Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
#1Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 5:26pm
Is this true? I was looking at the Into the woods board on IMDB and a poster posted this:
"During auditions for the broadway revival of Into the Woods, Billy Porter went in for the part of The Baker. Sondheim then asked him to sing Last Midnight and him and Lapine were so impressed with his performance that they offered him the role of The Witch. Both Sondheim and Lapine then came out saying that the role of The Witch was sexless. It represents over bearing and over protective parents and that behavior is not exclusive to mothers. However, after the 9/11 attacks, producers insisted on a "name" to bring in a larger audience and therefore cast Vanessa Williams. Billy Porter went on to perform "Last Midnight" at his show, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul, at Joe's Pub and told the story of how he almost played The Witch on Broadway"
Anyone know more about it? And can The Witch really be a sexless role?
#2Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 5:43pmIt's true and that's pretty much all there is to the story.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#2Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 6:00pm
"However, after the 9/11 attacks, producers insisted on a "name" to bring in a larger audience"
I seriously doubt this part of the story. Into The Woods was already a tried and true hit. Everyone knows it because every community theater does it.
If they wanted a name, that's fine. But if the part is sexless, then why didn't they pick a man with a name? Hugh Jackman? Neil Patrick Harris? Matthew Broderick?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#3Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 6:16pmInto the Woods is a hit by Sondheim standards, but it's never really been a runaway success. Even the original production only was around for a few years, so it's understandable why they'd want a name.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#4Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 7:00pm
The first time I saw "into the woods" was at the Walnut Street Theatre back in 1991 I think (was 1990, 1991 or 1992 I forget) the Witch was a man Jack was a woman. James Rocco was the Witch I believe.
I grew up wanting to be the witch, which is understandable since my first exposure to the show had a man in the role.
#5Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 7:09pm
^^^ Yeah, sure, that's the reason! Whatever you need to tell yourself, JB.
(j/k)
#6Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 7:43pmI don't remember the part about the witch being "sexless." I seem to recall that they wanted Porter to play it as a Warlock, which would have made for an interesting production that certainly would have changed the show's dynamic.
MarkBearSF
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/25/11
#7Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 9:20pm
X Dress x 2. If he DID get the role and played it as a female witch, he would've been playing at the same time as Harvey playing Edna. (Diff Tony years though, I think)
Updated On: 7/19/14 at 09:20 PM
#8Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/19/14 at 9:25pmHe was actually offered the role? Or was just considered? I was under the impression the idea never caught fire, and the story about him being offered the role was perpetuated by Porter himself.
#9Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/20/14 at 3:48pm
I grew up wanting to be the witch, which is understandable since my first exposure to the show had a man in the role.
I grew up wanting to be this witch:
The fact that I couldn't wrinkle my nose like that was much more traumatic to me than the fact that I could catch or hit a baseball.
I didn't want to be a mere mortal.
#10Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/20/14 at 4:07pm
^ Elizabeth Montgomery did not wiggle her nose- it was her upper lip that twitched.
- It was actually a nervous thing that she did without realizing it, and her husband William Asher thought that it would be perfect for the show.
Darreyl with an L!
#11Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/20/14 at 8:35pm
I love Billy but this story has definitely been embellished over the years. At the time, the word was that Porter gave a great initial audition, on a whim was called back by Lapine to read for the Witch, and so impressed both Lapine and Sondheim, that for a delirious 30 seconds they imagined how exciting his performance would be before quickly coming to their senses and realizing it was not a viable option for a major Broadway revival. I think Porter has added to the legend by saying he was offered the role only to have it rescinded when producers realized they needed a star (the producers ALWAYS knew they needed a star).
The real story is still impressive and something Porter should be very proud of, though I do imagine in another decade he'll be telling how he was playing the role in rehearsals and Vanessa Williams came in and snatched the weave off his head.
Updated On: 7/20/14 at 08:35 PM
#12Billy Porter was offered The Witch in the Into The Woods Revival?
Posted: 7/20/14 at 10:44pm^That was actually one of my favorite parts of that production when the witch turned ugly again and pulled all her hair out during "Last Midnight."
