Nene Leakes in Cinderella - Page 2

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 8:40pm

What's coming up next?

Hmm, let me see....Brandi Glanville as Roxie Hart in CHICAGO.
Cynthia Bailey as The Leading Player in PIPPIN.
Kyle Richards as Fantine in LES MISERABLES.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 9:08pm

"An actress on Broadway who is actually gonna act???"
FishermanBob, half of the stars they stunt cast in Broadway shows are basically themselves, and just say the lines of the character lol

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 9:11pm

Countess Luann was actually rumored for Roxie Hart several years ago, but it never materialized.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:12pm

Well, she was better than Sherri.

Nene has great energy and she really throws all she's got into the part. She finds the laughs, but her diction is all over the place.

I would rate the Madames:

1. Harriet (the best by a mile)
2. Fran (played herself; was the warmest in the role)
3. Nene (most energetic)
4. Sherri (rivals Ashlee Simpson's "performance" in Chicago)

If feel like Cinderella has gone through so many phases with each new casting rotation. The OBC was the best- easily the most professional, polished and equal the cast ever was. When Fran and Carly Rae joined the show became lopsided because Carly was so bland, but serviceable, and Fran became the STAR. The audiences came to see her, and she delivered, but it set things off-kilter.

I loved Keke the first time and loved her still tonight. I still want to see her in another vehicle. Judy Kaye has great chemistry with her and I think everytime I've seen Cinderella "There's Music In You" always gets the loudest and longest applause. She (and Clark) earned their keep with that one.

Tonight the energy was manic and the nearly everyone in the cast needed to take a meeting at Overactors Anonymous. I guess they figure, what the hell, we're closing in a month, let's just have fun and really go for it. Nothing unprofessional, but I groaned more than I laughed tonight.

The audience was horrific. They wouldn't shut up. Texting. Food. Wrappers. You name it. Truly they were driving me to homicide- homicide! homicide! I may commit murder yet!

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:16pm

Does Nene build a character? Or does she play it like Nene? She said she was definitely going to avoid making the character "urban."

[blacktie]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:20pm

I'm actually surprised that she's being supported on this board. Sherri was criticized and boycotted for her beliefs, but Nene has insulted the gay community on multiple occasions and yet she's highly anticipated. Interesting.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:21pm

My only exposure to her was on The New Normal, so unless that was her completely as herself, and I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't, then I can't really answer your question about playing herself.

She did seem to be completely committed to playing the role and she didn't make it "urban." I don't know what her catchphrases or tics are, but I didn't notice anything distracting like Fran continually throwing in her Nanny laugh.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:33pm

"She really throws all she's got into the part"

what do you mean by that?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:47pm

I mean she was extremely enthusiastic and in the moment. There wasn't a trace of nervousness or watching the wheels turn in her performance.

[RW3]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:50pm

Wasn't Nancy Opel Madame over the summer with Paige Faure? Where would she rank in the Madames?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 10:53pm

^ I'm curious as well. I loves me some Nancy Opel :)

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 1:18am

You just forget Nancy Opel who was BRILLIANT???

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 1:50am

The show was stale and boring when I saw it a month ago. It's just a dull rendition of the show. And Keke is not entertaining or a strong enough actress.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 2:20am

Maybe Whizzer didn't see Nancy Opel. Ever think of that?

[ChrisTyler12882]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 2:06pm

Are they selling a poster with Nene's name on it? I'm a huge Housewives franchise fan.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 10:47pm

Did anyone view the photos from her opening on BW? I don't know if it was the photographer or what, but Jill and Ramona from the Housewives look 10 years younger. Nene in the long blond wig actually looks attractive. Hell, even Perez Hilton doesn't look bad. The only one who looks horrible is Frankie Grande. I can't believe how different Jill looks.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:59pm

Countess Luann was actually rumored for Roxie Hart several years ago, but it never materialized.

Beverly Hills has a former Roxie now in Lisa Rinna.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 11/27/14 at 12:10am

@ ArtMan - Frankie looks soo heavily made up- But what's new. He still reminds me of Tito from Oliver and Company

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 11/27/14 at 12:47am

I think Brani Glanville would actually make a great Roxie Hart if she could sing. She has legs for days and I think she has the right kind of spark for Roxie. Given we would need to cast Housewives in something, anyways.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/27/14 at 12:50am

^^I remember that movie, Cheech Marin was always a delight to hear in countless movies.

I only wish for the best for Nene, and from Whizzer's report, it sounds like she'll get the role down really well as soon as it closes.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/27/14 at 12:53am

I'm actually shocked that the Weisslers have yet to cast a Housewife as Roxie Hart. They seem to do less stunt casting nowadays, but the Housewives possibilities for Roxie are pretty endless.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 2:26pm

Anyone else see her of the holiday weekend? Wonder how she did? How crowds were?