Will Oprah Spring For A New Cast Recording? — Page 2

"While sure Fantasia might be doing well in the show - if the idea of a new recording were to come up..Jeanette Bayardelle (the Celie on tour now) is CLEARLY the best vocalist. "

Might be doing 'well"? If that isn't the understatement of the year. She is doing PHENOMENAL in this role. If I posted what Gayle King said on her talk show yesterday about what both Oprah and Jane Fonda thought about Fantasia in this role, you'd pass a brick and eat your words. However, if the critic reviews of a dream weren't enough to make you eat your words I guess a legendary actress wouldn't do anything for you either.

Since you are such a huge Jeanette fan please post some of her reviews of TCP while on Broadway so I can see what the critics say about her voice in comparison to fantasia's. I'd love to compare the two and see what the pros think in comparison. I wonder where Jeanette hangs her "Theater World Award"? Of which I sure she's won since she's the better singer/actress in this role.

What they really should do is since they have Michelle Williams and Letoya London have them all be on a new cast recording with Fantasia.

i think another recording would be fun. i'd buy it.

I say if there's sufficient market for it, why not do the new album? If they record it that'll give fans more choice in what to buy. It's not like if they don't do this album they'll suddenly decide to do a (first) album for some show that closed in a week after opening.

The first album preserves the production. Any subsequent album is going to need a different reason for its existence. Either there has to be a total reinvention of the show, or a big name actor who can sell the new albums, or both. Not having seen her performance, even if Ms. Bayardelle is the most wonderful and best Celie ever, the fact is that she doesn't have the name to justify a new album. Only a big-name actor is going to get a shot at a new album. Vanessa Williams got that shot in Kiss of the Spider Woman; Brooke Shields got a couple shots in Grease and Wonderful Town (I actually knew someone who worked on the Grease reissues, who told me that, believe it or not, Brooke Shields sells albums). I'm sure there are any number of really great replacement performances which deserve preservation on their merits, but if there's no big name involved, it's just not going to happen. Whether you like her or not, the fact is that Fantasia has lots of fans -- she got millions of votes on American Idol, and the show has been selling better with her in it. That's your market for the new album.

I didn't buy the original album and can't say I'd purchase the second if it were to be made (no offense to Fantasia), but if there's a market for it I say go for it. The show has lots of fans. It can't be a bad thing to give those fans a choice of buying the original album, the new album, or both.

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I had posted this after I saw Fantasia a few weeks back--- according the the theatre merchandise people, both the program and the CR are going to be done over for Fantasia.

When will it be officially confirmed that they are recording with Fantasia?

I do love me some Color Purple, so i'll be buying this album for sure! Will the just rerecord the sections of Celie, or will they redo the entire album with current cast members?

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I hope they do it with all of the current cast members. The critics made a point of saying that this cast is better than the original cast so they deserve it. I know I really enjoyed every single one of them.

Great Testing. I think its a no brainer myself. I cant wait until they record it!!

Movieguy,

I would not expect a RELEASE until July or more likely, August, at the VERY earliest.... I would, however, expect a formal announcement sometime in June.

Matt,

Have you seen her do "I'm Here" in "TCP", or just from clips and/or Oprah's show or AI? I ask because she doesnt sound the same during the show. It really is excellent.

Anytime :))

TX !

Maybe if they re-recorded it with Michelle Williams and Latoya London they may be in for a better chance of it being a bigger success. However, I doubt it will ever happen.

I saw the show in December with Jeanette Bayardelle and was very impressed with her singing AND acting.I was very moved by the entire production.

I am currently listening to the new recording of GREY GARDENS, made because of the new casting choice of Little Edie in Act One (Erin Davie), as well as a few new songs. So the precedent is there for making a second recording. It wouldn't be the second time that this has happened. When Pearl Bailey was in HELLO DOLLY back in the 1960's, they made a new recording of the show. I think it had an all Black cast, but I'm not sure.

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