I love Sherie Rene Scott and have enjoyed her work in everything from
Aida to
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but I just cannot see her as Ursula.
The song "Poor Unfortunate Soul" (and most of Ursula's material) is in a lower key. Sherie is a high belter, and even her speaking voice is a bit high pitched. I don't see how that is going to transcend to the deep voiced Ursula?
I understand them wanting the same actress to play both Ursula and Vanessa (visually, it is neat for the audience,) but I too think it limits quite a bit the realm of casting they can take the role.
I know Laine Kazan was rumored back when that Broadway.com blind item appeared, and I think she would have been absolutely wonderful. Sara Ramirez is one of the few younger actresses I would have liked, but she is contracted to
Grey's Anatomy forever, so I don't think we'll be seeing her back on the boards for quite awhile.
I guess we just have to trust the production team and hope it works out for the best, but this first bit of casting (if it turns out to be true) already has me a bit concerned.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 12/24/06 at 11:17 AM