Was Jennifer Holliday ever considered for the title role in Caroline, or Change?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:32pm

I know this seems like a random question but I just re-discovered Caroline, or Change, given the number of accolades the show has received in London I checked it out from the library after a long time without listening to it and I've become fascinated by Tony Kushner's brilliantly told story (it's auto-biographical if I'm not wrong).
I love Tonya Pinkins in this recording, it's a pity she wasn't in the best vocal shape during the Tonys (though she still managed to provide a moving and powerful performance). However, listening to numbers like "I Got Four Kids" and more specifically "Lot's Wife" I couldn't help but wonder what Jennifer Holliday would be like in this role. Her "Lot's Wife" would probably stop the show every night, which brings me to the question, was she ever considered to play the role in any of the major productions the show has received (Broadway, D.C., L.A, London)? I believe it's the kind of role that seems fit to her type of performance.

[kyle.]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:36pm

It seems like she may be too over the top as a performer, and as a person, for the role of Caroline.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:37pm

also, it's not auto-biographical it's "as close to autobiographical as Kushner has ever been"

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:42pm

Well, perhaps auto-biographical is not the word. But I do remember reading that the character of Caroline is based on his childhood maid and that she actually saw the show. Again, I might be wrong.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:43pm

sorry, i was just being an a-hole

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:51pm

George C. Wolfe handpicked Tonya Pinkins to play Caroline as soon as Kushner brought an early draft of the libretto of the show to him (based on he and Pinkins having worked together previously on his Jelly's Last Jam). Pinkins was there for all of the workshops as the show was developed at The Public (and the role was tailored specifically to her abilities) and so she was the only choice to play the role once it was ready to open at the Public and subsequently on Broadway. Wolfe, Kushner, and Tesori kept Pinkins and the original Broadway cast and production for the LA and San Francisco engagements and Wolfe then brought her to London to repeat her performance at the National. Basically, no one other than Pinkins was ever considered for any of those productions.

The DC production starred Julia Nixon, who was one of Holliday's replacements as Effie in the original production of DREAMGIRLS and who has been one of the most popular and best known r&b singers in DC for the past 20 years, since she left NY.

Not sure, how the Boston production of the show was cast.

Bottom line, Holliday has never really had an opportunity to audition or even be considered for the role of Caroline in any of the major productions of the show that have been done thus far. I agree that it would be interesting to hear her take on the role. Perhaps, an opportunity will come up sometime in the future.

Updated On: 2/4/07 at 06:51 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:52pm

No, but she did audition for Whoopi Goldberg's role in the movie of GHOST.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:58pm

I would hope not cause there couldn't have been a more perfect person to play Caroline than Tonya Pinkins

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:58pm

Isn't JHol kinda old?

But, JHud isn't.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:01pm

WTF does any of this have to do with Jennifer Hudson?
secondly, Jennifer Holiday is only 2 years older than Tonya Pinkins, so no, she isn't kinda old.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:05pm

Caroline is 40 (remember she has a son in Vietnam and a 16 year old daughter, as well as a pair of younger sons).

Tonya Pinkins is 44.
Jennifer Holliday is 46, so no she's not too old for it.

Jennifer Hudson is 25 -- give her another 15 years or so before she plays it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:09pm

JHol?

That's just wrong.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:20pm

Thanks for the insight, Margo.
I agree that Tonya Pinkins is a great Caroline (judging from her Tony performance and the cast recording) but I can just imagine that Holliday's "Lot's Wife" alone would be worth the price of the admission.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:49pm

Ray, that was my first thought when I read the title.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:50pm

Jennifer Holliday is, without question, a phenom of a talent. She has immense stage presence and a booming voice that can belt to high heaven. I don't think, however, that she is right for the title role in Caroline, or Change.

Let's be blunt: the role of Caroline requires quite a skilled actress, and an actress Holliday is not. While she was able to turn in a dynamite performance as Effie White after being directed every step of the way to immense detail by Michael Bennett, she has subsequently faltered in her limited outings since then.

I also just don't think she's right for it. Holliday is naturally an over-the-top, incredibly passionate performer, and considering Caroline is quite stolid and restrained for alot of the show (which makes "Lot's Wife" all the more explosive,) I'm not sure she could hold back.

Vocally, as we all know, Holliday is a fan of many often ridiculous runs and riffs. While that works for things like Dreamgirls, that would immensly clash with Tesori's score for Caroline... (even, and perhaps most obviously, in "Lot's WIfe.")

I'd rather see someone like LaChanze or even Melba Moore take a crack at this legendary role before Holliday.

Updated On: 2/5/07 at 07:50 PM

[wiggum2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:50pm

How often in the past 20 years has Jennifer Holliday's name come up and someone said "Not worth the hassle"?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:38pm

bump.

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:25am

MAYBE she can play Whoopi Goldberg's role when they musicalize GHOST. I can just see it now:

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat are soooooome nun's gonna doooooo with 20 million ah ah ah ah ah ::gasps:: dollaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaars?"

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:42am

^^^^^that could've been funny.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:34am

Margo, did you see Nixon in the role in D.C.? I heard such tremendous things about her, and was curious as to how you thought she faired as Caroline.

[ceeejaye]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:00am

FYI
In the LA production of Caroline or Change, there were two new members that were not in the NYC Broadway cast:

Dottie in the musical was played by Chandra Wilson on Broadway (now of Gray's Anatomy as Miranda Bailey aka Natzi)was played by another actress.

The Busdriver/Dryer in the musical was played by Chuck Cooper on Broadway. However, during the first couple weeks, someone else played the role; however, Chuck Cooper eventually returned.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:17am

I also listened to the cast recording again this weekend after hearing about its win in London. I love the score - but whenever I hear it all the way through I get incredibly depressed at the end.
Pinkins is truly incredible.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:00pm

Jen Holiday could TOTALLY sing the role but I think at the same time she can completely ruin it with her over-riffs. I think Tonya was just perfect and to be honest, the role was made for her!

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 2:16pm

LaChanze and Melba Moore....hm that's ok. They might have to lower it in places but I think if Phylicia Rashad were younger she'd have been excellent. That's a lot of if's though.

[dididda]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 2:28pm

in 15 years...i would kill to see j hud as caroline.