This is some of the weirdest casting I've heard in a long time.
Carmen Cusack is certainly talented, but isn't she a little long in the tooth to play Nellie Forbush?
And isn't Keala Settle young? I remember seeing her as Tracy in the HAIRSPRAY tour some years ago.
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.
I thought the same thing about Cusack. I saw her as Fantine twice (in the pre-Shanghai Les Miz cast) and thought she sounded fine, but had a rather cold presence.
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I'm thrilled for Carmen. She doesn't *look* like the typical Nellie Forbush, but I'd still love to see her in the show. I think her performance will be great.
Interesting...Cusack was TERRIFIC as Elphaba when I saw her on the Wicked tour over a year ago, but Nellie is more of a "Glinda" type. Cusack does not read like a Forbush at all. Plus, she looks more like Margaret Hamliton that any Elphaba I've ever seen, so this is some straaaange casting, indeed. Though that's not to say she won't sound wonderful as far as singing goes.
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
Damn! Rodney Gilfry was who I wanted to play Emile when the show was announced for Broadway. I loved Paulo Szot, but Rodney Gilfry has a more powerful voice, IMO. So jealous of whoever gets to see him.
Well I recall seeing Carmen as Christine in POTO around a decade ago and was perfectly ingenue esque
Although its been a few years since of course! I'm sure she will be fine. This is why casting directors audition folk rather than rely on message boards.
Carmen could definitely play an ingenue, without a question. The problem is, with Nellie Forbush is that she is an ingenue but she's a CUTE ingenue, not a beautiful young woman like Christine. Carmen fits the beautiful young woman role, not so much the cute little "cockeyed optimist" role.
But I'm still excited to see her do it. I loved her in Wicked, and SP is one of my favorite shows of all time.
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Matt as Billis? I'm sure he'd be good, but am I the only one taken aback by this?
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Carmen will rock it and I am so happy she is no longer Elphaba. I dont want her to shred her voice. She will be amazing.
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I saw the show on broadway so I dont know if ill catch the tour or not but after seeing Rod Gilfry as Lancelot this past summer at Ravinia, I certainly would love to hear him sing the score. I find it to be an excellent choice.
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Rod Gilfry is an excellent choice. He will be a much sexier Emile than Szot.
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
Gilfry isn't going to be sexier then Paolo, I am sorry. Szot is a god on stage. I just saw the show last week. He's unbelievable and brings the house down every single night... he really deserved his Tony. I am sorry to disappoint you. I just love Szot
Gilfry will be ok but If you want the real thing you'll have to come to New York... It.
Tytonius, THANK YOU! I think Szot is a god as well. His chemistry with Kelli is DAMN sexy. Plus everything he sings is effortless. I just love Paulo. Or maybe it's because I'm a biased Opera nerd.... lol
Whoever says money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to shop. - Bo Derek