THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread

[SidebySidebyLogan]

I remember when they announced that Audra McDonald, Sherie Rene Scott, Will Swenson and others were doing a reading of what turned out to be the screenplay I thought it was the musical, I was at once horrified/enthralled. I remember thinking that if these women were attached then surely a whole new creative team would be on board. What I've seen of this looks terrible but I still believe the story could be musicalized to great effect and those women would be amazing as Annie (McDonald) and Elise (Scott).

[TheatreFan4]

I'm still Red-A for change, are you?

[adamgreer]

I hope they keep that stunning choreography where they all danced around the kitchen island.

It's "outrageous! Contagious!"

[ljay889]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCs5nPUZnY4

Camp heaven.

[ABB2357]

I love when Walsh accidentally spills her water and gets a horrified look on her face at :58 in the clip.

[TheatreFan4]

You know you're in for a good time when the B-Roll can very easily be mistaken for a bootleg...

[beautywickedlover]

These projects have much more potential despite all of the drama they have gone through. I'd much rather see them come to Broadway.

[Borstalboy]

I love how Karen Ziemba sings "Gonna be outrageous" and then seems to barely mouth the word "contagious".

Ziemba don't do bum lyrics.

[blaxx]

Yes yes yes please I beg you Broadway gods! Make me jump for joy!

[adamgreer]

So many questions after watching that brilliant clip!

Why is Barbara Walsh dressed like a butch lesbian?

Why is Sheryl Lee Ralph singing the score in a completely different vocal style than everyone else?

Is Karen Ziemba wearing her old Contact dress?

[Mr. Nowack]

That choreography! Those can't have been actual, choreographed dance steps!? I think three regular women dancing around spontaneously could have done better.

There are too many absurd things to list happening in that video, and the act one finale posted a few pages back. They totally did steal the DREAMGIRLS act closing gimmick! I bet it was Sheryl Lee Ralph's idea.

[ABB2357]

In case anyone hasn't seen it, here's Sam Harris's first act number. He played Walsh's sassy gay BFF and gobbled the scenery so hard he nearly choked.
A MAN LIKE ME

[James885]

Wow, that was absolutely dreadful.

[Borstalboy]

The choreographic direction seemed to be, "Well...just go around the kitchen block once, then go over there and...you know...dance a little. Then circle the kitchen block again and then...I dunno, just finish it somehow."

I'm dating myself, but all these numbers sound like they were discarded theme songs for ATTITUDES. Paging Linda Dano...

[Jordan Catalano]

I hope this show comes in. I hope that Sheryl Lee Ralph is in it. I hope that Jennifer Holiday and Loretta Devine also join the cast.

I hope.

I hope.

[SporkGoddess]

Didn't they expand the role of Duarto for no reason other than Sam Harris was playing him, too?

[RippedMan]

I know this was a pretty recent production, so why does it feel like it's 1988?

[Borstalboy]

Because the composers seem to have only heard one musical score in their lives, which is the uber-eighties score to BABY, and then proceeded to get it all wrong.

[beautywickedlover]

If there is a 2009 musical that has more potential on Broadway, it's 'Minsky's'. Why couldn't they give that musical another chance?

[DottieD'Luscia]

I swear I was in the worst mood today and then I took a look at this thread and it just made me laugh.

[ABB2357]

Yes, the Duarto role was expanded significantly for the show.

And since everyone's enjoying the FIRST WIVES goodies, here's another one - Sheryl Lee Ralph's Act 2 solo, aptly titled...
"That Was Me Then, This is Me Now"

[Borstalboy]

Change the arrangements and you'd basically have a song from FROZEN.

[Mr Roxy]

This sounds like the "Plan 9 From Outer Space" Broadway musical.

[beautywickedlover]

Ana Gasteyer, Carolee Carmello, Lachanze, and Adriane Lenox all took part in readings of this. They all dodged bullets and went on to do other stuff. Ana Gasteyer went on to do the critically acclaimed revival of 'The Royal Family' and she later went on to have recurring roles on 'The Good Wife' and later had a main role on 'Suburgatory'. Carmello decided to 'The Addams Family' instead of this and she got a Drama Desk Award nomination. Plus, the show had a decent run on Broadway. She later did 'Sister Act', got a Tony nomination for 'Scandalous', and she had a recurring role on 'Smash'. LaChanze went on to have a recurring role on 'One Life to Live', appeared in 'The Help' and the modest hit 'Side Effects', and is now back on Broadway in 'If/Then'. Lennox had recurring roles on '30 Rock' and 'Damages' and she appeared in 'The Butler'. She also had a small but great role in 'The Blind Side' even though she filmed that movie before this musical debuted.

So, overall these four women have done well since deciding not to do this musical. I know that Lennox had to drop out due to an illness or injury, but it was a blessing in disguise.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Oh my gosh, these videos are amazing. I have never wanted something to come to New York so badly. That Sam Harris video...he looks so dead behind the eyes, like he's trying to imagine himself anywhere else but on that stage doing that number.

[ABB2357]

One more - the jaw-droppingly terrible (and amazing!!) opening number


"Wedding Belles"