The time is right for NY Witches of Eastwick

[JakeB]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 1:17pm

Why is the time right for Witches of Eastwick in New York?

1. The last 3 Tony Winners were film adaptations.

2. Wicked, this season's biggest smash, has witches at its heart.

3. Leading ladies are the new in-thing, thanks to Wicked.

Anything else?

[beacon1]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 1:55pm

So, who do you think could play the leads.

Need four strong ladies (3 witches and the councilwoman)
and a strong guy.

Straight adaptation or a musical version?

[JakeB]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:10pm

You know it's a musical, right?

And, as far as casting goes, really the three Witches are up for grabs from any of New York's current 'hot' leading ladies (hot in the sense of audience like-ability - yes, we're talking *Sutton* and *Idina* and *Kristin* and all the others).

But don't forget - very charismatic male lead too.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:15pm

Sutton, Kristin and Idina!

[Jack42]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:19pm

You mean Kristonina?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:20pm

good lord....

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:27pm

How about Carolee Carmello, Ruth Williamson as the councilwoman, and, lets see...who could the other two be? Carolee can do no wrong - can't wait to see her in Baby. Maybe Marc Kudish can play the Devil...

Updated On: 4/5/04 at 02:27 PM

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 4:31pm

i was going to be silly and say cher, michelle pfeiffer, susan sarandon and veronica cartwright... but never mind...

[jckchrstn]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 6:19pm

Sutton Foster, Kerry Butler and Idina Menzel -
Hugh Jackman as the Devil so we know there will be decent ticket sales

[beacon1]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 6:26pm

Hugh Jackman--yes! He'd be perfect! :o)

[bially082]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 6:31pm

I'll take a pass on Kerry Butler.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 6:58pm

Saw it in London & my wife & I throughly enjoyed it. The actor who played Daryl was very good & now stars as Swearingen in Deadwood

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 8:59pm

i dont think kristain, idna, and kerry are right for the roles. i dont know if any of you have heard the music, but i think there voices would not fit the songs.

my choices are
emily skinner - alex
carlee carmelo or adrua mcdonald - jane
alice ripely or sutton foster - sukie

brian stokes mitchel or james barbara - darryl
judy kay or linda hart - felicia(counsel woman)

[ShineOn]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 9:01pm

You know they did a workshop of it in NY last year, right?

Sutton was scheduled to do it, but Jennifer Laura Thompson ended up doing it instead. Emily Skinner and Carolee Carmello also were in the reading...

[ShineOn]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 9:04pm

musicaltheatreman, I didn't see your post before I replied...

Emily did read for Alex and Carolee for Jane and Jennifer Laura as Sukie. No clue who read for Felicia... though as trite as this may sound, I think Miss Ripley would be hilarious.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 9:15pm

The time is very much WRONG for a Witches of Eastwick for the three reasons listed below:

1. The last 3 Tony Winners were film adaptations.

2. Wicked, this season's biggest smash, has witches at its heart.

3. Leading ladies are the new in-thing, thanks to Wicked.

Theatre should constantly change and present new options instead of becoming the James Bond formula, find something you like and stick to it. Theatre incorporates themes that work but doesnt copy itself. And when it does it fails.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 1:13am

this show needs to come to broadway!!!!!! :)

[alterego]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 8:40am

Sadly, Witches of Eastwick is a flawed musical. It has major problems with its book. The last production of this show was in 2002 here in Melbourne. This was looked at as a tryout for a possible American production by Cameron Mac Intosh, this version died a death. None of the characters with the exception of Felicia Gabriel are well drawn. They just don't create any interest.

Sutton, Kristin and Idina are all rather too young for the roles. Remember one of the women has daughter who is in her late teens. Ideal casting would have the women 45 plus years. As for Hugh Jackman as Darryl he has already had to struggle with one bad book on Broadway, he deserves better.

Updated On: 4/6/04 at 08:40 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 9:17am

Well, perhaps its time for someone to get out there and write another version of the show. There have been multiple versions of all the recent biggies on Broadway - Phantom of the Opera and Jeckyl and Hyde to name two. I have done both of the most well-known alternate versions of these shows and they were far superior to the ones which have been or are currently playing on Broadway. Kopit and Yeston's Phantom is a much better Musical Theatre piece and is much more entertaining than that Dreck of a musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber - yuck. And David Levy has written a wonderful Jeckyl and Hyde that is SO much better than anything thats been cranked out by that popmeister Frank Wildhorn - so, obviously - someone else should take on Witches of Eastwick and see what they can come up with!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 4:10pm

lets get this back on top

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 4:15pm

I know:

What about making it a one woman show with, your gonna love this boys,just

KAREN ZIEMBA

I smell a 10 million dollar advance on that one!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 4:44pm

Voice - c'mon now - you're making fun of me because I like her...I didn't suggest her for this project - though she would be fine in the cast...who pissed in your wheaties today?LOL!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 4:49pm

I am not making fun of you redhot!I swear!

I use Karen Ziemba name all the time in my posts...I'm serious!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 5:26pm

The charactors need to be a little older then most of the names you mentioned.

Let's go with

Ruthie Henshall
Louise Pitre
and
Dee Hoty

and then Judy Kaye for the councilwoman

[bureau42]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 12:58am

Well, perhaps its time for someone to get out there and write another version of the show. There have been multiple versions of all the recent biggies on Broadway - Phantom of the Opera and Jeckyl and Hyde to name two. I have done both of the most well-known alternate versions of these shows and they were far superior to the ones which have been or are currently playing on Broadway. Kopit and Yeston's Phantom is a much better Musical Theatre piece and is much more entertaining than that Dreck of a musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber - yuck. And David Levy has written a wonderful Jeckyl and Hyde that is SO much better than anything thats been cranked out by that popmeister Frank Wildhorn - so, obviously - someone else should take on Witches of Eastwick and see what they can come up with!


There is an amazing version of JEKYLL AND HYDE by Joseph Traynor, Valerie Sauro and Ryan Letizia. It has a frightening twist, and should premiere in Glasgow, Scotland, June 2005. Traynor and Letizia have also worked on a gothic version of ERIK THE PHANTOM, as well as a sequel called PROGENY. Warner & Letizia's NOSFERATU, totally going off topic, is probably the most original score I've heard all year. That show could really be something if someone would notice it. I've never heard the other Hydes or Phantoms, but Traynor/Sauro/Letizia's versions are magnificent