Which of the BIG 6 R&H is next up for B'WAY?

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:53am

With the recent success of LCT's South Pacific, which of R&H's "BIG 6" will open next?

Oklahoma! just played in 2002 season
Sound of Music played in 1998 season
King & I played in 1996 season
Carousel played in 1994 season
State Fair played in 1996 season

Personally I'd love to see Roundabout or LCT mount a limited engagement of State Fair, with major book revisions, I just love "It Might as Well be Spring." ~Ben

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:56am

I don't think you can have enough productions of THE KING & I. I just love that show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:57am

I agree. King and I was just on Broadway in the 90's. But it constantly gets revived.

And I think it's their most beautiful score along with SOUTH PACIFIC. They are actually quite similar shows.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:58am

ALLEGRO with Leslie Kritzer as Lisa Kirk.

[StuckToTheStage]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:58am

I personally would love to see Carousel. It's a magnificent show.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:59am

The King & I is one of my favorite shows and I would LOVE to see it again. and it'd be nice if they could get Donna Murphy again.

Updated On: 6/5/08 at 12:59 AM

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:59am

"Sound of Music". It's playing in London, with runs planned for Toronto as well as Australia. It needs to hit the next big English speaking country. (No offense to other English speaking countries, but the 4 main ones are UK, Canada, Australia, and US).

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:04am

I'd be in heaven if Murphy reprised her turn as Anna Loewens if only so I can get to hear her sing her tour de force "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?" live. God, she does such a perfect rendition on the cast recording.
However, she did the role already, won a Tony for it, she's moved on. Let another fantastic actress have her go at it, I for one would love to see Laura Benanti (with a great director who can get out of her a performance like the one she is giving now as Louise) or Anne Hathaway as Anna. And if they wanted to do a "non-traditional" production, Anika Noni Rose would be ideal in the role.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:08am

Wish that Patti LuPone were 20 years younger - she would've been some Anna! Laura Benanti would fabulous.

Personally, I'd like to see CAROUSEL. It is one of my favorite musicals.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:10am

Um, Julie was Anna at 57. Patti is 59. Patti could still be Anna, if she did it by 2010. Unlikely, but possible.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:11am

Carousel

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:16am

Julie [I'm assuming you mean Julie Andrews] was Anna in a studio recording with Sir Ben Kingsley, that also featured Lea Salonga as Tuptim [she was lovely] and...Peabo Bryson as Lun Tha. so they weren't really going for who would work best onstage in the roles for that recording.

Updated On: 6/5/08 at 01:16 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:19am

I was just going to say. Andrews simply recorded the role of Anna, it's not like she actually played the role on stage at that age. She would definitely have been too old as Patti LuPone is now (and Murphy is too, IMO, but she gets a free pass because it's her).

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:20am

Oh, ok. I took out the CD from the library and I thought it was a production. Lea was amazing on "My lord and master".

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:22am

I also obviously LOVE Patti to death, but 1) I think she's just wrong for the role [not to mention being too old now] and 2) I'd like to see her originate something for a change.

but since this thread is about R&H goodies, I meant to comment that, ray, I think all your Anna suggestions were great; I'd especially love to see Anne Hathaway in a Broadway show and I think The King and I would be a great fit for her.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:24am

Benanti seems like an ideal choice.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:26am

I feel like Leigh Ann Larkin would work well in an R&H musical. she might make a good Maria.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:28am

What about having some modern divas in R&H shows? Kristin Chenoweth for "Oklahoma"? She apparently knows every girl role (and some guy roles) by heart! No, but seriously, Sutton wouldn't be bad as Anna, but I think she needs to wait a little bit.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:30am

I think so, Ljay. But Hathaway also has a beautiful singing voice, great acting chops, and well, sells more. Either choice I'd be happy with. But Anna would be a great role for Benanti to do after winning the Tony.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:32am

I wouldn't mind seeing a full Broadway-mounting of R&H's Cinderella. We had the tour that had a stop at MSG back in 2001 but I'd love to see it as an open-run stationary show on Broadway.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:36am

Interesting thread.

I would not appreciate Anne Hathaway's "debut" to be as Anna though... and I don't think the role suits her.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:36am

Sutton Foster is a wonderful comedienne, but she lacks the elegance, poise, and sort of proper quality that Anna requires. The one time she played a role that required her to be somewhat aloof towards the audience, she was playing a diva who drove everybody crazy with her personality and talent. You should feel a sense of propriety towards Anna, when she dances in front of the King during "Shall We Dance?" it comes as a shock and when she goes crazy during "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?" it's quite a turning point for the role. I don't see Foster being able to pull it off (and mind you, I'm a fan of her work).

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:38am

Sutton is totally wrong for Anna. I just don't see her having the elegance the role needs.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:42am

I agree about Patti originating, but I really do think she would've been something.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:43am

iluvtheatertrash, I was probably a little unfair by saying she was wrong. when she was younger, she probably would've been a great Anna. it's just not the first role I'd imagine for her.