What Broadway show would you have loved to see Judy Garland in?- Page 3

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/15/14 at 12:43pm

I wonder if young Judy might have played Yitzhak?

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 12/15/14 at 12:45pm

Desiree Armfeldt

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/14 at 1:00pm

Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 12/15/14 at 1:13pm

Auggie27, that's interesting, this notion of I'll Plant My Own Tree as parody. I totally believe it, but it's at odds with the tone of the rest of the film. I always assumed they were being deadly earnest, which was part of the reason it became a camp classic. But, yes, it is hard to imagine that they though Susan Hayward putting her arms up in the air like the branches of a tree at the end of the song was actually a good choice.

We're so far removed from 1967 (and I wasn't alive at the time) it's hard to tell when something is intended to be parody or satire.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/15/14 at 1:35pm

Weren't Judy and Sinatra originally intended as the leads in the movie of Carousel?

And, of course, Judy was originally cast as Annie in the movie of Annie Get Your Gun.

Updated On: 12/15/14 at 01:35 PM

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 2:35pm

The mind boggles at the thought of Sinatra and Judy in the movie of Carousel. It would have been magnificently sung and probably more emotional, but coming two years after Judy made A Star is Born, I'm afraid she would have looked too old to play Julie. And I've always thought Sinatra would have looked ridiculous as Billy.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 2:36pm

I don't think Judy Garland was the right type vocally for Julie Jordan.
Julie is a soprano role. Judy Garland was not a soprano.

Updated On: 12/16/14 at 02:36 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 2:40pm

Frank and Judy are interesting choices but I'm glad that Gordon and Shirley won the roles in the end, they are fantastic singers.

[theeatah]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 6:37pm

I think Judy was more of a Petra.

[Fantod]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 8:24pm

As I said before, Judy could play anything that she wanted to and have been the best at it. She was freaking Judy Garland, unrivaled musical queen.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 8:36pm

Except Julie Jordan because vocally she was completely wrong for that role.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 8:40pm

I agree Carlos, as much as I love Judy Garland, Shirley Jones was perfect in the role both acting and singing wise.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 8:45pm

I love me some Judy. But no. And thank God Frank bowed out and they got Gordon MacRae. Shirley Jones' vocals are absolutely beautiful in the film...and so are Gordon's

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 8:47pm

There was one critic who said in a review for CAROUSEL that "Gordon and Shirley are almost becoming the new Gene Kelly and Judy Garland". It could have been like that if they made a few more films together.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 11:13am

I would basically say any show where she is age appropriate . I could not see her not doing any of these roles. She was also a great dramatic actress in movies like A Star Is Born & Judgment At Nuremberg. A great talent lost too soon .

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 12:50pm

Not sure which biography mentions it (possibly Gerald Clarke or Anne Edwards) but before filming was ever to begin on the film version of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, Garland considered stepping in for Ethel Merman in the stage version for a couple of weeks giving the Merm a well deserved break. Doing a musical on Broadway was something that appealed to her and she thought the experience might enhance her stage portrayal of the character.

For those wondering what Garland might have sounded like singing the score of FUNNY GIRL, the DRG CD of LIVE AT THE PALLADIUM has her performing the wonderful closing number THE MUSIC THAT MAKES ME DANCE (replaced in the film version with MY MAN).

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 1:15pm

Passing Strange as the mother

[South Florida]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 1:34pm

Times Square Regular mentioned this N2N, picturing that for her in the mid 1950's. Wow!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 3:28pm

Neglected to mention in my post above in regards to her poor financial straits especially in the sixties. In one of her biographies the author stated that Garland would often go on two week tour stretches. Her salary for the first week would cover her musician's salaries, touring costs, accommodations, etc. for the tour. The second week was all pure profit for her. She would always appear the first week seldom missing any performances. But the second week was a different story.

One of my favorite recollections....on one of her tours the author states that she is with all three children. It's the second week and not surprisingly Judy decides she doesn't want to go on that night. She's locked herself in her room, is slurring and won't come out. The children call her to convince her to appear with Joey speaking first. Having no luck Liza gets on the phone but Judy is adamant and once again refuses. Then it's Lorna's turn and Judy still doesn't budge. Suddenly Liza whispers to Lorna, "Remind her about the boys! Remind her about the boys!" Garland, going back to WW2, always took time out to visit the men in the armed forces in hospitals and made it a lifelong mission. At the particular venue she was appearing in that night they had gone to the expense of installing special ramps for those returning injured Viet Nam soldiers in wheel chairs who were invited to the show. Lorna reminds Judy saying, "But Mama, what about all the boys in wheelchairs who are coming to see you tonight?" A moment later Lorna puts down the phone laughing. "Mama says if they can wheeeeeel 'em in they can wheel 'em out!"