This Year's ACTOR'S FUND All-Star Concert Suggestions- Page 4

[jjoey076]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:47pm

Um would I be slaughtered if I said CATS?

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:23am

What is a list of all the shows in the past they've done? I know Dreamgirls, Chess, Hair and Sweet Charity

It does seem that for this kinda event they favour--and IMHo these kinda shows go over better too--more contemporary shows with a poppy flavour and a lot of showy numbers. Into the Woods, as much as I adore it, wouldn't really work for this (the Sondheim shows that would best IMHO would be COmpany and Follies, both done way too recently in concerts and not, Whistle, also a big concert in the 60s and Merrily We Roll Along).

I like the Spider Woman idea, Parade is WAY too much of a downer with too many dialogue integrated songs to really work for me--and I *love* the ideas of Carrie and Promises Promises and could see both being huge possibilities.

Also have a soft spot for Seesaw and it would work wonderfully for this kinda thing (and as much as I don't care for the show, so would Applause).

Cats is a joke right Joey?:P I actually am a small fan of the show and love to defend it but come on:P On stage its main strength is dance too (especially group dancing) which makes it a poor choice even if everyone who would pay 1000+ to see this kinda concert wasn't sick to death of the show :P

E

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 10:05pm

I think they should do Miss Saigon. And this should be the cast:

The Engineer--Seth MacFarlane. That's right, I said it. The creator of Family Guy should play the Engineer. I think he can do it. He's got perfect comic timing and one hell of a voice.

Kim--Nikki M. James. I know. She's not Asian. But neither is Lea Salonga.

Chris--Paul Castree. Get him some exposure for once.

John--Norm Lewis. Duh.

Ellen--Julia Murney or Marin Mazzie

Thuy--Yancey Arias. Ok, he came up when I was looking over the booklet for the CSR.

Spider Woman and Parade would be awesome.

[ben1986]

Posted: 7/7/07 at 12:38am

EVITA anyone?

I'll leave it up to everyone else to cast the roles, but how long has it been since Evita was done in some form on broadway? I would love to see the original cast re-united for a concert version of the show.

I know in an XM 28 On Broadway interview Patti said she would love to sing the role today.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/7/07 at 8:33am

I got an idea for the concert version of Parade:

Young Soldier/Fiddlin' John--Jonathan Groff

Old Soldier/Judge Roan--William Parry (one of the most underrated performers ever. Tell me you don't love it when you hear him sing, "You and me, pal/We're the loonies" on Sunday in the Park With George)

Lucille Frank--Marin Mazzie or Julia Murney

Leo Frank--Hugh Panaro or just bring Brent Carver's Tony Award winning ass back to Broadway

edit: Even better...Christian Borle

Hugh Dorsey--Michael Cerveris

Governor Slaton--David Costabile

Frankie Epps--John Gallagher Jr.

Mary Phagan--Remy Zaken

Iola Stover--Phoebe Strole

Jim Conley--Norm Lewis

Newt Lee--Michel Bell

Britt Craig--Raul Esparza

Tom Watson--James Barbour

Angela--Anika Noni Rose

Riley--Taye Diggs

Luther Rosser--Brad Oscar

Monteen--Lilli Cooper

Essie--Jennifer Damiano

And if they're gonna do a Kiss of the Spider Woman concert, Donna Murphy has to play Aurora.

Updated On: 7/8/07 at 08:33 AM

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 7/7/07 at 9:42am

Ummm, Lea Salonga is Asian, Mattbrain. Last I checked the Philippines was in Asia. Of course, I don't think race matters as much in the concert setting, but there is obviously an important racial element to the story of Miss Saigon.

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 7/7/07 at 10:20am

I hope it's Falsettos... I know Seth LOVES that show. Put Carrie on hold until the 20th anniversary. The only problem is the small cast... in an all-star concert, when you have a cast of 8, that sort of defeats the purpose.

Anyone have any casting ideas for that?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:20pm

Bump.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:28pm

"EVITA anyone?"


Yes! I think Evita would be good (since we didn't get the London Revival transfer)... not sure who'd I want to see casted in it... maybe Anneliese Van Der Pol as Eva.

Updated On: 7/9/07 at 09:28 PM

[ben1986]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 10:01pm

I'm not sure either who would make a good Eva but regardless of the movie, this is a great show and even bringing the original cast back together again for one night only would be magical!

[timote316]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 10:02pm

If they do Evita, it wouldn't surprise me if they brought Elena Roger over.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 10:10pm

this is a great show and even bringing the original cast back together again for one night only would be magical!

I agree that this would be amazing!! However I doubt Ms. LuPone would do it, seeing as she has openly admitted to her dislike for the show...

If they do Evita, it wouldn't surprise me if they brought Elena Roger over.

I certainly would like to see Elena Rogers playing Eva!! (and hopefully they'd bring Phillip Quast over as well!!!)

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 11:20pm

Side Show with Julie Andrews and Jennifer Hudson.

[ben1986]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 11:27pm

Actually Patti stated in an XM interview that she would sing the the role today if she could!

see the link below for the actual interview:

http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/patti_lupone/

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 6:55am

Bump.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 12:39am

Actually Patti stated in an XM interview that she would sing the the role today if she could!


wow! I'd really love to see her sing this role in concert format!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 12:43am

UM......

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=940580

LESTAT

Lestat - Josh Groban
Armand - Norm Lewis
Vampire #2 (The Nikki Renee Daniels part) - Sutton Foster
Louis - Nathan Lane
Gabrielle - IDINIA MANZEL!!1
Claudia - Raul Esparza
Nicholas - that Gazelle puppeteer in Lion King
Magnus - Keifer Sutherland

[Rentjenn]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 12:50am

I was thinking that I would pay $1000 to see Raúl sing Big News in Parade, but I would pay 10 times that to see him sing I Want More in Lestat. LOL!

[G_Schlozinski2]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 7:04am

Didn't anyone read the press release?

"Press Release - Actors Fund Celebrates 125 Years of Service
Document Actions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


DATE: January 8, 2007
CONTACTS:
Lynne Hoppe, The Actors’ Fund, 212.221.7300 ext. 129, [e-mail]

THE ACTORS’ FUND CELEBRATES 125 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY
Special Events and Benefits To Be Held in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago

(New York) –

....

In the fall, The Fund’s annual benefit concert (which in the past has included concert productions of Dreamgirls, Funny Girl and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) will see a change of pace to mark the Anniversary. On October 15th, Brian Stokes Mitchell at Carnegie Hall will celebrate The Fund’s Anniversary and focus on the shows, songs and people that form a living catalog of Mitchell’s career as one of Broadway’s most beloved leading men. He will be joined by such performers as Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad."

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 5:21pm

Well then maybe we should start discussing next year's. Oh, please, God, let it be Parade.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:52pm

Bump

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:59pm

I like mine.

Still.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 5:05pm

That sounds wonderful, but does this mean there definitely won't be an Actor's Fund real show?

[daspazoo]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 5:11pm

-Sad to hear there won't be a concert version of a show this year. Anyone know if this change is permanent or just for the anniversary year?

-If the concert show does make a return after this year, I propose SIDE SHOW, with Emily and Alice. (And don't tell me they don't look like twins anymore--I don't care.)

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 5:37pm

Oh, God, don't let this be a permanent change.