Jennifer Jason Leigh on Broadway?

[abcd12]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 9:30pm

Very random, but has anyone on here seen Jennifer Jason Leigh in either CABARET or PROOF? How was she? 

The idea of her as Sally Bowles seems thrilling to me (and she sounds great in the few grainy bootlegs on YT). But the only legit review I found is a bit of a pan for her performance, from Isherwood when he was at Variety. 

(As an aside, her first scheduled performance in PROOF was September 11, 2001 which really broke my brain.)

I apparently saw her in THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, but I found that entire production to be misguided, so I don’t remember much of it. 

She seems prime for a Broadway return, in a strong production. Would love to see her take a big swing. 

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:12pm

I did not see her in Cabaret (nor did I hear good things about her performance), but I thought she was very good in both Proof and The House of Blue Leaves (a revival I considered underrated).  

A few movies aside, I am not a fan of her film work.  I was surprised by the subtlety she showed on stage. I do agree with the poster below that Anne Heche was the better replacement in Proof.  She was as good as Parker and arguably better, but Leigh was good.

 

Updated On: 7/15/25 at 10:12 PM

[east side story]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:37pm

She replaced Natasha Richardson and got tepid reviews, but there is something fascinating to her portrayal. Did not see her live, but some footage exists.

Richardson did not have great word of mouth during previews, but the critics (especially NYTimes) wrote valentines, and she won the Tony. 

Updated On: 7/15/25 at 10:37 PM

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 11:02pm

I saw her in Cabaret and was underwhelmed, but she had the unenviable job of following up Natasha Richardson who gave one of my favorite live performances of all time. So while I didn’t love Leigh’s Sally, I don’t know that my 18-year-old self would have been much more open to anyone’s performance at that time. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 12:34am

I was only in high school, but I saw her in both Cabaret and Proof. From what I remember she was fine in both, although she had trouble projecting her voice in Proof and it was a bit too much of a “film” performance - from the back of the orchestra it felt a little subdued. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 12:57am

Having been a HUGE fan of Jennifer Jason Leigh’s film work, I was beyond stoked when she was announced to replace the glorious Natasha Richardson in CABARET. This was when the revival was still in its original home at the Henry Miller Theatre. A few weeks into her run the theatre experienced a major flooding which prompted the move to Studio 54 and forever changing that venue which is now a legitimate Broadway house.

Anyway, by the middle of Act 1, her trademark mumbling of her dialogue accompanied by her thick British accent made me realize she’s basically a one-trick pony: speak in an awkward character voice and speak your dialogue between gritted teeth and voila, you’re a deep brooding actress. Boy was I heartbroken discovering this as I was a huge fan. 

 

[yahyahyah]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 1:42am

Are you serious? JJL is great in this compilation. 

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 3:00am

I thought she was terrific in both. Her Sally, with a mix of naivety and street sense was strikingly different from Richardson and ultimately wrenching. I thought Heche was the revelatory replacement in PROOF, where both the brilliance and potential imbalance came through even more than with Parker.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 7:50am

Are you serious? JJL is great in this compilation. 

In a short compilation of highlights, she’s fantastic. Now, try sitting thru long books scenes not just the musical numbers. Comparing her performance via a compilation is like judging an entire film based on a 2 minute trailer. 

[yahyahyah]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 9:14am

Okay but I also saw her live. lol. And Natasha. And their cover Linda. And many Sallys over the years in the Mendes production in NY, on tour, the current West End, the current Broadway, and regionally. 
 

By you saying you were “such a fan” going in before seeing her live and then dogging on her, I thought I was going to watch that compilation and have a response like, “oh yeah you were young then and she really wasn’t as good as you remember.” But she was good live. And she’s good in the compilation. And I’d take her Sally over many others’… And I barely knew who she was when I saw her.

xx

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 9:17am

So who was the best Sally replacement in the Mendes Cabaret?

I heard good things about Joely Fisher and (surprisingly) Lea Thompson on tour.  

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 9:24am

I’d love to see her do a Broadway comedy. Her “His Girl Friday” type chemistry with Bruce Campbell and John Mahoney in HUDSUCKER PROXY is my favorite performances of hers. (Bruce Campbell should also do a play!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgX1clgR-7w&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD

She could probably play a lot of those Laurie Metcalf roles, but sales-wise means about as much or less than Laurie (which is to say, not much).

[yahyahyah]

Posted: 7/15/25 at 9:33am

I enjoyed Joely and Lea! I think it’s hard to say “best”—it’s a role that many actresses can bring something of themselves to, and can hold a lot of interpretation/different personalities. I personally preferred the “actor’s actor” Sallys the most.. but that’s of any productions. Not just the Mendes.