At the risk of sounding like Addison DeWitt, (and threadjacking) it seems like all "grandes dames" of musical theater are appropriated by women too old to play the parts. Dolly, Mame, Mama Rose, Desiree - people forget that Channing was only in her early 40's when she first played Dolly, Lansbury barely 40 when she played Mame. Merman, at 51, was too old even then for Rose but who's going to quibble with that.
But the ages notwithstanding, these roles are written for characters who are in early middle age - Rose starts the show with two small children, Mame as written starts in her mid-thirties and ages to early fifties. Dolly is in her forties, as is Desiree, another woman with a relatively young (13) child.
As strange as it may seem, of the current leading ladies of the stage it is Kristen Chenowith, Idina Menzel, Brooke Shields, Donna Murphy, Sarah Jessica Parker, etc, who are closing in on being the right age for these parts. All of them hovering around 40.
And IMHO I think Brooke Shields would make a ravishing Desiree. An odd choice perhaps, but she has proven she can handle a major musical.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
