Sutton Foster to Star in ANYTHING GOES Directed by Kathleen Marshall; Opens February 2011- Page 3

[Elke]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 1:52pm

Is Michael Sheen too big of a star now to play Lord Evelyn?

I think he's a brilliant actor, but can he sing? Those 20 seconds of "What's New Pussycat" at the beginning of The Damned United didn't convince me... yet.

Anyhow, Anything Goes... What about:
Lord Evelyn: Malcolm Gets
Moonface Martin: Bryan Batt
Billy: Matthew Morrison or even Sean Hayes (maybe not ideal vocally)

I agree with those who mentioned Laura Benanti as Hope.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 2:00pm

While, I don't agree with this casting choice...I know that the people at Roundabout worked for a long time to cast this show. And some of their other choices suited the role much better than Sutton does.

But, once again...we shouldn't judge before seeing the production. Roundabout can produce great work. I adored their Cabaret and absolutely loved their Assassins. And their production of The Pajama Game was pretty great, too. And I also love that they're putting another classic back on Broadway.

I love this show and will be looking forward to it...regardless of who is playing Reno.

[Elke]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 2:04pm

I know that the people at Roundabout worked for a long time to cast this show.

Does that mean that the other leads have already been cast as well?

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 3:15pm

I for one was still really hoping Reba would be cast. She would be perfect as Reno Sweeney!

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 3:20pm

I'd love to see Patti LuPone as Reno Sweeney-Todd!

Joking aside I am happy this is getting a return to Broadway :)

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 3:37pm

Sorry, Elke...I meant to say they've been working on casting the role of Reno for a while now. Sorry for the confusion.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 4:18pm

I love me some sutton but it's about time that Roundabout helms a revival of once upon a mattress with her in the leading lady role. but not with marshall on board we saw what she did to the '05 tv remake.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 4:31pm

I adored their Cabaret

I did too, but Roundabout had nothing to do with that. That was a transfer from the Donmar in London.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 4:34pm

Good luck guys- this show needs to POP- the energy cannot flag for one second. As RuPaul would say "You Gotta WORK."

That said, a truly snappy production of anything Goes is sheer joy to experience. It will be nice to hear that score come alive again, even with a truncated orchestra. Now let's get a fabulous assortment of character actors to populate that rogue's gallery of supporting roles.

[candydog2]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 5:47pm

I don't know why people say that Sutton has no sex appeal, Look at her role in Young Frankenstein! No seemed to mind that casting much. She played Janet Van Der Graff too come to think of it.

Seriously, why is everyone so unsure of her sex appeal for Reno Sweeney? She may not be a personality match but she's an actress, I'm sure she can pull it off.

And let's be honest, it's not like Merman and Lupone were great beauties!

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 7:09pm

Although she's moved on to her Country music career I'd like to see Laura Bell Bundy play Hope Harcourt.

Wouldn't that be kind of awkward, considering Sutton's been cast in the show and all?

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 1:18am

Touche, adamgreer. It's been so long, that slipped my mind.

And any sex appeal Sutton may try to have will just come off as goofy. I like Sutton Foster, but a Reno she is not.

She reads much younger than what is called for Reno. Reno is experienced, wordly, sexy, smooth, funny, a powerhouse...Patti LuPone suited the role well. I'm just not 100% sure that Sutton can pull it off. But, like I said...we should wait until opening night to make any real judgements.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 1:25am

When Roundabout initially approached Marshall about doing the show right after THE PAJAMA GAME opened, she wanted to build it around Donna Murphy (who wasn't interested) as Reno. Can you imagine how brilliant that would have been? She also enlisted her brother to try and convince Catherine Zeta-Jones to do it the following season, but she was skeptical about tackling such a demanding role her first time back to the stage and passed too.

A lot of you are forgetting that there is a somewhat "goofy" side to Reno. After all, the essential conflict in her relationship with Billy is that he can't see her as more than a friend when she desperately wants him to view her in a romantic light.

Her sex appeal is also apparent, yes, but it's not as if Sutton Foster's completely incapable of conveying that either. She certainly has charm to spare. Give her a shot.

Updated On: 6/22/10 at 01:25 AM

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 8:44am

She doesn't really do revivals, but a part of me has always wanted to see Sherie Rene Scott as Reno Sweeny. Especially after hearing her sing Judy Garland standards in Everyday Rapture.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 9:10am

She doesn't really do revivals, but a part of me has always wanted to see Sherie Rene Scott as Reno Sweeny. Especially after hearing her sing Judy Garland standards in Everyday Rapture.

Sherie would be fantastic, but she's going to be in Women on the Verge.

Her sex appeal is also apparent, yes, but it's not as if Sutton Foster's completely incapable of conveying that either. She certainly has charm to spare. Give her a shot.

I've never seen Sutton Foster convey any sort of sex appeal, charm, or charisma, all of which are essential for Reno Sweeney.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 11:40am

I completely disagree. I thought Sutton had an amazing sexual presence in the Encores! production of Anyone Can Whistle. Also, I don't think the actress playing Reno needs to be oozing sex. This is not Gypsy Rose Lee. She is a nightclub singer yes, but I never heard of Ethel Merman, while not bad looking, being a sexual presence in any show that she was in. No, the main thing required for Reno is awesome comedic chops and a great belt. Sutton has that in my opinion.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 11:47pm

While I agree that there's probably a better Reno out there, I'd be interested to see Sutton's take. I've never been disappointed in anything I've seen her do.

And while I do not like Roundabout as a company, I'm not really sure why people are all gloom and doom & dramatic about them producing this. Certainly, Roundabout has had it's fair share of bombs, but they're also responsible for many of the finest evening I've ever spent in the theatre. Give it a shot.

Roundabout has had terrible shows....but thanks to Roundabout....:

The Pajama Game
110 In the Shade
The 39 Steps
Sunday in the Park with George
Waiting of Godot
Wishful Drinking
Sondheim on Sondheim
Everyday Rapture
The Glass Menagerie
Suddenly Last Summer
1776
Cabaret
Side Man
Nine
Big River
Assassins
Twelve Angry Men
A Streetcar Named Desire

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 11:59pm

In regards to the question of how much of the show is already cast, the answer is quite a bit.

Kathleen Marshall directed a reading of the show for Roundabout a couple months ago, and most of the people involved (at least the principals) are already set to continue to the full production.

Sherie Rene Scott was also in the mix for Reno prior to Foster. In fact, she'd already given a commitment to take the role until EVERYDAY RAPTURE and WOMEN ON THE VERGE... subsequently came up. I can't even imagine how great she would have been.

Updated On: 6/23/10 at 11:59 PM

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 12:25am

Sutton will prove us all wrong and she will be brilliant!!!

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 12:27am

Well, somethingwicked, who are those ppl?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 12:32am

Exactly. Spill it.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 12:43am

It's a shame Sherie isn't still involved- I can imagine her take on the score would be fantastic, particularly Blow Gabriel Blow. Still, I'm very interested to see how Sutton does with the part- she's certainly got the skill.

[landryjames2]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 3:55pm

I'll add one to Munk's list of great Roundabout shows--The Constant Wife. One of my favorite evenings in the theater (well, two of my favorite evening in the theater).

Not to say that they haven't had a bunch of stinkers, but that has been established.