YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

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YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:08pm

Per Playbill

"A spokesperson for London’s Royal National Theatre has revealed to Playbill.com that Tonya Pinkins has been cast to play the title role in the National's forthcoming production of Caroline or Change."

Great News

Playbill Article

"It's like children's theatre for 40-year old gay people!" - XANADU THE MUSICAL

Updated On: 8/24/06 at 05:08 PM

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:09pm

its a shame that show failed here.

when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:10pm

While I'm still very excited to hear about Tonya reprising her role (she was robbed of a Tony,) I just can't see this show working in London.

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.

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:14pm

I just thought that Zoneace. Same here, something wicked.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:17pm

While this is amazing for the people seeing the show in London, I can't help but feel a little sad because this severely lowers the chances of getting a new cast recording for this show (not that the chances were very high to begin with).

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:20pm

The show has a nearly definitive cast recording... how could it be improved upon?

Caroline is playing at the National, which is akin to our non-profit theatres like Lincoln Center, MTC, or Roundabout. The viability of it is not necessarily an issue, as it is not a commercial West End production.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 5:55pm

I'm so excited! We all hoped that she would come and now we've got our wish, well I already have my tickets booked. And I cannot wait!

It should be a really good show. It doesn't look like they are in any way compromising what was good about the original. Hopefully it will be just as good. I'm glad it was picked up by the National rather than a commercial company like Mackintosh or Kenwright.

Somethingwicked, why can't you see Caroline working in London? Please explain your comment, because that seems to me a really bizarre thing to say.

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 6:35pm

The show has a nearly definitive cast recording... how could it be improved upon?

I didn't say that I wanted a new recording so that it could improve upon the original one. I simply love hearing different takes on the same material, especially if I absolutely LOVE the material.

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 6:42pm

camp_actor, I just have a hard time seeing a show about an African American woman struggling during the 1960's civil rights movement resonating with London audiences. It isn't anything against the show (it's my favorite show, actually.) It's just a question of demographics.

Updated On: 8/24/06 at 06:42 PM

#10

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 6:59pm

That's an awfully limiting assessment of the show. That's like saying The Lion King wouldn't be successful because we're not lions or something. (wow, that was really eloquent.)

I don't think there's any reason that it won't succeed at the National. Look at how popular The History Boys is doing in America and that deals with quintessential British themes.

#11

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 7:03pm

"The Lion King," which had a built in Disney audience and was based on an EXTREMELY successful film, is in no way a fair comparison to "Caroline, or Change." "The History Boys" really isn't either, considering it had the distinction of being able to say it was a smash hit worldwide, something 'Caroline' wasn't/isn't.

Updated On: 8/24/06 at 07:03 PM

#12

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 7:29pm

It's at the National for a limited run. There's a little bit more room for experimentation and less commercialism. From talking to my professors last semester, AIDS was a completely different concept in the UK as it was in the States at the same time (it was seen as "an American thing") but that didn't really stop the UK from embracing Angels in America when it played in London...

I don't understand how just because you aren't American or British, you can't understand Caroline, or Change (or anything else). If it is good (which Caroline is) the show will transcend the limiting boundaries you placed on it.

#13

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 7:30pm

Where did I say anywhere that London audiences couldn't understand the show? Please, tell me. All I said was that I don't think it will be successful there, and I don't see it having wide appeal in the UK because of the subject matter. If word spreads that it is a great show (as it is,) then I am sure it will play to packed houses, but I just don't see British audiences going to see the show based on the story alone.

Updated On: 8/24/06 at 07:30 PM

#14

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 7:32pm

Oh my god, I'm SSOOOO excited. I cannot wait to see her in this. I know I'm going to have to see it more than once now.

And somethingwicked, no offence, but that's crap. Audiences here in London, especially ones who go to the National Theatre, are receptive and intelligent to all kinds of theatre. We all know about the American civil rights movement and we have had civil rights issues of our own. I'm sure it will resonate here and will succeed especially in the subsidised haven of the NT.

#15

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 7:32pm

I guess I equate wide appeal with lack of understanding. The Angels in America analogy still stands because AIDS was seen as 'that american thing' and yet the show was still well received.

#16

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/24/06 at 11:17pm

Playbill.com article:

"With book and lyrics by the Tony and Pulitzer-winning Kushner (Angels in America, Homebody Kabul) and music by Tony Award winner Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Milly),"

Jeanine Tesori is not a Tony Award winner. She is a 3-time Tony nominee (Twelfth Night; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change).

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

#17

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 12:34am

Now I wish they would start selling tickets for November. London Theatre Guide says that the show is booking through January 4th 2007 but Ticketmaster only has tickets for sale up to October 27th.

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

#18

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 1:27am

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=533

You should be able to buy it for November from there.

#19

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 1:41am

I had the pleasure of seeing this show in San Francisco starring Tonya. Before that, I only knew her from "All My Children". Go see it!

"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions" ------- "Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu" from "Can't Stop The Music" ----- "When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth" ------------ --------- "Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.

#20

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:30am

Thanks safran, I had actually tried the National Theatre site earlier in the evening but the tickets page was not loading properly and, as I mentioned, Ticketmaster was not selling into November. After trying a few times, I was finally able to get on and purchase my tickets so I will be seeing the show in November. Thanks again!

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

#21

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 4:05am

Does anyone think this may be filmed?
I had hoped Tonya was going to do this one because they told her it would be lol

#22

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 5:11am

Tickets are on sale for the whole run, see

www.nt-online.org

I am sure it will be a success here, there is limited three month run in a theatre which seats only 890 people and many tickets are just £10 including the first few rows of the orchestra.

Theatre here tackles a whole variety of themes that prove to sell tickets, really you can't tell what will work and what what won't based on any preconceptions. Usually anything that is well written and performed will sell all its tickets at the National whatever its subject.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 05:11 AM

#23

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:31am

something wicked, that's just not true. People don't go to the theatre to necessarily see what's going on in their back garden. The subject matter is very well known over here in the states - anyone who went through high school knows about the Kennedy assassination, about the struggles for equality for African Americans in the southern states of America. There have been countless films and plays about those topics which have been embraced by UK audiences. Why would Caroline be shunned? If it's good (which we all know it is) then why would it be shunned?

Let me remind you that London is a hugely multi-cultural society. It is a melting pot for all faiths, ethnicities and lifestyles.

If it fails I doubt it will be because of the subject matter.

#24

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 7:00am

Somethingwicked, have you ever been to London and to the National Theatre?

Sorry to say but I find that sort of narrow minded comment typical of the often ill thought and immature comments on this board sometimes. There is life outside the United States yknow

))

#25

re: YES! Tonya Pinkins is Caroline AGAIN!!!

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:56pm

yes.....i love her!

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