MY FAIR LADY Revival Back On For Next Spring?

[icecreambenjamin]

Whateverjsays said: "I think Laura Benanti should call in every favor she's got saved, this has been her dream role and has discussed how badly she wants to do it. I think she's got the vocal and acting chops down and she has the right amount of charisma for it. 

 

"

I agree 100%.

 

[OlBlueEyes]

If anyone checked out that interview that MusicalDude linked, it is right at the end just before the credits when she is talking about what she wants to do next and the interviewer throws out there, My Fair Lady?   I thought that she left the door open:

"I think that ship has sailed. I'm sad about that. I feel like, well you know, Mary Martin was playing these things well into her 40s.... I love that role, that show, that score. But if that ship has sailed that's all right, I got to do it once with the Philharmonic. And, uh, I think I'll know it when I see it."

A very cryptic last phrase. Bear in mind that Kelly O'Hara and Bartlett Sher go back a long way, as she describes in the interview. She learned a lot from discussions with him before she was even established on Broadway.

I wonder if Sher would draw criticism if he cast his favorite actress and friend in yet a third of the classic female revival roles in what should be another lush production?

 

[Neusimone]

Jefferson Mays did Pygmalion Should he do My Fair Lady as well? 

But is there an age difference between the man in Pygmalion and My Fair Lady

I know they are based on each other but they are different shows.

Laura has worked with Barrett before so it would not amaze me.

Who was that main female in Guide of Love and Murder 

[Valentina3]

I have a feeling Sher wouldn't care about the criticisms he gets for casting Kelli of all people in the role. Some great suggestions here, but I really am on board with "Benanti or... I'll watch the show anyway".

Mays is a great suggestion too. I don't know abou this box office pull, though. Colin Firth would theoretically be phenomenal, but I haven't been able to find any stage work of his so hard to comment.

[icecreambenjamin]

I'm not too fond of dream casting, but I want to share who I would cast if I were Mr. Sher.

Eliza Dolittle- Laura Benanti

Henry Higgins- Colin Firth

Alfred Dolittle- Danny Burstein

Pickering- Byron Jennings 

Freddy- Gavin Creel

Mrs. Higgins- Mary Beth Peil

[Valentina3]

^... don't think Gavin Creel would still go for small/supporting roles come 2018. But it's good casting otherwise. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Valentina3 said: "Mays is a great suggestion too. I don't know about this box office pull, though."

Please keep in mind that this production is being produced by Lincoln Center Theater, a not-for-profit organization.

"Colin Firth would theoretically be phenomenal, but I haven't been able to find any stage work of his so hard to comment."

He did start out his career in the theatre. His first major credit was playing Guy Bennett in Julian Mitchell's play Another Country.

Here's a list of Colin Firth's stage credits:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Colin_Firth_performances

[Musicaldudepeter]

Why is everyone choosing to ignore the whole Kelli-at-the-Met thing…? She is due to sing the role of Despina in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte at the Met which opens on 15 March 2018, and finishes its run on 19 April. LCT's My Fair Lady reportedly previews from 22 March 2018 and officially opens on 19 April… 

[QueenAlice]

If Bartlett intended to cast Kelli she would've known a long time ago. The project has likely been in the works for quite some time even though it was just officially announced.

[OlBlueEyes]

The interview with Kelli was telecast three weeks ago, on February 20th. If taped within a few weeks of the telecast, Ms. O'Hara would have known of the opera and of the revival and of the conflicting dates and when asked about appearing in My Fair Lady she would have said that she could not due to a conflict in schedules.

She did not say this. It looks to me like she has been thinking about playing the role when she brought up how Mary Martin had played younger women into her 40s. Further, and this is just speculation, that final phrase she spoke that on the surface is very hard to decode, "I'll think I'll know it when I see it," suggests to me that she might have the power to claim the role if she desires it.

Given the long and successful collaboration of Sher and O'Hara and Lincoln Center Theater, it is possible that she was offered the role. She makes no secret of how much she enjoys that role. She well might have an "out" clause in her contract with the Met, meant to be invoked if some other project popped up that would conflict with her performance in the opera. She is not much of a draw to the opera elite since there is little crossover of opera fans to musicals.

I enjoyed Kelli very much in South Pacific and The King and I, but I like the thought of a younger woman in the role of Eliza. At least, that's what I think. Not so sure after reading the review of the New York Philharmonic production ten years ago. Not only Brantley had fallen for Kelli, but also Ish:

And confirming her status as the most accomplished Broadway ingénue to emerge in years is Kelli O’Hara, previously seen in “The Light in the Piazza” and “The Pajama Game,” undertaking the role of Eliza Doolittle for the first time — and, if there is a benevolent spirit presiding anywhere in the vicinity of Broadway, please not the last.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/theater/reviews/09fair.html?smid=pl-share

One delicious note about that concert presentation. If featured Marni Nixon in a non-singing role.

 

[Valentina3]

I tried to find Kelli videos from the NY Philharmonic production, but only found Rain In Spain. Agree that she looked and sounded great in it, but then again - she has never had issues with looking polished which Eliza already is by the time that song comes along. I want to see the cockney girl too, which is why my choice is Benanti. Denee/Phillipa/Jessie would totally slay too.

I was reminded of my favorite rendition of I Could've Danced All Night (Kristin Chenoweth's). Wish this revival was a thing 12 years ago, she'd have been glorious.

[bjh2114]

Musicaldudepeter said: "Why is everyone choosing to ignore the whole Kelli-at-the-Met thing…? She is due to sing the role of Despina in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte at the Met which opens on 15 March 2018, and finishes its run on 19 April. LCT's My Fair Lady reportedly previews from 22 March 2018 and officially opens on 19 April… "

To be fair, it's only 11 performances (one of which is on a Monday) over the course of 6 weeks.  She could absolutely still do the show and have her understudy go on for the 10 she would miss.  Especially if this is known in advance.  The can advertise "Kelli O'Hara will not be performing on [these dates]."  The only real issue is opening night, which could be moved a day fairly easily.

 

Again, not saying this is LIKELY.  Just that it's possible.

[Musicaldudepeter]

I think given Sher and LCT's history with O'Hara, she would have been announced with the production announcement, so I think it's safe to assume it won't be Kelli. Judging by what she's been saying in recent interviews, it seems she's not content with simply churning out revival after revival. King & I was the culmination of that period for her and she capped it off with a perfect Tony win. I think the next musical she'll do will likely be an original one written for her. I think she's more interested in pursuing other concert-based projects and operatic roles that are suitable for her right now… She's also probably anxious to be with her family, and the thing about opera is the schedule is definitely not as full on as Broadway, so she can afford to do it on her own terms. 

[QueenAlice]

^^ Exactly. She was announced for The King and I from the very start. 

[Blue_Lotus]

They can cast "Higgins" with a box office star, but I personally would love to see a fresh new face in the role of "Eliza".

[QueenAlice]

A poster on ATC who claims to have heard directly from someone in LCT management that Colin Firth is signed and that an announcement is forthcoming. If that's true, at age 58 Firth will be almost a decade older than Rex Harrison was when he created the part. I'm all for a freshfaced actress to play Eliza, but I'm not sure I'd want to see a 21-year-old opposite him. That might be a little too much of an age difference.

 

 

[perfectlymarvelous]

If that is indeed the case then an older Eliza would make more sense and I would honestly accept no one but Benanti. She's mentioned this as a dream role for years, she would sing it beautifully and would act it wonderfully and surprisingly.