Wendy Williams to play Morton in CHICAGO- Page 5

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 3:20pm

I have never understood the love for Wendy Williams. Is it because she's almost like a real life drag queen?

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 3:24pm

Wendy Williams is a very talented talk show host. Her show is not at all my cup of tea, but I can see she has an understanding of how to broadcast.

Wendy Williams, from that clip, does not belong on the Broadway stage. I think it is a shame that someone like her with absolutely no stage presence or ability to sing is allowed to be up there.

Again, I weep for what Broadway has become.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 3:28pm

Wendy Williams has a lovable personality. I never planned to watch her show, but I like her so much that I tune in daily. I think she's a tv pro.

HOWEVER - when she showed the clip today I was terribly disappointed. Of course she may improve, but I saw no stage presence and no singing talent.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 3:37pm

It's just that there are people who DREAM of being on Broadway, are much more talented than Williams and never make it.

Her being up there, Christie Brinkley being up there is a mockery of this great business we call show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 3:47pm

When you finally do get off of that high horse you're on, please dismount carefully.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 3:59pm

Jordan; who is that on your avatar?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:00pm

Some random dude I found doing a google search.

[amoni2]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:02pm

"Again, I weep for what Broadway has become."

Oh Brother, it's Entertainment, not Chemotherapy. Get over yourself.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:02pm

I love the 'can she sing? No' and 'can she act? No' but I enjoyed her.

[theeatah]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:04pm

I hope the producer's try to make up for this travesty by having Darlene Love come in and play Mama Morton next.

(I won't hold my breath.)

[brettarnett]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:05pm

Here's a clip of her discussing the show in a little more detail
Wendy Williams Chicago

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:07pm

Let's get real...most of the people rushing to see her first performances have decided they're going to enjoy the fact that they're seeing her live before the show even starts, regardless of whether or not she is terrible. So take it with a (few) grain(s) of salt...

[DAME]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:08pm

Jordan,

I have all kinds of crushes on you due to your avatars.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:13pm

She doesn't even act. She's just singing like it's a one-woman concert. But, she looks like she's having fun. Good for her.

Edit: Also, that Patti LaBelle clip. WHAT IS THAT. She just went and took the merry murderesses to church!

Updated On: 7/1/13 at 04:13 PM

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:18pm

I tend to agree, as long as she's getting people to experience the wonder of live theatre- her part is really not that significant and there's more than enough "razzle dazzle" in that cast to make up for her lack of talent in this area. It really is no different to me then recycling the same old standbys like Roz (who incidentally played the part between Williams and Pedi- why? I'm not sure, what's an understudy for?)and Carol- and hell the rest of the actresses that they cycle as Roxie and Velma- it's not like their are "dreamers" out there clammoring for these roles- I like the fresh blood!

Updated On: 7/1/13 at 04:18 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:21pm

Also, that Patti LaBelle clip. WHAT IS THAT.

I like Patti LaBelle, but what she did was completely disrespectful to John kander's work.

[behindthescenes2]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:24pm

You know, who gives a crap if it is good for her to step out of her comfort zone - jesus h. christ has this world gone crazy? If you cannot act and cannot sing and cannot dance what the hell are you doing on the stage? She should be absolutely judged and criticized by critics and audiences alike for this stupid attempt. Why should audiences pay a lot of money to see professional performers and then be expected to accept and applaud less and wait for some idiot to "grow into the performance" when the growth should have been there from the moment she stepped on the stage - wow what people now have come to accept as good is astounding - just call it what it is - stunt casting to sell tickets and that is all - in fact, lets just shut down all of the performing arts training schools and conservatories and just put whatever shlub that has a talk show or a reality show or a sex tape on the stage and save all the angst and worry and money from the students in these institutions. That is all it seems to take these days to get on the stage, on television and in the movies - so now parents listen up: just instruct your future actor, singer, dancer, director, designer to just have a sex tape or stupid youtube video or get on a reality show and you will be set and expect to be on the stage or television or movie soon.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:29pm

Why should audiences pay a lot of money to see professional performers and then be expected to accept and applaud less and wait for some idiot to "grow into the performance" when the growth should have been there from the moment she stepped on the stage - wow what people now have come to accept as good is astounding - just call it what it is - stunt casting to sell tickets and that is all - in fact, lets just shut down all of the performing arts training schools and conservatories and just put whatever shlub that has a talk show or a reality show or a sex tape on the stage and save all the angst and worry and money from the students in these institutions.

Holy crap. That is one long sentence.

Updated On: 7/1/13 at 04:29 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:34pm

That may be the most dramatic post I have ever seen on BroadwayWorld. Which is saying something.

And I "give a crap" that she stepped out of her comfort zone to do this show. I'm not saying she's the equivalent to a Navy SEAL, but I give her credit for trying something different. If you watch that clip, she makes a comment about going out on a limb and trying something even if it scares you. I don't think anyone expected her to be LuPone. Regardless of the quality of her performance, there are tons and tons of TV and film actors who have turned down theater because they didn't think they'd cut it. Wendy gave it a shot. I think that alone is commendable.

That being said, I haven't seen her performance, and I assume neither have you.

just call it what it is - stunt casting to sell tickets and that is all. I don't think there is a single person on here who would disagree with that statement, so...

And stunt casting is not going to stop any time soon. Especially in shows like CHICAGO, and with producers like the Weisslers.

Relax. The theater world as we know it is not going to crash and burn because Wendy Williams is in CHICAGO. Like I said, she's not the first stunt-cast performer and she will certainly not be the last.

Updated On: 7/1/13 at 04:34 PM

[darreyl102]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:35pm

behindthescenes2, Agreed! (Regardless of punctuation LOL)

[darreyl102]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:37pm

Plus she proves that all Big Black Women can't sing! LOL

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:41pm

^ Or dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9ce9TX0I

[behindthescenes2]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:52pm

Sorry about the punctuation, but I was in a hurry. It just pisses me off, not that you could tell. :)

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 4:57pm

I don't know why, but I pictured Wendy as Madame Morrible. I mean I think she'd be better in that character than Mama Morton, but with Wendy's acting, I don't know. Is it just me? Yeah? Ok... Will Wicked ever start casting stars in their show?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/1/13 at 5:01pm

WICKED did slight stunt casting early on with Joey Mcintyre and Rue McClanahan, until they realized they didn't need stars to sell the show.