Today a friend and I were watching the film MY FAVORITE YEAR and realized Lainie Kazan got to play her same character in the later musicalized stage version we saw of the movie. It got us to thinking of other examples where someone got to repeat their movie role later in a stage adaptation of the same property. All I could come up with was Julie Andrews in VICTOR, VICTORIA. There must be other examples (especially of a straight play adaptation of a film using the same original actor). We tried but couldn't come up with any others. I figured if anyone could answer the question it would be people on this board.
Yul Brynner- The King and I Joel Gray- Cabaret Ellen Greene- Little Shop Samantha Barks- Les Miz (cheating little with that one, she played it on the West End, but clearly didn't originate the role)
Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl Rosalind Harris, who was Tzeitel in the Fiddler on the Roof film, had also understudied the role on Broadway (Trivial tidbit: she was understudying Bette Midler, who auditioned for the film and was turned down). Jonathan Freeman, voice of Jafar in Aladdin, will also play the character on Broadway this spring.
ETA: Sorry for the repeat, Adam; I was typing while you posted!
Updated On: 12/31/13 at 05:50 PM
If you're talking about working backwards from film to stage, Lila Kedrova won an Oscar for her role in Zorba, which she later repeated in the REVIVAL of the musical version of Zorba ... and won a Tony for it.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Anthony Quinn played Zorba in the original non musical film "Zorba The Greek" In the original Broadway production Herschel Bernardi took over the role but when the musical was revived Anthony Quinn starred in it.
Jack Kruschen played Dr. Dreyfus in the 1961 film, "The Apartment". He played the same role in the 1969 London cast of the musical version of "The Apartment" - "Promises, Promises". He went on to also play it on Broadway later in it's run.
John Payne played "Fred Gailey" in the holiday classic, "Miracle on 34th Street", he went on to play the same role (as a replacement) in the musical version - "Here's Love!" on Broadway and on tour.
Richard Harris played "King Arthur" in the movie version of "Camelot" and eventually wound up starring in many stage revivals of the show.
Shirley Jones made her screen debut in "Oklahoma!" and after filming was completed went on a European tour of the show co-starring Jack Cassidy, where they met, fell in love and eventually married.
^ That's actually backward to what the original poster was asking. Now if Jeffrey Wright had originated the role on film and then went on to do the stage version then your answer would have been correct.
Thanks folks but I am in fact asking the opposite. People who did a movie FIRST and then repeated the role on the stage. Thanks though for mentioning Melina Mercouri, Anthony Quinn, Debbie Reynolds, Lila Kedrova, Richard Harris and others. And to think I saw all of those you mentioned repeat their performances on stage. Ouch! Much appreciation for your entries!
OK, I know this is old, obscure to some and a slight stretch from what Demitri requested, but --
Jeannette MacDonald plays an opera star in the 1936 film version of Rose-Marie. In an extended sequence, her character is shown performing as Juliette in Gounod's opera Roméo et Juliette. In the early 1940's, she declined to renew her contract with MGM, undertook more vocal and stage training and then began singing in various opera productions around the country. Among her signature roles was Gounod's Juliette.
Howard Keel and Jane Powell recreated their film roles in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in the stage version but I don't remember whether the production was regional or a tour.
Does Giorgio Tozzi count? He sang the role of Emile De Becque in the film version of SOUTH PACIFIC and later played the role at the NY State Theatre in 1969.
OtherOne I think Tozzi onstage in South Pacific is interesting and related. Likewise, Marni Nixon played Eliza in a revival of My Fair Lady at City Center after she dubbed Hepburn in the film.
MCfan, Jimmy Stewart had been a replacement Elwood in the original Broadway production of Harvey before he did the film. From what I've read, the film rights were sold, and Stewart signed to play Elwood, while the show was still running. He then personally approached the show's producers about taking over the part for a limited time, which gave the show a box office boost and him a chance to get a handle on the role before filming began.
Tracie Thoms did RENT the movie and then was cast in the final Broadway cast.
Also, Ted Neeley as listed in a previous post doesn't fit the criteria. He was the Jesus understudy on Broadway and played the role in L.A. before the film - so he doesn't count.