Will "Mame" from Kennedy Center in DC tour or come to Broadway?

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 4:15pm

Has anyone heard anything if "Mame" from The Kennedy Center in DC touring when it's done in July or coming to Broadway. A few years ago, Jerry Herman did say that "Mame" was going to come back to Broadway. With the recent box-office failure of his "La Cage," maybe it's just not in the cards...

Also, when the heck is "Mame" coming out on dvd. Say what you want to say about Lucy in the movie, but, it's certainly not as "bad" as everyone thought it was. Bea Arthur is BRILLIANT, the sets and costumes are stunning and the title number of "Mame" is a show stopper.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 4:53pm

The film is dreadful and may never come to DVD, that's why Herman has been pushing so hard for years for there to be a new film version made. Even HE is embarassed by the movie and would prefer it not come to DVD.

The KC production is not a tour, just a stand alone production. If the reviews are raves and schedules can be cleared (not sure if Baranski or Harris have other commitments) I'm sure there will be talk of moving it to Broadway.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:12pm

Margo, thanks for replying to my post. I certainly hope that a Broadway revival of "Mame" does happen....sometime in the near future.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jerry Herman 3 years ago when I was in "Mame" at Musical Theatre West, in Long Beach, CA. Carol Lawrence was Mame, Sally Struthers was our Gooch and Ruth Williamson was Vera. We chatted for about 20 minutes and I asked him about the rumors of the tv version. He told me that back in the mid 90's, when most of the talk was there, he wanted Juliet Prowse to do the tv version. I completely agreed with him as I had toured in "Mame" with Juliet. She was a brilliant, vibrant, sexy Mame. Around that time there were rumors about Glenn Close and Bette Midler, as well. He said that they are both completely wrong for the part. The Devine Ms. M, would be a fantastic Gooch. But, I'm sure she wouldn't want to do a supporting role.

Then I mentioned Cher and he said, "Yeah, I keep hearing that she's going to do it. News to me and our producers." And, he laughed.

Barbra came up and he said that she'd be a great Gooch, like Midler. He said that Barbra could sing the hell out of the score.

He also said that the film version of "Mame" isn't as bad as everyone thought it was. Time has made it more watchable. He didn't agree with Lucy's casting at all. But, no one asked him. Just like no one asked Angela Lansbury if she wanted to do the movie.

He is such a nice and caring man! It was such a thrill to speak to him at our Opening Night Party.

I personally love the film version of "Mame." But, that's just me. I saw the movie when it first came out in 1974 and I was in heaven. To see "Lucy" on the big screen singing and dancing was an absolute thrill for me. Granted, I was 7 at the time, but, it was a moment that I'll never forget. The only thing I knew about Lucy - Lucille Ball - was from watching the reruns of "I Love Lucy" everynight.

Thanks for reading!

neal

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:26pm

The tv version of Mame that was to star Cher and be produced by Streisand fell apart when Streisand started insisting on too many major changes to the script and score. She was apparently planning on re-assignng certain songs to other characters. When Herman found out, he hit the roof, pulled the rights and that was the end of it. He still fervently hopes for another film version. Last I heard, he was pushing for Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mame, which I think is all wrong -- she's the wrong type as well as too young -- he said this right after the success of Chicago, knowing that if she would sign on, it would definitely get made (obviously nothing happened).

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:43pm

Hello. What a coincidence! During my trip to NYC, I stopped at the Oscar Wilde Bookstore and bought Richard Tyler Jordan's book:
"But Darling, I'm Your Auntie Mame!" I would love Cher to do the role, now that she is not on tour around the world. I loved reading this book. It tells the ins and outs of Auntie Mame: the play, musical and film. from Roman in Austin, Texas

[flamingo]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:47pm

Nealb1:

I enjoyed reading your story about Jerry Herman. I have tickets to Mame in DC for 2 separate performances--I don't do reviews but I'll certainly at least post a link to the local professional reviews. (I have a feeling there will be a lot of out-of-towners coming down to see this show and posting on it.)

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:47pm

Yes, it's a GREAT book on "Auntie Mame" and "Mame."

I saw Michelle Lee do "Mame" 2 years ago at The Hollywood Bowl and she was very good. Christine Ebersol was Vera. Christine is very talented. But, completely wrong for the role of Vera.

So, who knows if a tv musical version of "Mame" will every happen? We can all wonder about "what if."

Cher as "Mame," though...................she's completely wrong for the role. Completely wrong.

So, time will tell.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:50pm

Hey, Flamingo---

I've got my ticket to see "Mame" in DC on Sunday, July 3rd - closing performance. I'm really, really looking forward to seeing it. "Mame" is very special to me. I've done it 5 times and never tire of the show and the score.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:53pm

I am not a big fan of the score (although I believe "Bosom Buddies" is one of the funniest, best written duets for a musical comedy) but I love the characters of Mame and Vera and would love to see some great actresses playing these two roles. Cher would have been great as Mame, I think, a pity Streisand had to ruin things for everyone; was she supposed to play Vera?
I don't think this show would succeed on Broadway unless it was a Roundabout production. The Jerry Herman musical that might prove to be successful in commercial theater is Hello,Dolly! if a great star (Bernadette Peters) headlines the show.
The only reason why I believe the Mame movie should be released on DVD is because at least it preserves Bea Arthur's Vera.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:02pm

Streisand was producer of the tv version of "Mame" and would have starred in it as Mame Dennis. She made script changes that Jerry Herman didn't like. She wanted it more "Auntie Mame" rather than "Mame."

The script has been changed so many times throughout the years...since the early 90's. One can't blame Barbra for this not happening. Everytime it was passed back and forth from production company to production company, various key players made changes.

Cher wanted to do it. But, she's never been asked to do it.........from a producer, director, or a person who has the power to say YES!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:09pm

According to Herman, Cher WAS attached at one point (I remember Herman complaining that she wouldn't come off tour long enough to do it). And then Streisand. Here's a Variety article from 2004 that has the last word on it from Herman that I've heard:

"Jerry Herman, here for Goodspeed Musicals' revamped version of his "Mack and Mabel," gives an update on the long-gestating TV musical production of "Mame." Cher was supposed to star; then, at another juncture, Barbara Streisand's production company was going to do it.

"It's on indefinite hold and now it's up for grabs," says Herman, who nixed the Streisand project. According to the songwriter, he took one look at an early version of the script that had Streisand taking some of the big chorus numbers and turning them into solo spots. "She took 'It's Today' and made it into a solo," reports Herman. "A solo? It's a party song. I don't want to go into it."

Herman does want to talk about his current dream choice for the role. "What would you say to Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mame?" he wonders out loud. "She's funny and she's a real musical lady. I think it would be phenomenal."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117912345?categoryid=15&cs=1

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 06:09 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:12pm

Thanks for the updates, Margo. When I spoke to Jerry Herman at our Opening Night Party, that was before this interview in "Variety."

Time will tell if a tv movie version of "Mame" is ever done....

Margo, who would you like to see do Mame? And, please, please don't say Cher. ha,ha....

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:25pm

Oh god, no. I'm with you. Every time they kept mentioning Cher for the role, I would just shake my head. I can't imagine that voice singing the score or her persona capturing the warmth, elegance AND the madcap nature that Roz Russell brought to it (Lansbury was before my time, but I imagine she was perfect as well).

Midler could do it (on screen -- I doubt she'd commit to a stage run at this point in her career). I think Peters could be terrific as both Dolly and Mame and would love to see her try them both. Donna Murphy -- if they'll let her have another lead role after her attendance record in Wonderful Town -- could be very good. Liza can't (and has said she won't) do a stage run anymore, but I'd love to see her try a one night only concert of Mame sometime. I know Christine Ebersole did it somewhere already and I'd love to see her take on it -- she has all the qualities for the role and would sing the hell out of the score. And maybe Faith Prince?

Baranski is a born Vera, but I'm curious to see what she'll do with Mame (I see it in June). Harriet Harris is a genius and will be a great Vera, but also might be an even better Mame than Baranski if she were given a chance.

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 06:25 PM

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:26pm

I always thought that RuPaul would be the perfect contemporary Mame. You certainly can see him as the outrageous black sheep of the family.

Zeta Jones certainly seems wrong. I think Mame needs to be a little off putting at first. You need to wonder if she really can raise a child. And who's picking on the score? It's wonderful, start to finish. Always a really treat to see an audience embrace the show. I hope to see the KC production.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:29pm

Thanks, Margo. Glad to hear that Cher wouldn't be your choice, either.

She's too old now, but, I would like that Leslie Uggams would make a great Mame.

Time will tell.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:41pm

It would be fun to see Rupaul to a "sketch" as Mame sometime or maybe as a BC/EFA concert, like Charles Busch has done a few times (and was quite good actually). Not sure he has the chops acting/singing wise to pull off a full performance, but I'd love to see it once.

Love the Uggams idea, though she's too old. It'd be fun to see a "black version" of the show, like Pearl Bailey did with Dolly. Maybe Lillias White? Or Sheryl Lee Ralph?

Andre Martin also just popped into my head -- not sure about the vocals, but she'd be fun. I'd also love to see Judy Kaye do it. Not on Broadway, probably (she's not a big enough name) but maybe Papermill or somewhere regionally.

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 06:41 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 6:43am

Mame (the character) needs to be a class act, much as I like her, Bette Midler isn't Mame on screen or on stage. Sadly we no longer have the old school Hollywood stars of the type that originally populated this show on Broadway and tours and who brought an added glamour.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 8:34am

On a related note, has anyone ever read the book about Patrick Dennis (not his real name). I forget what it's called, but it's a wild read. He was this sort of amazing, professional fraud, who created different lives and aliases for himself, complete with fictional backgrounds and histories.

It could make a musical in and of itself. Jerry Herman should write it. It'd be a kick.

TT

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:47am

The PERFECT casting for Mame (IMHO, of course) is Meryl Streep. She can sing it, she can play comedy brilliantly, bring the right amount of sympathy to the character, and has the aristocratic bearing necessary for the underpinnings of the character.

I think she would be a revelation in the role, much like Lansbury was origtinally.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:35am

"Uncle Mame" is the book you're referring to, tophertilson. A great read.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 12:43pm

I think an all black MAME would have been a lot of fun. Wasn't Lena Horne approached to take over during the original run? - How superb would she have been!

I don't really think Andrea Martin or Bette Midler would be particularly right for Mame (supposedly, off the record, Jerry Herman thought Midler wasn't "WASPY" enough) but I love the ideas of Annette Bening or Meryl Streep. Zeta-Jones might actually surprise. She certainly has the glamour factor.

Other major names who could be interesting either as the singing or non singing Mame might be Natasha Richardson, Nicole Kidman, Sharon Stone, Joan Allen, Kim Catrall, and Vanessa Williams.

I'll be very curious to hear about Baranski's MAME. I'm with Margo that she and Harriet Harris should really switch roles. Baranski just isn't right for Mame, but would be a fantastic Vera.
Updated On: 3/20/06 at 12:43 PM

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 1:46pm

Harriet Harris would be wonderful in the title role in the play AUNTIE MAME, but doesn't come anywhere near having the singing chops for the musical.

(She is now mostly known for being a tremendous comedienne -- and she is -- but she played an amazing HEDDA GABLER for the theatre in Cleveland for which I was Marketing Director for a time. Simply riveting.)

[SamLapinski]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 2:59pm

Does any one have the full cast list for the Kennedy Center Production?

[flamingo]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 3:04pm

This isn't "full", but it's all I could find right now:

HARRIET HARRIS as Vera

EMILY SKINNER as Agnes

JEFF McCARTHY as Beauregard

Max von Essen as the adult Patrick

Alan Muraoko as Ito

Updated On: 3/20/06 at 03:04 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 3:06pm

I haven't seen a full cast list yet but the principals are:

Mame -- Christine Baranski
Vera -- Harriett Harris
Patrick -- Max von Essen
Beauregard -- Jeff McCarthy
Agnes Gooch -- Emily Skinner
Ito -- Alan Muraoko

Creative team:

Director -- Eric Schaeffer
Choreographer -- Warren Carlyle
Set designer -- Walt Spangler
Lighting designer -- Ken Billington
Costume designer -- Gregg Barnes