Zambello Directs Carmello In Carnegie Hall SHOW BOAT Concert

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:47pm

Initial casting has been announced for the upcoming concert staging of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat at Carnegie Hall.

Directed by The Little Mermaid's Francesca Zambello, the June 10 benefit for Carnegie Hall will boast the talents of Jessica Bogart (Ellie May Chipley), Carolee Carmello (Julie LaVerne), Nathan Gunn (Gaylord Ravenal), Marilyn Horne (Old Lady on the Levee), Gavin Lee (Frank Schultz), Alvy Powell (Joe) and Celena Shafer (Magnolia Hawks); show time is 8 PM. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Musical director Paul Gemignani will conduct the Orchestra of St. Luke's. The creative team will also feature Robert Longbottom (musical staging), Doug Wright (concert adaptation), lighting designer Alan Adelman, scenic designer Scott Pask and costume designer Gregg Barnes with sound design by Acme Sound Partners.
Bogart, Carmello, Gunn, Horne and Lee to Star in Carnegie Hall Show Boat Concert

[FinalDestination]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:48pm

Oh dear...

[threatXthree]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:08pm

Well, we hopefully expect the some of the finest renditions of "Can't Help Lovin' 'Dat Man o' Mine" and "Bill" from this concert.

Who knows, maybe Zambello will THRIVE on the heavily dramatic plot.
Updated On: 2/11/08 at 01:08 PM

[commasplice]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:37pm

Ooooh, I'd love to see this. I love the idea of Gavin Lee as Frank and Jessica (Boevers) Bogart as Ellie. Carolee wouldn't have been my first thought for Julie, but I'm sure her "Bill" will be gorgeous. Can't wait to see who fills out the cast.

Do we know yet what version they'll be performing, or is there a chance they'll be doing their own amalgamation of the score?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:00pm

Carolee will be a stunning Julie. Her "Bill" will bring down the house.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:02pm

OMG Carolee and Marilyn Horne!?

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:16pm

dear god

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:18pm

I'd love to go to this. Show Boat was the first Cast Recording I ever owned.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:37pm

Love the sly alliteration, WannaBe.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 6:58pm

After thinking about it for a little I think Carmello is a good choice. Lee is an inspired choice and does anyone know if Jessica Bogart dances?

[PUPPETMAN]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:12am

Why would anyone hire Zambello after the mess she and her crew have made of Little Mermaid !

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:18am

Man, I would drop Patti in an instant to see Carolee in GYPSY.

[commasplice]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:50am

Preach it, Foster. The thought of Carolee as Rose gives me chills.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:19am

I too thought Zambello would run with her Fin between her legs after those MERMAID reviews, but everyone deserves another chance.
Carmello is inspired casting.
Maybe without the DISNEY machine breathing down her neck we can see what she is about.
Good Luck to Her!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:32am

For some reason, even though Carolee is playing a character the same age as Rose, she just doesn't seem old enough to play her. In 5-10 years, she'd be phenomenal.

I wish I had known about auditions for this production of Showboat...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:35am

Carolee doesn't look too young to play Rose.

Patti looks too OLD to play Rose.

Carolee looks marvelous for her age, similar to the way Bernadette looks.

But she'd be a perfect Rose.

Patti is more like Grandma Rose.

[Barihunk]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:53am

Zambello actually already directed a very well-received "Showboat" in London two years ago at the Royal Albert Hall. It apparently featured a cast of 67, the London Philharmonic and was performed (the Hal Prince version) in the round. Clearly, that won't be done at Carnegie Hall - but she certainly knows her way around the piece and has a talented cast at her disposal. Now, if she can figure out a dramaturgicaly correct reason for Gaylord (Nathan Gunn) to appear shirtless - it will be a success fer reals! :)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:55am

I'd like to see this. I really liked the '94 revival and love the score to this show.

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:19am

Me too, Dottie.

I wonder who will play Cap'n Andy and Parthy? (I'd love to see Anita Gillette tackle it again! She looked and sounded fabulous the last time I saw her.)

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 12:18pm

Speaking of "Show Boat", can anyone tell me what theatre this production was performed at? Thanks!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 12:22pm

Does anyone else find the casting a little uninspired? Although I know historically speaking Julie has always been played by white women (save for the last revival of course), but in this day and age she really should be played by a black woman. And Gavin Lee really doesn't seem like a good fit for Frank. Just because he dances doesn't mean he'd be good in that role.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 12:31pm

Pardon me, I'm not a big SHOWBOAT-adept person, but isn't the point of Julie that she is part black? I mean, Queenie is surprised when Julie sings "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine" because she says it's a black folk song, right? I think the actress playing the role should be more on the light-skin side if I'm not mistaken about the plot line involving Julie's race. Perhaps someone like Tamara Tunie? Don't know, can't really think of anyone.
This is a concert version though, I mean, sounds like the time Brian Stokes Mitchell played Emile DeBecque in SOUTH PACIFIC, a role that we can only see him play in a concert setting.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 12:32pm

Although I know historically speaking Julie has always been played by white women (save for the last revival of course), but in this day and age she really should be played by a black woman.

WHAT? Umm..isn't one of the plot points that Julie is a white womna but of mixed blood. That is why she is forced to leave the Cotton Palace.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 12:36pm

Thanks for clearing my doubts, frontrowcenter, that's more or less what I thought.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:29pm

WOW....
That set is amazing!