MY FAIR LADY Revival Back On For Next Spring?

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

I want Kelli to do another role like Bridges next, in which I much preferred her to King and I (and I still think she should have won the Tony that year, and then Kristin could have won last year and everyone would be happy... but that's a different story).

Though the problem with that would be if Kelli had won for The Bridges of Madison County and Kristin won for On the Twentieth Century with Cynthia Erivo winning this year, Jessie Mueller would start to become overdue like Kelli.

And I personally prefer seeing Kelli take on classic roles because she really seems made for them.

[gypsy101]

lol if Jessie Mueller hadn't won in 2014 she wouldn't be overdue for like 7 more years.

[TotallyEffed]

Kelli should have won for Bridges AND Kind and I. And if she's too old then Benanti is as well. I would be happy to see either of them!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Eliza is supposed to be in her twenties. Benanti and O'Hara are both too old. Besides, let's give someone else a chance. They'll have enough marquee value with Firth anyway.

[TotallyEffed]

I'm excited to see what Annaleigh Ashford does with Sunday in the Park. She might be interesting in this if she can drop some of her usual shtick.

[QueenAlice]

I'm pretty sure the script for MY FAIR LADY actually says Eliza is barely 20 - if that.   Julie Andrews, Christine Andreas and Mellisa Errico were all in their early 20s when they played the role in past Broadway productions. I adore Bennati and O'Hara, but I would be surprised if they cast somebody as seasoned as they are in the role.

Wasn't there a rumor about Emma Watson, or did I just read that on this board?

[CindersGolightly]

TotallyEffed said: "I'm excited to see what Annaleigh Ashford does with Sunday in the Park. She might be interesting in this if she can drop some of her usual shtick."

I've wanted Annaleigh to do another soprano role for awhile actually, and she'd be quite good for this. Plus, she's one of the few G(a)linda's who've hit the optional notes in the score. So she's vocally capable.

[LesWickedly]

I would love to see Megan Hilty in this. Her vocal range is crazy and we haven't heard her soprano in a while. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Oof.  Thankfully some of you aren't casting directors.

 

Eliza needs to be a name in order to sustain a decent run.

[clb10162]

If Colin Firth is in it, it would probably be a limited run because of his extremely busy film career.  And as someone else noted above, he's a big enough name that they could go with a lesser-known Eliza.

[QueenAlice]

If the rumor stated here that the production is going to LCT is true - well, that is a not-for-profit, so they aren't going to have the pressure to cast a name Eliza that a commercial production might.

But I also, think its worth noting that in EVERY Broadway production of MY FAIR LADY, it has been the actor playing Higgins that has been the name - playing opposite a young, unknown actress as Eliza.  That, in truth, is as it should be.

[Liza's Headband]

QueenAlice said: "I'm pretty sure the script for MY FAIR LADY actually says Eliza is barely 20 - if that.   Julie Andrews, Christine Andreas and Mellisa Errico were all in their early 20s when they played the role in past Broadway productions. I adore Bennati and O'Hara, but I would be surprised if they cast somebody as seasoned as they are in the role.

Wasn't there a rumor about Emma Watson, or did I just read that on this board?"

 

That is highly unlikely. It's not widely known but Emma Watson has serious anxiety. She's battled with severe stage fright in the past and although it goes in and out, I doubt she'd be able to do a live musical theatre performance.  

[Brave Sir Robin2]

What about Laura Osnes or Sierra Boggess? Someone who is established and has a decent theatre following, but might be a little more age appropriate? I think both would be great for the role.

 

Emma Watson would be a dream, but I wonder if a spring 2017 bow would conflict too much with promotion for "Beauty and the Beast," which opens in theaters in March 2017. Who are some other young sopranos with some star power or a "name"?

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Laura or Sierra would be divine!

[FiddleMeThis]

Kelli Barrett is a revelation in the BST Michael Arden production, from what I'm hearing out of rehearsals. 

[Jordan Catalano]

She might be too old, but just close your eyes and imagine seeing Benanti on stage the first time she steps out when Eliza is "transformed". Then tell me she's not perfect for it. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Betsy morgan?

[OlBlueEyes]

Jordan Catalano said: "She might be too old, but just close your eyes and imagine seeing Benanti on stage the first time she steps out when Eliza is "transformed". Then tell me she's not perfect for it. "

What if I close my eyes and imagine seeing Benanti on stage as the curtain rises, playing a backward and meek flower girl? This Benanti is a strong woman. In She Loves You, Benanti breaks out to the stage for the first time determined to get that sales job, and get it she does, due to her ability to put her life on the line  and make one difficult sale.

Not that Benanti couldn't do it, just that I'd like to see it done. It would validate her as a very good actress in my eyes.

But maybe, just maybe, this is a better spot for a young actress like Julie Andrews to get her chance.

 

 

 

[BeingAlive 2]

OlBlueEyes said: "What if I close my eyes and imagine seeing Benanti on stage as the curtain rises, playing a backward and meek flower girl? This Benanti is a strong woman. In She Loves You, Benanti breaks out to the stage for the first time determined to get that sales job, and get it she does, due to her ability to put her life on the line  and make one difficult sale.

Not that Benanti couldn't do it, just that I'd like to see it done. It would validate her as a very good actress in my eyes.

But maybe, just maybe, this is a better spot for a young actress like Julie Andrews to get her chance."

I don't know if I would characterize beginning Eliza as meek. While obviously not refined, she still is strong willed and even defiant at times.  I think Benanti would execute Eliza's arc masterfully. For my money, she's one of the best and most skilled actors in musical theatre today. 

[TalkinLoud]

OlBlueEyes said: "What if I close my eyes and imagine seeing Benanti on stage as the curtain rises, playing a backward and meek flower girl? This Benanti is a strong woman. In She Loves You, Benanti breaks out to the stage for the first time determined to get that sales job, and get it she does, due to her ability to put her life on the line  and make one difficult sale.

Not that Benanti couldn't do it, just that I'd like to see it done. It would validate her as a very good actress in my eyes.

Ummmm...Gypsy?

[BroadwayConcierge]

^^^^^

[qolbinau]

Do we know if this will be a new LCT production (if it happens) or a transfer of the Julie Andrews-directed production (Opera Australia)?

Not that it really means anything, but Opera Australia took to the LCT South Pacific around Australia. I wonder if they'd import something from overseas. 

[broadwayguy91]

qolbinau said: "Do we know if this will be a new LCT production (if it happens) or a transfer of the Julie Andrews-directed production (Opera Australia)?

Not that it really means anything, but Opera Australia took to the LCT South Pacific around Australia. I wonder if they'd import something from overseas. 

 

"

LCT transferred the London revival of Carousel back in 1993 and also the London production of Warhorse.. so, no. it's not an unprecedented move for them to join forces with an overseas production company / house.

In the case of Carousel and Warhorse, they were both National Theatre (UK) productions.. making it a collaboration between two prominent not-for-profit theatre companies

[VintageSnarker]

I do not hate the idea of a British actress. Do they have any more young Cynthia Errivo's?

But now I'm curious about what a Megan Hilty My Fair Lady would be like. She did the/an accent in Noises Off.

I wish I could see the production with Kelli Barrett but I'm not going to make it out to Sag Harbor.

Has Laura Benanti ever played a part that vocally sounds anything like the rougher/shoutier Eliza songs?

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Call_me_jorge said: "Betsy morgan?

 

"

Oh god, yes! She was terrific as Anna and has a very gorgeous voice. She would do wonderful here

[icecreambenjamin]

Has Laura Benanti ever played a part that vocally sounds anything like the rougher/shoutier Eliza songs?

 

"        Where's my other shoe and on the count of five in She Loves Me remind me a bit of Just You Wait.

Honestly, she's brilliantly hilarious and will be stunning as the unrefined Eliza and then she will able to turn around and be the transformed Eliza.  Benanti is the obvious choice and it would be a horrible mistake to not cast her.