Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill? — Page 2

#26

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/17/12 at 8:13pm

The idea of Stephen Colbert as Harold Hill is absolutely breathtaking! I want to see this NOW!

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Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#27

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/17/12 at 10:54pm

I'd love to see Butz tackle this role or Danny Burstein, and Brian Stokes Mitchell could also be fabulous.

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Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.

#28

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/17/12 at 11:00pm

I just saw the film Bernie last weekend and there's a whole scene where Jack Black performs "Seventy-Six Trombones" in a stage production of The Music Man and all I could think of was how delightful he'd be in this role. I was never a huge fan of his until seeing Bernie. He's got a surprisingly nice voice.

#29

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 12:02am

Brent Barrett!

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#30

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 12:07am

I heard Lea DeLaria once tackled Harold Hill.

#31

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 12:09am

Was he hurt?

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"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert

#32

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:12am

singtopher, that is just about the greatest profile pic ever!

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Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#33

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 9:28am

"School of Rock" was pretty much an update of Music Man - complete with Joan Cusack as the Marian character.

#34

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 9:30am

During the last revival, wasn't there a rumor of Conan O'Brien coming in as a replacement?

#35

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 9:33am

I love the suggestion made about Robert Downey, Jr. It was the first name that came to mind when I read the title of the thread. Colbert would also be terrific.

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#36

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:14pm

Christopher Sieber

#37

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:24pm

With the right director, I think Douglas Sills would make a fantastic Harold Hill.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#38

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:28pm

I think I'd like to see a younger Harold Hill. Maybe Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Ever since his SNL appearance, where he performed Make 'Em Laugh, I thought he belonged on Broadway.

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#39

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:43pm

Burke Moses is doing a lovely job with the role in DC, though very much in the Preston mold.

#40

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:49pm

Any revival must address the age old theory that Winthrop is actually Marian's son by her wealthy benefactor, which is why he left her the Library (where Winty was conceived) and why the Chicken Ladies think Marian is a slut.
When Winty is mowed down by the Wells Fargo Wagon and needs a bone marrow transplant, the secret comes out. Paroo was the benefactor's favorite cook and maid and was bribed to stand in as the Mom of Marion and her bastard stuttering child.

#41

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:53pm

Whoever said Colbert as Harold Hill is my hero. That would be awesome.

#42

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 2:57pm

"Any revival must address the age old theory that Winthrop is actually Marian's son by her wealthy benefactor, which is why he left her the Library (where Winty was conceived) and why the Chicken Ladies think Marian is a slut.
When Winty is mowed down by the Wells Fargo Wagon and needs a bone marrow transplant, the secret comes out. Paroo was the benefactor's favorite cook and maid and was bribed to stand in as the Mom of Marion and her bastard stuttering child."

Isn't all of that addressed in Shipoopi?

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#43

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 3:07pm

Sounds more like the Palins than Paroos. Donchaknow?

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"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"

#44

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 3:22pm

Well a gimmick that would get people in the door would be to bring in Dan Radcliffe to do it. It would bring a little different angle to the character as well, and unlike Bierko, Radcliffe wouldn't (mainly because he couldn't) be simply imitating Preston.

That being said, I would personally cast Kevin Spacey as Hill, Kelli O'Hara as Marian, Ellen Harvey as Ms. Paroo, and Robert Creighton as Marcellus.

#45

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 3:24pm

Also, Raul Esparza would be a fantastic Hill.

#46

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 3:25pm

Raul did his Harold Hill impression. It was called Leap of Faith.

(and he was awful)

#47

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 3:29pm

Well Leap was just a terrible show all around, so he wasn't given much to work with. I am basing my comment on a video I saw of Raul doing "There's a sucker" from Barnum in a concert setting back in the 90's I believe.

#48

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 3:46pm

I did not like Music Man...at all...but Collin Donell has a pleasant voice.

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Marla: I have to go sing about a life I never led.

#49

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 4:20pm

Also, Raul Esparza would be a fantastic Hill.

Raul might be right for a lot of roles, but not that one. I already saw him horribly miscast in Chitty. I loved the show, but he was all kinds of wrong for that part.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#50

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 6:26pm

Esparza has none of the charisma and smoothness needed for the role, he's tough, harsh, and has the potential to be incredibly hammy. In a role like this, you need someone who can be hammy and make it work (the Stephen Colbert idea is brilliant, he was great in the NYPhil COMPANY), Esparza would suck the fun out of it.
Speaking of Esparza, an unconventional Harold Hill--sort of in the mold of Daniel Radcliffe--would be David Hyde Pierce.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"