Why hasn't Ann-Margret been on Broadway ?

Last Sunday, actress Ann-Margret was interviewed on "CBS Sunday Morning", reflecting on her very long career of 60 years (she turns 81 in a few weeks). They recapped her movie stardom starring in so many successful musicals, especially opposite Elvis. Then in the 70s she went to Las Vegas, and did her Vegas act for a while. 20 years ago, she starred in the tour of 'Best Little Whorehouse...' as Miss Mona, and that was the end of her acting in stage musicals.

I'm curious as to why she never performed on B'way as a musical actress ? Was she never invited to do so by producers, or did she choose not to do so ? I think she would have made an incredible stage actress with her singing and dancing. (Surprised she wasn't offered 'Sunset Boulevard' in the 90s, here or in the UK).



I think she just may make a wonderful Madame Armsfeldt should "A Little Night Music" ever be revived. Any thoughts about this fine actress ?



https://youtu.be/Za1p5EcSjHE

Updated On: 4/9/22 at 12:26 PM

Her as Madame Armfeldt is absolutely ingenious.

and she’s actually Swedish haha

also she’d be magnificent in Follies. Her doing “I’m Still Here?”

Updated On: 4/9/22 at 12:43 PM

Madame Morrible for the Wicked movie?

Ann Margaret is wonderful, but she always plays Ann Margret (which is why sassy Miss Mona was a good fit for her) and she could never pull of either Madame. Armfeldt (she hasn't the aristocratic bearing or formidity) or Cassie (she has her dance moves, but no way would she be believable as a Broadway chorus dancer).

She probably would have been great in Applause! though.

JSquared2 said: "joevitus said: "Ann Margaret is wonderful, but she always plays Ann Margret (which is why sassy Miss Mona was a good fit for her) and she could never pull of either Madame. Armfeldt (she hasn't the aristocratic bearing or formidity) or Cassie (she has her dance moves, but no way would she be believable as a Broadway chorus dancer).

She probably would have been great in Applause! though."

No one could ever be "good" inAPPLAUSE. It's a terrible show with 2-3 good songs. While the show itself isn't much better, perhaps 25 years agoVICTOR/VICTORIAcould have been a good fit?

"

I think Applause! sucks as a show, too, but still think Margo would be a good role for her. Yeah, the lead in Victor/Victoria (again, a bad show) might have worked, too.

It's not just that she didn't do Broadway –– Wikipedia claims she never appeared professionally in any stage play until WHOREHOUSE in 2001, which she did for more than a year. Is that true? Always assumed she must have done theatrical work for Kenley/summer stock/regional.

I think casting her in any serious role (Armfeldt, etc) would be viewed as a summer stock-level stunt by most people, unless she really shocked us with her performance. No doubt she was approached for various roles in FOLLIES revivals, Roxie in CHICAGO, Dorothy Brock in 42ND STREET, countless mothers and grandmothers, etc.

Wonder if ALW ever asked her to play Norma Desmond in SB on Broadway?

Brody, I think most people here are referencing her work in the past 30-40 years. Any gifts she might have had in the 1960s-70s have been pretty much nonexistant in recent memory, to the point where most of the general public would not view her as a serious talent and to the point where she could be a distraction more than a selling point.

Updated On: 4/9/22 at 11:41 PM

Whoever said “Ann Margret always plays Ann Margret”

has never seen Carnal Knowledge or her brilliant SVU Guest spot that she won an Emmy for

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I think casting her in any serious role (Armfeldt, etc) would be viewed as a summer stock-level stunt by most people, unless she really shocked us with her performance."



Nonsense.

BrodyFosse123 said: "A friend worked on a film with her recently and he asked her this. She said she received numerous offers to do musicals and plays on Broadway throughout her career but the long commitment didn’t appeal to her. She gets homesick and hates being away from Los Angeles. She’ll go on location for a film or TV project as it’s generally one-two weeks. She loved Las Vegas as she could fly home often, which is why she did those extensively. The tour of BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE was short which is why she agreed to do it. There was mention of bringing it to Broadway for a limited run, but she declined. "

She also had a long term marriage to Roger Smith (of the old TV series 77 Sunset Strip fame) who suffered for years from a debilitating illness. I doubt she would want to be away from him for any length of time. I can’t imagine that didn’t play a huge part in her career decisions.

BrodyFosse123 said: "A friend worked on a film with her recently and he asked her this. She said she received numerous offers to do musicals and plays on Broadway throughout her career but the long commitment didn’t appeal to her. She gets homesick and hates being away from Los Angeles. She’ll go on location for a film or TV project as it’s generally one-two weeks. She loved Las Vegas as she could fly home often, which is why she did those extensively. The tour of BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE was short which is why she agreed to do it. There was mention of bringing it to Broadway for a limited run, but she declined. "

She also had a long term marriage to Roger Smith (of the old TV series 77 Sunset Strip fame) who suffered for years from a debilitating illness. I doubt she would want to be away from him for any length of time. I can’t imagine that didn’t play a huge part in her career decisions.

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I had a chance to see Ann Margret in a San Antonio tour stop of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in 1999."

… and?! Not even a “… but.” WTF?!