What are good examples of shows written for a specific star? — Page 3

The Other One said: "Tennessee Williams wrote the role of Serafina in The Rose Tattoo for Anna Magnani, but she turned it down because she didn't think she could handle the English language on stage. Maureen Stapleton did the role on stage and won a Tony (as best featured actress, which makes no sense) and Ms. Magnani, less intimidated by the camera, did the film and won an Oscar (as Best Actress, which does)."



At that point in time the categories were determined solely by billing, the option to petition for a change in category was not established for a good many years after that original production of The Rose Tattoo. (William Daniels declined his nomination for 1776, since he felt that he was indeed the lead of the show but his billing below the title placed him in the featured category, so it was sometime in the 70s that the petition for category reassignment was established).

Also... are we sure Glinda was written with Kristen in mind? That seems a bit... far fetched to me.

"'The Visit' was originally envisioned as a vehicle for Angela Landsbury."

Yes, Lansbury was actually signed and participating in pre-production until her husband Peter to have open heart surgery and his long-term prognosis was unknown. Angela wrote a heartbreaking letter to producer Barry Brown and the creative team saying that their multi-million dollar project needed someone who could commit 100% but her first allegiance had to be to her husband of 50 years. For a major star to walk out at such a late date usually burns bridges and even damages careers but no one involved had anything except sympathy for Angela.

This happened in 2000 or 2001 and some of the show's financing collapsed without her, which was partially responsible for the show's very long trip to Broadway.

Updated On: 1/18/17 at 04:10 AM