Distinctive Baritone...Not sure why you think it ended up in the red. I had a friend who was an investor in the original production and said it returned its investment and made a profit of almost 3 to 1. I saw it with Phylicia Rashad, who was magnificent in the role. I believe it was one of the first times that a black actress had replaced on Broadway in a role that was written, especially as it was a family play with white actresses playing the daughters, for a white actress. It didn't matter to me, I was completely enthralled.
It moved theaters and had like 4 replacement casts? I’d say it was very successful. But sure it’s a big show, but now all I want is Jean Smart. And Laurie Metcalf.
Robbie516 said: "What theatre are they aiming for I would assume the Golden or Belasco?"
What's the thought process behind this assumption? Shubert alone has about 8(+) playhouses available next fall with unannounced tenants. Producers don't simply pick a theatre; this could play any playhouse (and the original started at the Imperial of all places). This producer usually uses Shubert houses or Studio 54.
Did Whitford play Mattie Fae's husband? Or the one-scene part of Beverly Weston? or Barbara's husband?
I love Sally Field but this seems like such a missed opportunity for a true theater animal like Jones/Metcalf who are better suited to the role IMO. I often imagine what Stritch would've done with this role in the 90s.
Who’s producing this and the reason why I said those two theatres is that they’re open in the fall…I also know Studio 54 is being used next year by roundabout
"Or maybe in 4 years, Steppenwolf can mount a 20th Anniversary revival in Chicago."
Very proud to say that my daughter was the Assistant Stage Manager of the play at Steppenwolf. She could have come to NY to stage manage it on Broadway but couldn't because of family commitments.
I remember the first time I saw it in Chicago,.I went in thinking, "OMG, a straight play with three acts, running time close to three hours, I'll never sit through it". After Act II, I couldn't wait for Act III to start.
CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.
to be fair to the movie which- there's definitely worse play to film adaptations, I think it's a story that is most powerful when you're really stuck in the room with these people. My issue with the movie is it didn't feel special the way the play did.
The movie is a disaster. An HBO miniseries would have been much better. If only Mike Nichols had done it.
The only upsetting thing about this potential revival is it would ice out Metcalf from ever doing Barbara if she doesn’t do it this time. I guess we can hold out for her Violet.
TotallyEffed said: "The only upsetting thing about this potential revival is it would ice out Metcalf from ever doing Barbara if she doesn’t do it this time. I guess we can hold out for her Violet."
She’s 67 now, Violet’s exact age as laid out out in the character description. Her chance to play Barbara passed when the original production closed. The good news is that she’s got ~20 years to get the chance to take on Violet if Estelle Parsons is any bar to measure by.
ColorTheHours048 said: "TotallyEffed said: "The only upsetting thing about this potential revival is it would ice out Metcalf from ever doing Barbara if she doesn’t do it this time. I guess we can hold out for her Violet."
She’s 67 now, Violet’s exact age as laid out out in the character description. Her chance to play Barbara passed when the original production closed. The good news is that she’s got ~20 years to get the chance to take on Violet if Estelle Parsons is any bar to measure by."
I don’t tolerate my dreams being crushed. Let me live! It’s the magic of the theatre!
I’m glad I was wrong about the original production not recouping. I had just assumed because the audiences for the last few months were often only half full. But if they recouped early then I guess they were able to keep it open despite the dip in sales. I saw it with Estelle Parsons and Amy Morton and thought it was spectacular.
Which husband would Bradley Whitford do? This is the rare play where the male roles are pretty thankless compared to the female roles.
The movie does what in most cases film adaptions are meant to do and opens it up. The thing is, August: Osage County is a play that could've handled the weight of it's confinement on screen. Much like the film adaption of Virginia Woolf. I still think Roberts was a good choice for Barbara and Meryl a wrong one for Violet. Meryl would've been a killer Mattie Fae I think. Though I've never seen the play, only read it. So I can't say any of this for sure.