Tamyra Gray in ENCORES "The Wiz"- Page 2

[perfectliar]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 8:54pm

That clip was posted earlier in the thread...

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 10:29pm

Am I the only one who thinks Tamyra Gray is too old for Dorothy? She doesn't look like a young girl!
Updated On: 4/5/09 at 10:29 PM

[singtopher]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 10:34pm

Neither did Diana Ross.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 10:37pm

I would hardly lump her into the usual "Idol Castoff" bin. Many feel she left Idol too early. Those who placed higher are now on a rehab show and hosting an Idol recap show. I think she'd make a terrific Dorothy. She's also a pretty terrific songwriter.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 10:42pm

I would like to see Reuben Studdard as Evilene.

My first choice for Dorothy is Nicki Renee Davis,
she is so cute and I have heard her sing the beejesus out of HOME.
Actually the talent pool for this production is overpouring,
and should be very exciting!
How 'bout Stew for the WIZ?
Updated On: 4/5/09 at 10:42 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 10:45pm

I'd take Studdard over Frenchie Davis' Evilene any day.

Hudson would never take ther ole but could sing the crap out of it.

Lilias White is my first choice.

[jarred03]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:11am

OK, I really thought that LaChanze was up for Dorothy also when I first heard rumors about her being attached, but I thought she was in an off-broadway play right now? or is that a limited run also? Either way if Tamyra is Dorothy and LaChanze is Glinda I would pay big bucks to be up close. They are both such amazing singers it would be amazing.

Lilias White is a great choice for Eviline

I think Tamyra looks young enough for the part, she looks younger than any galinda or elphaba I've seen. Not to mention the fact that she is and looks way younger than Diana Ross in the movie. And she's younger than LaChanze, or Anika.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 12:16pm

Sasha Allen!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 12:51pm

Comparing anyone to Diana Ross is ridiculous. The producers of the film decided Ross was going to be Dorothy, so the character was changed to a thirtysomething schoolteacher instead of a preteen girl.
The musical calls for a traditional teenage girl. I think Gray and Rose are both too old.
While originally Stephanie Mills was only about 13 I believe, she continued to play it well into her 30s. I saw her in it at the Beacon when she was pushing 40. Even though she was tiny and in amazing voice, she was clearly too old, but noone really cared because she was so identified with the part.

I hope the producers are careful, cause I'd love to see a Gypsy type of transfer for a Broadway run.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 2:45pm

Mills was 16 when the show opened in 1975 and played the role well into the 1990s.

Once again, Dorothy certainly doesn't need to be a star name in the show. By any stretch. Mills certainly wasn't when she opened the show. Her acclaim came as a result of The Wiz. Also, EVERY person doesn't need to be a "star name".. certainly, Leigh Ann Larkin and Tony Yazbek are not star names.

Nikki James is a great performer and a wonderful Dorothy, even if she was shoved into a misguided production.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 3:00pm

Leigh Ann Larkin and Tony Yazbeck were not playing the main role in GYPSY.
Plus, if you think about it, they really did go all out for DAMN YANKEES with Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, Randy Graff, and Veanne Cox. The production wasn't great but I like the really neat mixture of a TV name, a Broadway/TV veteran, and established Broadway stars. I hope they go the same way for this production.
This is not an actual Broadway revival, it's an Encores! Summer Stars production and I really hope they put emphasis on the stars.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 3:05pm

So, if Summer Stars decides to do Annie, they should go after Miley Cyrus or Dakota Fanning since Annie is the main role? 'Stars' do not have to populate EVERY role and a star doesn't have to be in the 'main' role, particularly when it is a show, such as Annie, and yes, the original Wiz, where "stars" are more suited to the supporting and featured roles.

[Mattt]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 5:27pm

Is it crazy to think that Lilli Cooper would be a fantastic Dorothy?

[jarred03]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:11pm

I think its funny that anybody ever brings up the age issue because its not a movie. You don't see them up close. I mean most musicals have teenage characters and yet there is maybe like one teenager on broadway. It's just ridiculous.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:18pm

Actually, Ross decided she'd be Dorothy.

As I've heard it:
Ross called Berry Gordy and told him that she should be Dorothy. He responded with "No. Are you high?"

Ross, undeterred, called Universal and told them she should be Dorothy. Universal agreed.

[jarred03]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 8:58am

so has anybody heard any real news about this yet?