Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical, written by William Finn and directed by James Lapine, will bow at La Jolla Playhouse in February 2011. Who would be in your dream cast?
Richard: Brian d'Arcy James or Norbert Leo Butz Sheryl: Sherie Rene Scott or Katie Finneran Frank: Raul Esparza Dwayne: Matt Doyle Olive: [a talented unknown, perhaps] Grandpa: Fred Applegate or John Cullum
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
AC's casting is perfect save Matt Doyle. John Gallagher Jr. was made for that role.
This show seems badly scheduled, though. Clearly they want to end up on Broadway, so scheduling a run ending on March 27 either means the show has to make a ridiculously quickie transfer, which is unlikely, open in the fall, which isn't a great idea for a non-sure-thing show, or wait a full year, which never bodes well (see: 9 to 5)
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
As much as I adore this movie, I'm kind of "meh" on the idea of turning it into a musical. It could be cute, though. Raul did one of the readings, didn't he?
I hope they take the cast from the workshop: Sherie Rene Scott, Craig Bierko, Martin Moran and Dick Latessa. That would be a DREAM!!!!!
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Carolee Carmello did the first reading of the show, and Finn wrote the role of Sheryl for her.
Considering Sherie Rene Scott will most likely be busy with WOMEN ON THE VERGE... next season, I wouldn't be surprised if Carmello runs screaming from THE ADDAMS FAMILY to do this.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Funnily enough, Craig Bierko and Carolee Carmello were my first thoughts for Richard and Sheryl Hoover. But he has a tendency to be pretty vanilla on stage and I wondered if she'd be a tad too old.
And yes, Toni said in an interview that she doesn't really have any desire to return to theatre, at least not for the time being. Plus she's going to be pretty busy with United States of Tara for the next few years.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
This has been in the works for quite sometime, hasn't it?
I personally don't see the concept working- but with Lapine on board? How can you go wrong? I just feel like a lot of the humor with the van would be lost- how could you even stage that?
While I like the idea of Carmello; I think it would only be far to give it to Toni Collette, because she's SO incredible...and if she can sing it, why not? Although Ripley wouldn't do it, I could see her in it as well. Same goes for Laura Benati. Or hell, give it to Stephanie J. Block- she doesnt get enough good work.
I could see John McMartin as the Grandpa, now that I think about it...and I think Esparza would be GREAT as the father.
Recent Broadway and Off-Broadway:: Carrie, Merrily, Ionescopade
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
If he did play the uncle, I could totally see him finally winning that Tony.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
I don't remember her name, but does anyone think the young Fiona from "Shrek" would fit as Olive? Except that Olive in the film is a little chunky, not that we know yet if that is a deal breaker for the stage show.
In the film, she had a stomach was what she had? I assume you're referring to Rachel Resheff...she's not the strongest singer though.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
Who played Olive in the workshop? If she was good maybe they will cast her.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
"In the film, she had a stomach was what she had? I assume you're referring to Rachel Resheff...she's not the strongest singer though."
I just meant that in the screenplay, it's clear that Olive needed to have "a stomach." Her dad commenting on her getting ice cream at a restaurant, and a few other lines were in the screenplay commenting on her weight. But not having been at the workshop or read the musical's book I have no clue of that's as much of a necessity for the stage show.
Olive's weight was definitely a point in the movie- they even had to pad Abigail Breslin.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the perfect marriage of material, composer, and director. February 2011 can't come soon enough, with whoever they end up with. Carolee Carmello would be excellent, though. I'm sure Finn has already written a killer solo for that character with her in mind.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."