Who will be Papermill's Dolly?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 5:47pm

I know even the thought of a Broadway transfer is out of the question, even with stellar reviews because Papermill shows rarely transfer.

But, still, with Herman's desire to have the show revived, I can't help but be excited to see who will wind up taking the title role in this production.

Any suggestions?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 5:53pm

Wasn't Jennifer Holliday the rumor for a while?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 5:56pm

That would be interesting to say the least.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 5:57pm

Just curious but have other Dolly's sang the low Channing keys.

Or does only Channing sing the songs in that key?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 6:37pm

The score was transposed for Martha Raye (who did a helluva job singing the role!) and Merman. Now that I think of it, Ginger Rogers didn't have a particularly low voice.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 6:42pm

As Loretta Swit is a New Jersey resident, her name has come up repeatedly inn discussions about who should play DOLLY. (Of course no one has called ME yet!)

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:00pm

I can't imagine Merman singing Dolly.

I assume you saw her in the role. Did she belt it out?

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:03pm

Carol is coming back to do it.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:05pm

That wouldn't be at all surprising, actually.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:07pm

Could we have LL Cool J play Horace Vandergelder opposite Carol?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:07pm

I saw Channing's last tour of Dolly and it is still one of the greatest performances I've ever seen.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:08pm

I actually really regret not seeing her do it in 94.

[respeck]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:28pm

ljay, the role was written with her in mind.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:51pm

Faith Prince.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 7:54pm

What about Donna Murphy?

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:24pm

Karen Ziemba, anyone? she's a frequent papermiller.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:40pm

The first Broadway show I ever saw was Ethel Merman in "Hello, Dolly!" and yes, she belted out the songs, all without benefit of body microphones. She was terrific. Danny Lockin who played Barnaby in the film played Barnaby on stage and Georgia Engel, who later played Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and was on "Everybody Loves Raymond" was Minnie Fay. You can hear Merman sing the "new" songs from Dolly, "World Take Me Back" and " Love Look In My Window" on the Carol Channing "Hello, Dolly! Broadway Deluxe Collectors Edition" CD which also features tracks from Pearl Bailey and Mary Martin.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:57pm

I'm pretty sure Ethel Merman wore a body mic in DOLLY. On the "archival" tape that's floating around, her mic actually goes out in the middle of ACT 1, which is a real shame considering you can barely hear her over everybody else (who is mic-ed).

Merman may not have "needed" a body mic in her career - ever. But by the time she went into DOLLY, they were pretty routine for most performers in Broadway shows. And she really would have had to wear one if the rest of the company did to maintain a consistant sound level.
Updated On: 3/12/06 at 09:57 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 10:17pm

Mary Testa
The Voice and the Comedy!

[alterego]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 10:27pm

The score was also "taken up" for Mary Martin. I found, on Limewire the Hello, Dolly number with Ethel Merman. Taken from the audience it is pretty rough but you can hear it all ok. I believe it was the last night of the show's first Broad way run.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 10:42pm

MARY TESTA is a great idea! I love it.

[alterego]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 10:56pm

Good as she maybe, she isn't a drawcard.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:55pm

Ziemba has done exactly one show at Papermill.

Faith Prince is the best choice.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:56pm

Dee Hoty?
Donna McKechnie?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:08am

Victoria Clark!