RIALTO CHATTER: Debbie Reynolds To Replace Angela Lansbury in NIGHT MUSIC?

During an interview with Graham Norton (standing in for Chris Evans) on BBC Radio 2 this morning in the U.K., Debbie Reynolds suggested that she is in talks to replace Angela Lansbury in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC on Broadway when Lansbury's run ends in June.

Playing coy at first, Reynolds hinted that she might be returning to Broadway but couldn't say for what show. After Norton guessed that it was A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Reynolds admitted it was true. She commented "I'm really not sure because I have so much work in September. I don't know, it's a quandary, but I want to do it."

Reynolds hasn't appeared on Broadway since she replaced Lauren Bacall as Tess Harding in WOMAN OF THE YEAR. She is currently on tour in the UK.

Most remembered for her role in 'Singing in the Rain' opposite Gene Kelly, Reynolds has appeared in dozens of films during her career. Reynolds was nominated for an Academy Award for her title role in 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown.' She was also nominated for a Tony Award for her Broadway debut performance in IRENE.

To listen to the full interview click Here.

Academy Award-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, five-time Tony Award®-winner Angela Lansbury and Olivier Award-nominee Alexander Hanson currently star in the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning masterpiece A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, directed by Tony Award®-winner Trevor Nunn. The production opened on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street).

The performing cast on the 2010 A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC cast album includes Catherine Zeta-Jones as Desirée Armfeldt, Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt, Alexander Hanson as Fredrik Egerman, Aaron Lazar as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Erin Davie as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Leigh Ann Larkin as Petra, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka as Henrik Egerman and Ramona Mallory as Anne Egerman.The cast also includes Stephen R. Buntrock, Bradley Dean, Katherine Leigh Doherty, Marissa McGowan, Betsy Morgan, Jayne Paterson, Kevin David Thomas, Keaton Whittaker.

Based on Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles of a Summer Night, A Little Night Music is set in a weekend country house in late 19th century Sweden, bringing together surprising liaisons, long simmering passions, and a taste of love's endless possibilities. The story centers on the elegant actress Desirée Armfeldt (Zeta-Jones) and the spider's web of sensuality, intrigue, and desire that surrounds her. The Sondheim score features one of the composer's best-known songs, "Send in the Clowns," as well as "Every Day a Little Death," "The Miller's Son," and "A Weekend in the Country."

Trevor Nunn's production of A Little Night Music debuted to critical acclaim at London's Menier Chocolate Factory in November 2008 and subsequently transferred to the West End, where it played a successful limited engagement through July 25, 2009.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim's previous Nonesuch recordings include Into the Woods (2002), The Frogs / Evening Primrose (2001), Saturday Night (2000), Bounce (2004), Sweeney Todd (Broadway production, 2006; motion picture soundtrack, 2007). His previous PS Classics recordings include the Broadway premieres of Assassins (2004) and The Frogs (2005), the London revival of Sunday in the Park With George (2006), and two discs devoted to his private demo recordings, Sondheim Sings. PS Classics and Nonesuch have previously collaborated on cast recordings of Company (2007) and Road Show (2009). The album is produced by Tommy Krasker.

 

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi