Ziemba, Lenox, and Walsh to Star in FIRST WIVES CLUB

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:29pm

"Casting and design team have been announced for the world premiere of The First Wives Club- A New Musical, which will play San Diego's Old Globe Theatre July 15-Aug. 23 with an official opening July 31.

The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid) directs.

The cast features Broadway veterans Karen Ziemba as Annie, Adriane Lenox as Elyse, Barbara Walsh as Brenda, John Dossett as Aaron, Kevyn Morrow as Bill, Brad Oscar as Morty, Sara Chase as Trophy Wife, Sam Harris as Duane and Ari Lerner and Austyn Myers alternating as Jason with Michelle Aravena, Mark Campbell, Thursday Farrar, Jenifer Foote, Bob Gaynor, Matthew LaBanca, Victoria Matlock, Hayley Podschun, Martin Samuel and Richard Waits.

The First Wives Club- A New Musical, according to press notes, "is a funny, moving and empowering story based on the smash-hit movie comedy and Olivia Goldsmith's bestselling novel. Former college friends reunite at middle-age and soon discover they share the same unhappy story - their ungrateful husbands careened into midlife by dumping them for younger women. After drowning their sorrows, they decide to put their long dormant talents to use, band together, and stylishly, systematically and hilariously get even with their exes!..."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129292

Updated On: 5/15/09 at 03:29 PM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:32pm

Good for Brad Oscar.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:35pm

Kinda underwhelmed by this casting...but I have faith in the three of them; they're very talented ladies.

I just hope Francesca Zambello doesn't f*ck this up the way she did THE LITTLE MERMAID.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:47pm

Oy. I'm disappointed LaChanze and Carolee Carmello both dropped it.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:48pm

I think Ziemba will be fantastic in this!

[Kalimba]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:55pm

I forgot that LaChanze and Carolee Carmello had once been associated with this.

Whenever I see Karen Ziemba's name I can't help but think bland.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 3:57pm

Ziemba was a delight in "Curtains," in my opinion.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 4:36pm

The award for the most uninspired casting of the year goes to...

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 4:51pm

Meh. Boring. I like Barbara Walsh, but otherwise, underwhelmed.

[fflagg]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 5:00pm

Boooooooooooring.

A C-level cast for yet another 'let's turn a frothy film into a loud musical' piece of drek.

[tourboi]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 6:43pm

And you've clearly seen the production, which hasn't even opened yet, to make the judgement that it's dreck.

Let's at least let them open before we judge them.

BTW... look the Susan avatar. One of Ms. White's best.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 6:57pm

I'm mostly disappointed that Ana Gasteyer is no longer attached to the project, she would have made a fantastic Brenda.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 7:43pm

I don't know why Karen Ziemba always gets such criticism on here. Each time I have seen her on stage (Contact, Curtains, Steel Pier, Chicago anniversary concert) she has been nothing short of flawless. Hell, she was the only good part about Curtains in my opinion. I don't understand why people call her performances boring.

[Brick]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 9:18pm

How underwhelming.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 11:44pm

Well, for me Ziemba just has no stage presence what so ever. I have come to like her singing voice more then her dancing actually.

[madophelia]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:00pm

Change in cast, as Sheryl Lee Ralph is replacing Adriane Lenox as Elyse.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:03pm

What's the reason for such a last minute cast change?

Aren't they in rehearsal already?

Updated On: 6/15/09 at 07:03 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:08pm

Seriously? Lenox was the one piece of casting I was looking forward to. What a snoozefest.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:17pm

Huh, I had the opposite reaction. With Sheryl Lee Ralph, the project just became interesting!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:23pm

Could this be any more of a missed opportunity?

P

P.S. Ziemba, while an entertaining performer, is DOA onstage despite her vast experience/pedigree/awards. PLUS she outright STOLE that 2000 Tony from Eartha Kitt. I bet the Tony's regret that decision now that Kitt has passed given the theatrical legacy she left (she did 3 post-WILD PARTY musicals, in her 80s mind you, in the revival of NINE and Kander & Ebb's new ALL ABOUT US last year, (edit:) as well as MIMI LE DUCK (thanks something wicked)), if they ever regretted any of their absurd shortsights.


Updated On: 6/15/09 at 07:23 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:25pm

Kitt also did MIMI LE DUCK post-WILD PARTY.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:32pm

I had zero interest in the movie, I have less than zero interest in the musical. However, Spiderman is no longer the show I least want to see. I suppose that's something.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:37pm

How bad must this be for two of the three original leads to drop out?

Carmello left to take a supporting role in The Addams Family, when she had the lead in this one.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:48pm

I'd say pretty terrible for the win.

Shoulda stick with Shaiman, who wrote the movie's opening.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 8:12pm

Well Lenox is now out and Sheryl Lee Ralph is in. We just lost a Tony winner. OUCH!