The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Actor's Fund? — Page 2

Saying TENDERLOIN is like WHOREHOUSE because they are both about hookers is like saying SHOWGIRLS is like A CHORUS LINE because they are both about dancers...apples and oranges.

I do enjoy Debbie Gravitte and she might be interesting, but I have a hard time imagining her being from Texas. How about Sandy Duncan? She's at least from Dallas...

I was trying to show that Debbie can play the type. The way that you described Mona in your earlier post sounded a lot like Nina. But, you are right I don't know if she could pull off the southern charm.

"If people wanted pasteurized, homogenized (Reagan and Bush era's) musicals"

I feel terribly sorry for people who feel they have to politicize everything in life. The writer of the above statement should check the facts. It's true that we didn't have oral sex in the oval office during the Reagan and Bush years but that had no effect on Broadway

I pray to hear Jennifer Holliday as Jewel.

Jewel will be Lillias White, we all know it
I'd love that!

I saw the original tour in Philly and this is a real charmer. Whatever happened to Joan Ellis? Tony nomination and she disappears. Carole Hall's score is wonderful, and I'd love to hear someone sing Mona better than Carlin Glynn (I am sure she was wonderful...just not a great singer.)

Anyone see Fannie Flagg play Mona?

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Tough as nails yes, but a cheap "peroxide blond," no.

The entire point of the character is that Mona isn't supposed to be what people envision a "madame" of a Whorehouse to be. She isn't tacky or cheap or flashy. She runs a business with strict rules and thats why the whorehouse has been allowed to run as long as it has.

The creative team of the stage show were horrified that Dolly Parton was cast in the film, precisely because she was everything they worked hard to avoid in the character for the stage production: the big wigs, the sequin gowns, the feather boas.

Joan Ellis was one of those moody/half insane method actresses who came to WHOREHOUSE through its readings at the Actor's Studio. She supposedly left the show to go work on a farm or a commune or something like that in some third world country. I've never heard of her doing another show.

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 12:17 PM

Megan Mullaly

I don't think they were particularly happy with Ann Margret in performance, but "on paper' she looked good. She had actually expressed interest in playing the role going all the way back to the original production and was the first choice to play Mona in WHOREHOUSE GOES PUBLIC (she wisely turned that offer down).

It was only after she agreed to do the show, that Ann Margret suddenly came up with a list of demands, like Bob Mackie costumes and a new song written "just for her."

The creative team was definitely not thrilled with that, though they were probably happy in the long run because as terrible as she may have ended up being in the role - she did sell tickets on the road.

I could see Mullaly...and I agree, w/o the Karen Walker voice it would work nicely. Who would be Melvin? Nathan Lane, I could see, but the accent would really drive me up the wall.

The movie wasn't very true to the stage show....it reminded me of the type of stage to film transfer as RENT did.

Although I did like both.

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I love the show and I love the movie too however, I prefer the stage show much more. I wouldn't mind seeing Dolly do the stage show but play it like Miss Mona is supposed to be played. Less Mae West more country woman next door. I would love to see Dee Hoty play Mona again too. Beverly D'Angelo is inspired casting as well.

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Dixie Carter is really too old now, but she would have been a great Mona ten years ago. She's still be good for a concert version. Linda Purl would probably be great though she's not much of a name.

Dixie is pretty clutzy it seems to me...never saw her onstage, tho. She could never do the simple choreog she occasionally had in Designing Women (Marry me Bill, Busom Buddies)

Linda Purl would be great. I am loving her voice, especially her House is Not a Home. She was quite good in Tom Sawyer.

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