven't seen this production at all who would you reccomend for the role of Dot that would fit the production?

[LostLeander]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:38am

New direction or not, I'd still like the score to be sung well.

Harris has too thin of a voice for my tastes, and for the role I think, and it is a rather difficult score to sing.

I would LOVE to be dazzled, and would like to see some very intersting and inspired casting.

If I see Patti or Cerveris ANYWHERE in the casting, I will flee to Canada.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:40am

Like I said, I really think Jane Krakowski is the closest "name" that comes to mind who would match Russell's earthy, sexy, innocent portrayal.

You also have to remember that when Sondheim has a hand in casting, as he did the Broadway SWEENEY; he is very partial to his "favorites." Harris and Krakowski are both Sondheim pets.

Emily Skinner or Sherie Scott might also be interesting as Dot, though Im not exactly sure they sell tickets.

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:40am

I doubt Patti or Michael will be involved...there waiting for the Passion revival a few years down the road :)


ooh Sherie would be great! as would Emily Skinner. Well I hope that if worse comes to worse they just bring over Russell

Updated On: 8/6/06 at 02:40 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:44am

Harris's voice sounds to me a lot like what Daniel Evans does with the role. He also vocally reminds me of Harry Groener who was apparently superb in the role.

I'm sure there are other people who could do it, but I was specifically talking about "names" who have the right quality for George in this production. It's a difficult call.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:49am

Evans' voice sounds a lot fuller to my ears, but ah well. Maybe Harris' voice has grown since Assassins. He did do TTB.

I'd never like to see Patti in ugly make up again.
The nightmares JUST stopped.

I actually think Skinner would be a VERY interesting choice. I'm sure she has the acting chops, and her voice is so earthy and sultry.

Should we really be concerned about ticket sales? I would think we all realistically know that it probably won't a block buster.
short of casting Britney and Justin as Dot and Georges, I'm not sure there's much we can do to make this a hit.

Though Sweeney did pretty darn well, Sunday's a pointilist's horse of a meshing of different colors.

Can't tell you how many people have never heard of my favorite musical.

Updated On: 8/6/06 at 02:49 AM

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:51am

I know Patti looked like death but wasn't her Fosca just incredible?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:59am

Well, no revival of SUNDAY is going to sell well, unless you have major Hollywood names and that isn't going to happen. If it is done right, it could, however turn a small profit, like the SWEENEY revival (though GEORGE has a much bigger cast and orchestra).

But frankly, I don't think the producers of the SWEENEY revival really thought they would make back their money. They simply believed in the production and wanted to put it on Broadway.

That has largely been the case for all of Sondheim's shows staged outside of not-for-profit.

[joshy]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 6:30am

Lucky New York if it does indeed get this production! It is one of the most beautiful productions I've ever seen. I do think it would be hard to find two leads as good as Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell - they were so strong, imho, because of intelligence in their acting instead of their singing.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 11:33am

Neil Patrick Harris did a very stirring rendition of "Finishing The Hat" at Wall To Wall Sondheim. I have a recording of the song if anyone is interested.

I think that if they are going for younger and more earthy people that is just fine but I would like to put forward the idea of Gregg Edelman and Carolee Carmello. They may be too old but their version of "Move On" from Wall To Wall Sondheim was wonderful.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 11:46am

I really hope this transfers. A while back, I posted a thread saying I just didn't 'get' SITPWG. I'd tried watching the DVD, and I couldn't get through it. It was recomended to me that I should buy the cast recording, listen, get to know the score, and then return to the DVD. I did, and it has since become one of my favorite shows. I will be so happy if I get to see a live production of it.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:27pm

The London prodcution only used a five piece band even in the Wyndhams transfer. Also David Babani as Artistic Director of the Menier was in that role when Neil Patrick Harris was in tick, tick...BOOM!

Having seen NPH in that show in such a small, intimate space I have to say that I was blown away by his conviction and singing/acting ability. I also enjoy his "Finishing the Hat" on that Wall to Wall Sondheim cd. Be extremely interesting to see what he does with the role. Bear in mind though that Jenna Russel and Daniel Evans have expressed their desire to be part of the transfer. Whether or not that happens on the other hand....

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:27pm

Edelman's voice is a little thin/weak/nasal for my taste, but Carolee sounds great!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 4:38pm

I must say, I really do like the notion of Harris and Krakowski in the leads.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 5:21pm

I don't know about Krakowski (I'm not against it either, the idea is INTERESTING), but I have to say, I think Neil Patrick Harris would do a fantastic job. I can see it being right up his alley; his "Finishing the Hat" is absolutely wonderful. I can't picture Felciano in the part at ALL; I guess I'd have to be convinced of that, too.

And Lord knows I love Michael Cerveris in a huge way (and Lord knows I loved his George, too), but I also can't see him being cast in this production either. It wouldn't work for me.

LOVE the idea of SRS as Dot. It would have never occurred to me on my own, but wow! I can totally and completely see it. Also, Carolee -- this is probably my extreme bias talking, but I think she'd be fabulous too. (Actually, it most likely IS my bias talking, I ought to think it over some more.) Either way, I could not be more excited with the possibility of a transfer. It is hard to say how well it would do/how long it would last, but I certainly never expected Sweeney to be as successful as it was, so SITPWG might surprise me. Pleasantly surprise me, of course.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 5:36pm

Oh God. Harris and Mano are absolutely AWFUL choices for George. And I think they would look TOO young for this role. Even though George isn't old. And I really don't want another round of trampling fan girls at the stage door for this, a la Sweeney. Keep Mano away.

Jane I can see as Dot, in a way.


I would love to see Brian D'Arcy James as George. Or is he too old?

But most of all I wish Evans and Russell would transfer, but we know how unlikely that is.
Updated On: 8/6/06 at 05:36 PM

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 5:44pm

I don't think NPH looks any younger than Patinkin looked when he played George. Not to mention that he ISN'T that much younger than Patinkin was when he played the role. (Actually, I think NPH is older than Patinkin was, but my math is, er... bad.) Same goes for Mano, although I still say I so can't see him in the part.

Brian d'Arcy James, though, is another interesting idea.

[TheAudrey3]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 5:51pm

I'd love to see NPH do it, but a return to the stage in New York full time is unlikely anytime soon, with How I Met Your Mother doing fairly well.

Neil is a "Sondheim pet," I would suppose, having seen him do at least 2 (probably more) of Stephen's recognizable shows. I think Mano would probably be unlikely purely because of the constant comparison to Raul Esparza, and Raul's portrayal of George at the Kennedy Center Sondheim celebration.

Sondheim really just isn't fairing financially well for the Broadway community, sadly, and, as aforementioned, without a Hollywood name, it's probably destined to a shorter run than Sweeney, if it even occurs at all.

(Please don't attack me. :) )

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 6:23pm

I thought Harris was an awful Tobias, and I don't care if Sondheim handpicked him for the role.

He sounds good on the Assassins recording, I didn't see it live.

But his voice is too whiney for George, yes George is a tenor. But not a whiney tenor like Harris.

d'Arcy James is divine. The more I think about it, I think he would be incredible in this role. His voice is leagues stronger than Harris' voice, and yes i'll say it.. stronger than Mano's voice too. *Waits to be shot by Mano groupies.*

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 6:28pm

If only Raul wasnt doing company he could reprise his role from DC. He was a wondeful george.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 6:29pm

I would prefer someone who hasn't played this role before to play George in this revival. So no Raul or Cerveris please.

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 6:42pm

I think Brian D'Arcy James would be an amazing George. He sang Move On and did the last part of that scene at the Sondheim in the Park concert in Chicago and sounded wonderful. I don't know if he's right for this production but I would love to see him tackle the role someday

[LostLeander]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 9:55pm

I think BDJ's voice is too heavy for Georges.
And I don't know how he is in the acting department, so I can't comment on that.

I like my Georges' classically trained. And my Dot's belty with lots of vibrato.

So, basically, I like Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. It's very hard for me to get them out of my head, as it as with ALL Sondheim OBCs.

Krakowski is actually starting to make a lot of sense. Has her belt gotten stronger? Cause I really think she could work, if she can sing it, and sing it strongly.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:53am

I could see Jane in the role, but Mano? I just don't think he physically looks the part. He doesn't come across to me as the "artist" I envision. Neil Patrick Harris, however, I could see. I think he would do great with the role, though, I don't think he's much of a "name" - though he could plug the show on Conan or something.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 9:18am

Brian is a fine actor. So much so that he even gets cast in plays shock horror!

As for sounding heavy... he just sounds manly thats all! Listen to his Freddy Trumper if you doubt his terrific range and vocal dexterity.