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

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 2:50am

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...

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 3:06am

Did anyone see Anita Morris as Mona in the original Broadway production? She must have been brilliant, Tommy Tune praises her in every interview I've read, I assume her casting in Nine was based on her great turn in this show.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 3:32am

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.

[once a month]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 9:50am

How anyone can think that Whorehouse is anti-American, anti-family etc is beyond me! This show was tamer than much of the stuff since! If people wanted pasteurized, homogenized (Reagan and Bush era's) musicals they should bring back State Fair! And S.F. closed due to lack of interest! Broadway is and should always be on the 'cutting edge', trying out new things and testing 'America's' boundaries. Families aren't defined the way they used to be...and those girls were a 'family' with Mona towing the line. I loved the original cast when I saw this early in its run. It was based on historical fact, get over the censorship! Television wouldn't even utter the whole title whorehouse when this played.

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:15am

"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

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:24am

I'd love to see Becky Ann Baker do this. She is FANTASTIC in the part.

She played Mona when I did the show... and she was one of the original girls, Ruby Rae (named after Becky herself and her own red hair).

I do think they'll go for a bigger name though.

And for any of you who say this play is anti-American, or anti-family values, etc. You have NO idea what you're talking about, and you haven't seen the show on stage. Or... even if you did... you're just plain WRONG with that statement.

EDIT: Oh, I see now that "WrongAmerica" has been leaving little gems like this all over the boards. Nice, pal. I gotcha.

Whatever.

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 10:24 AM

[morosco]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:34am

I pray to hear Jennifer Holliday as Jewel.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:04am

Or Sharon Wilkins as Jewel!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:13am

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?

[OzarkElphaba]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:46am

I don't think Sandy Duncan has enough of an edge to her, because, beneath it all, Mona does need to be a little bit of a "tough as nails, peroxide blonde." Sandy just radiates, Peter Pan and Miss Anna to me. I dunno, beyond Reba (Who is not from Texas.), I'm at a loss. If Kristin Chenoweth weren't so perky, she might pull it off (She's from Oklahoma.)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:17pm

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

[morosco]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:45pm

"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."

Then surely they were horrified with the Ann-Margret tour. I mean c'mon....BOB MACKIE!?

[Producer2]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:52pm

Megan Mullaly

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:53pm

oo! There's a great idea! Thanks producer2!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:57pm

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.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:59pm

Megan Mullaly could be a good Mona!

...if she'd lose her Betty Boop "voice" for the role (which she can if she wants to).

[OzarkElphaba]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:09pm

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.

[Myron]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:12pm

I hope it goes on. While I never saw the show, the film was a delight. This show is a satire and is not meant in any way to embarrass the governor of the great state of Texas. It also shows many great American traditions, such as the annual Thanksgiving college games. I wish that Dolly Parton would reprise the film role but Pamela Anderson could do the part too.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:18pm

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.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:23pm

Pamela Anderson? Shoot me now.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:23pm

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.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:27pm

Delta Burke?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:33pm

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.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:47pm

I'd rather see Nathan Lane as the Governor.

Maybe Danny Burstein as Melvin.

...or Hunter Foster (although he's a bit young for it, he'd be great).

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:48pm

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.