Liza in "The Act"- Page 4
Liza in "The Act"
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#75Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 5:18pm
CATSNYrevival said: "I still think this show would be fun to see at Encores."
Believe me, it really wouldn’t. The show was only tolerable because Liza was great. I was shocked when I discovered (I had forgotten) that it was Kander and Ebb, because the score was really mediocre. Even an abridged book would be awful.
#76Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 5:20pm
In what homophobic world are Madonna and Liza not considered dancers??
Beat me to it T.F. :) It must be cold living under a rock.
#77Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 6:57pm
joevitus said: "shocktheatre said: "Re: lLiza as Evita in a Ken Russell film version
What I've always heard is that she agreed to a screen test for Russell, and he was blown away. When Stigwood (and possibly Weber) would not budge on her casting (for some reason they were hell bent on Elaine Paige, who had never headlined a major film), Russell walked away from the project.
A true lost opportunity. Nothing against the Madonna/Alan Parker film, but its too bad this didn't work out for Liza, much like the aborted Minnelli/Goldie Hawn/Frank Sinatra film version of Chicago, which was discussed for a very long time.
I've been asking for YEARS if anyone has that screen test footage. I've never seen it resurface. Kind of strange, esp. nowadays when there is so much rare stuff on YouTube."
The Madonna Evita is one of the worst movie adaptations ever.
To me, it makes perfect sense Stigwood and Rice wanted Elaine Paige, and she might have been amazing. This is a major star in Britain recreating her biggest role. That she'd never had a movie lead really doesn't mean much.
But I will say Ken Russell was an amazing director at his peak, and his vision of Evita might have been really something. I can't see Liza in the role, but that doesn't mean she couldn't do it. Her voice seems wrong for the part, to me, though, and like Madonna, Liza isn't a dancer, and this is a role for which one should be able to dance."
I do agree with you that the Alan Parker/Madonna film of "Evita" was not a good film - but I feel it was because Madonna was out of her depth in the role.
I just can't see Liza as "Evita" either as her voice is completely wrong for the role and I am betting that is exactly the reason why Webber and Rice vetoed her casting.
You completely lost me with: "and like Madonna, Liza isn't a dancer, and this is a role for which one should be able to dance."
I wouldn't know where to begin in trying to explain to you just how many, many, many things are so wrong in that one statement.
#78Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:19pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSkHpM1rdKk
Yeah, she can dance.
#79Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:20pm
Not sure about that. Do you think in their prime that Liza's voice and range was that different from Patti LuPone's. I recall Minnelli once saying she had as good a range as Streisand in her youth. So why didn't Babs do the movie of EVITA instead of Madonna, I wonder. I feel she was more equipped for the role than Baby Jane Ciconne.
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#80Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:32pm
Re: Stockard Channing in The Rink:
I am a big fan of Ms. Channing. I saw her in THE RINK. Acting-wise she was aces. She could not fully handle the score, especially Liza's incredible 11'oclock number "All The Children In A Row."
I felt awful for Ms. Channing. Crickets after she finished. It was embarrassing.
I don't know if a number of "additional" songs were written for Liza once she was cast in THE RINK, but surely this particular number was written for someone who could sing (and act) the hell out of it, which Minnelli did all three times I saw her in this show.
For my money, Liza deserved the Tony that year. She was brilliant from start to finish. Chita was Chita.
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#81Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:35pm
In what homophobic world are Madonna and Liza not considered dancers???
Oh, I don't think that remark is homophobic. Amazingly dumb, yeah.
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#82Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:58pm
Michelle Craig posts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSkHpM1rdKk
Yeah, she can dance.
Michelle, thank for reminding us of Liza's smash Radio City show. Sold out the entire barn for 15 perfs then another return engagement. I was there Opening Night and Closing Night. One of the most incredible shows ever. By anyone.
#83Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:58pm
I happen to quite like Parker's EVITA, though I have my quibbles with his work at times. And I agree with Rice and Webber that I don't think anyone could have done better in '96. It was a great fit for Madonna, even if I have quibbles with her work at times.
That said, I think Liza could have sung the crap out of Eva. And acted it no question. She absolutely could've handled the score, but it might have been a question of style? Try as she did, Liza's voice was never suited to rock or pop. Paige's at least was closer to the ABBA pop of the era.
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#84Liza in The Act
Posted: 8/18/22 at 9:10pm
BJR:
"Try as she did, Liza's voice was never suited to rock or pop."
Uh, see 1989's "Results." 1977's "Tropical Nights." "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert." And there's plenty of other stuff.
Patti LuPone is not exactly known as a rock star. Why wasn't SHE cast in the film version?
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#88Liza rocks
Posted: 8/19/22 at 2:43pm
Liza lovers erry-where needs to do themselves a favor and get this into their record collections. I loved every single gay second of it. And yes, "City Lights" from "The Act" is included. 
#89Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 2:43pm
Since folks are posting clips of Liza dancing, I just came upon this. Cue up to around the ten-minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leFRIaZIQ50&t=67s
#90Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 2:49pm
Whoever came up with the idea of teaming up Liza Minnelli and Goldie Hawn should have gotten an award. 
#91Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 2:53pm
Ha! A quick Google search revealed it was none other than George Schlatter, producer of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" - the show that was Goldie's launching pad to stardom.
#92Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 2:55pm
That non-dancer Liza Minnelli was mis-cast as a...wait for it: DANCE INSTRUCTOR in the 1991 film, STEPPING OUT. /sarcasm
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#93Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 3:05pm
I loved the Goldie Liza special. Too bad that variety show era of tv is gone. Liza also did another one.. Sam Found out.. or something like that. It was 3 plays with some gimmick.
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
#94Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 3:10pm
DAME said: "I loved the Goldie Liza special. Too bad that variety show era of tv is gone. Liza also did another one.. Sam Found out.. or something like that. It was 3 plays with some gimmick."
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play [1988]
Liza Minnelli plays three separate women in three separate stories. There's a serious drama about a hooker and her pimp, a romance about a lonely dancer and a black prince, and a musical about a man and a woman having dog problems.
Updated On: 8/19/22 at 03:10 PM
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#95Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 3:15pm
CarlosAlberto said: "DAME said: "I loved the Goldie Liza special. Too bad that variety show era of tv is gone. Liza also did another one.. Sam Found out.. or something like that. It was 3 plays with some gimmick."
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play [1988]
Liza Minnelli plays three separate women in three separate stories. There's a serious drama about a hooker and her pimp, a romance about a lonely dancer and a black prince, and a musical about a man and a woman having dog problems.
And look who the writers were. Terrence McNally, Wendy Wasserstein and Landford Wilson. Everyone wanted to work with Liza.
"
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#96Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 4:33pm
Minnelli in the film STEPPING OUT.
This solo number is great, and the finale with the entire cast is even better
.LM solo dance in Stepping Out
#97Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 5:08pm
CarlosAlberto said: "That non-dancer Liza Minnelli was mis-cast as a...wait for it: DANCE INSTRUCTOR in the 1991 film, STEPPING OUT. /sarcasm"
I’m sorry, but can we talk about the rest of this CAST?!
Jane Krakowski! Andrea Martin! Bill Irwin! Carol Woods! SHELLEY WINTERS!
What gay fever dream was this?
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shocktheatre
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/22
#98Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 5:31pm
"I’m sorry, but can we talk about the rest of this CAST?!
Jane Krakowski! Andrea Martin! Bill Irwin! Carol Woods! SHELLEY WINTERS!
What gay fever dream was this?"
It is indeed quite a cast and they all had to leaarn to tap dance for this film. (Obviously Liza was a step up on them so to speak).
And don't forget Julie Walters, who was top-billed with Liza in the UK and got a BAFTA nomination for Supporting Actress..
This movie was buried by its studio (Paramount). It deserved a better fate. I went to the NYC premiere. We were all convinced this would put Liza back on the map in movies. And it should have.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#99Liza rocks AND DANCES
Posted: 8/19/22 at 5:54pm
CarlosAlberto said: "Whoever came up with the idea of teaming up Liza Minnelli and Goldie Hawn should have gotten an award."
That was Bob Fosse, who at the time cast them for his upcoming film adaptation of CHICAGO - Liza as Velma and Goldie as Roxie. Schlatter thought up the variety special idea, but Bob was who initially brought both ladies together. Sadly, he had to put this film adaptation on the back burner due to Broadway’s DANCIN’ and his film ALL THAT JAZZ.
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