Well, hello, Patti (LaBelle)! — Page 2

Patti is definitely confused as this particular production came about because of Bette. I hope what will happen is this... Bette will continue to have a great time doing it and will extend. but with a possible break during the winter months . Then the show will close when she does leave and a tour will be mounted with someone else. Even though I wish she would tour with it and take her Dolly to the world.

Updated On: 5/26/17 at 01:06 PM

Patti will actually be replacing Betsy Wolf in "Waitress" and selling her pies after the show.

Rudin would pay Lupone 3x whatever Labelle is currently asking for before settling for Labelle.

The only way i see Rudin recasting the entire production alla when Pearl Bailey, would be if he could get someone the caliber or Queen Latifah, Mary J Blige, Octavia Spencer, or Viola Davis, where their current income comes mostly from their Artistic works and not Pies. In other words, so it is seen as an Honor and not a marketing gimmic.

I am just hoping that down the line, Lupone will eat some humble pie, and will be willing to ve a replacement.

"Rudin would pay Lupone 3x whatever Labelle is currently asking for before settling for Labelle."



Not true at all. And putting Labelle in the show is not settling. Actually I also have heard Bette would extend if she doesn't have to play New York in the winter months.

Just a random observation, but Lady Gaga is 31 years old- four years older than Streisand made the movie. Hey Mr. Producer-how about going young again? Want to get millennial into the seats?

Well, I was being tongue in cheek, but to take my thought seriously for a moment-first, as i'm sure you know, Herman and Stewart wrote it with Ethel Merman in mind. She was never on my list of performers who exude warmth. Second, if you gave her a chance, Gaga might surprise you. She certainly has the pipes for it.

In spite of green waver's clarification that the Gaga idea was a joke, I am nonetheless responding to it seriously as others have: if you think she's coming for a Broadway salary, or anything less than a package comparable to Midler's (and if anything, the producers will be looking to downsize on the VIP treatment so even more profit goes into their pocket), you're out of your mind.

I think with all of these rumors of possible replacements that we can be pretty sure the show will continue on without Midler, possibly for several years.

qolbinau said: "nasty_khakis said: "Lupone is willing to replace. She replaced in Master Class and actively campaigned to replace CZJ in A Little Night Music but Trevor Nunn felt she was all wrong for the role.

I think she'd replace in this, but would probably demand the same deal Bette is getting (money, cars, perks) and shoot herself in the foot. But the point is moot since Herman said she was too ethnic, whatever that means.

Also, why would they need to replace the entire company? I think in 2017 we can color blind cast a Dolly. Yes, a white Horace would never marry a black Dolly in 1900 New York, but the play is not about race (except rejoining the human race) and it's just fun musical comedy.



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I know this is minor but I'm not sure if Patti wanted to replace CZJ - I had the impression she wanted to originate the role in the revival.

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I believe she said she called Nunn while they were casting the original revival leads, and he never returned her calls.

Im not sure when Patti as Dolly went wrong with Herman. He publicly said he was interested in her playing the role, then a Nederlander revival starring Patti directed by Jack O'Brien was in the works, but Herman stopped it because they didn't want to replicate the original production. Now apparently she's too ethnic, how does that even make sense?

It would be fun to see her as a replacement and she still seems interested in the role.

When I hear Patti is too ethnic I just think of this:

Updated On: 5/27/17 at 07:13 PM

I'd love to see Patti (LuPone) do Dolly honestly. I wish there wasn't this weird thing about her doing it if the Herman comment is true

Loretta Swit ?

I think that it's time for Sandy Duncan's return to Broadway. Unless Mr. Rudin has a problem with an actress that only has one eye...