Patina Miller (who was in the ensemble and covered Deloris for the Pasadena and Atlanta productions) was the aforementioned American flown in to lead the workshop in London back in March.
I have heard that a West End actress is playing Deloris for the commercial London production, though it seems one of the British papers is assuming Miller will be cast because of her previous association with the show (she was great in the role, but she's a little young to be believed as a diva who is "past her prime" as the character is written to be within the show.)
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
So is the West End actress the same one trying to get out of tv/theater work to do the show or is that someone else? Anika Noni Rose would be great in the role, but I do think she's too young. If anything, Tonya Pinkins would be a riot.
"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"
"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"
I had the pleasure of seeing this show 5 times in Pasadena, CA and I am so excited that it may come to Broadway. Hoping they cast Beth Malone and Amy Murray in their prospective roles from the Pasadena/Atlanta run.
I'm almost positive it's Patina Miller and that's why she's not transferring with Hair to Broadway. I really wanted to see her in HAIR....really wanted to hear her "Aquarius" and "White Boys" on a cast album. I also think she would have been amazing in the upcoming Dreamgirls production at the Apollo. She would have been amazing as Deena or Lorrell....though Lorrell would be more fit for her, because her voice is almost too good to be Deena. Though I think it comes down to originating a role...and if the Sister Act material is up to par...I think this show will be a big success for her. Go Patina!
it couldn't be tonya pinkins, because although she's right for the role in terms of the way whoopi played her, the music is written for a voice like patina's - ie - a voice that sings "white boys." there are some crazy high notes and riffs. its a fun score
...I loved the movie. But I don't know if it will translate into a highly successful stage show. Well, like another poster said, it does have music already, and the humor is there. I still feel a theater piece can make a great movie, but not so sure the other way around, necessarily. Not everybody sees theater, but most people have seen the movies, so the material will be compared to the movie version, and suffer from De javu. I'd rather see something original, or adaptation of literature, IMHO.
Its mostly cast - they're on the verge of finishing, with a 'name' for Mother Superior if all goes well! There's going to be a workshop in January so the cast should be done by then!!!
Credits: We Will Rock You (Killer Queen) The Lion King (Rafiki) Fame (Miss Sherman) Chicago (Mama Morton) Is currently in a long running BBC medical drama, so pretty well known from not only that, but as a judge on a recent prime time reality TV show here. Just a guess...