I think with all Bernadette has been through this past year, she might consider losing herself in this incredible role. PaperMill is a beautiful place and they put up ther "stars" in a beautiful and comfortable setting. I love all the ideas though, especially "hot lips houllihan"!" I agreee with you Margo, PaperMill needs to amke some $$$, as do most equity regional theatres at this point in history!
Now that I'm thinking about it (apart from the reasons Margo stated), I don't think Peters would play this role at the moment, given Dolly is a woman whose sad moments come from her husband's death.
I know somebody whose time has TRULY come for this fantastic role to be played. I may be wrong, but I honestly believe that Dolly Levi should be played by the fantastic JULIE ANDREWS!!!
"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid
1) Although Dolly is in the basement, and she may very well have gotten those notes back and be able to sorta sing the score, I'm fairly certain she does not have the endurance to get through 8 shows a week vocally.
2) her time has come?! Are we in 1955? I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to see her do some musical work again (however unlikely that may be), but lets be real...she has had more than her fair share of success.
Carol Channing has told me that the key to Dolly is that she's a very funny woman but doesn't realize it. With that in mind, I feel that Georgia Engle would be excellent in the role.
At the risk of being indelicate, is Kaye Ballard too old (she's 79)? I saw her in the audience at WOMAN IN WHITE and she looked fabulous. (Not to mention that 10 minutes after the show started, half the audience would've preferred that the cast of WIW get off the stage, let Kaye pull up a stool and entertain us for the rest of the afternoon).
'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'
While whom I'm about to mention is probably too much of a star for Papermill (they generally go to "near legend that's loved by many people route), but...
I know it's been atleast once when Pearl Bailey took over the role (and hired a completely black cast) but how about for this - or for it's broadway revival (which needs to be soon), meet kind of halfway - a completely colorblind DOLLY.
Now seriously - and DON'T laugh or sneer at this....but...while just watching Pearl Bailey's amazing "Before the Parade Passes By," I couldn't help but notice some similarities in voice, expression, gesticulations, etc. to the wonderful Queen Latifah.
I would love, love, love (a thousand times over) to see Queen Lafifah play DOLLY. I think it would be remarkable!
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
Munk - I've been saying for years that Queen Latifah would be a great Dolly. Agree whole-heartedly. I'd love to have Audra McDonald in that cast just to hear her sing "Ribbons Down my Back". That would be heaven...
"When you're a gay man, you have to feel good about yourself when a urologist says, "Yeah. I pick you". - Happy Endings
hey, does anyone know when the cast list goes up caus my friend auditioned for it. hope he gets it.
<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.
-Dre-
You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree. ~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
There's a special kind of people known as show people. We live in a world full of dreams. Sometimes we're not too certain what's false and what's real. But we're seldom in doubt about what we feel. ~Curtains~
It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to, than I have ever known. ~A Tale of Two Cities ~