Perfect World Recast: Jennifer Hudson in The Color Purple?

[sklabam]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 11:55am

Wondering who you all would cast as JHud as Shug Avery in The Color Purple. I sure liked that first production's actress, Elizabeth Whithers Mendez as Shug. Might she come back? Or ???

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 11:56am

"Wondering who you all would cast as JHud as Shug Avery in The Color Purple"

I would cast Jennifer Hudson as JHud as Shug Avery in The Color Purple.

[Hellob]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 1:26pm

sklabam said: "Wondering who you all would cast as JHud as Shug Avery in The Color Purple. I sure liked that first production's actress, Elizabeth Whithers Mendez as Shug. Might she come back? Or ???

 

"

If she is reliable, Fantasia. I think she has a raw sexuality that can make me believe that someone would forever pine for her. I just didn't feel like JHud had heat. There's other people like Brandy, Kelly Rowland, etc but I think they might fall flat in the same way. Keke Palmer is a decent choice, too. If she can sing, I'd love Nia Long. 

Updated On: 3/24/16 at 01:26 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 2:38pm

If Taraji P. Henson wasn't doing a movie on her EMPIRE hiatus she would be absolutely ideal casting.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 3:44pm

"If Taraji P. Henson wasn't doing a movie on her EMPIRE hiatus she would be absolutely ideal casting."

 

Taraji cannot sing to save her life. She definitely cannot do Shug's songs. Also, this production's take on Shug is a polished, vulnerable one, and Taraji brings a very rough unpolished feel to her characters. -_-


I love the idea of Keke Palmer doing Shug, but I'd have pegged her to eventually go for Celie since she was a bonafide successful replacement as Ella in Cinderella. How do we feel about Renee Elise Goldsberry? You guys think she'd come back to the revival for a support role? I think Patina Miller would be fantastic replacement too - but even she's too big of a name.

Updated On: 3/24/16 at 03:44 PM

[cuz-i-can]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 3:53pm

Valentina3 said: ""If Taraji P. Henson wasn't doing a movie on her EMPIRE hiatus she would be absolutely ideal casting."

 

Taraji cannot sing to save her life. She definitely cannot do Shug's songs. Also, this production's take on Shug is a polished, vulnerable one, and Taraji brings a very rough unpolished feel to her characters. -_-


I love the idea of Keke Palmer doing Shug, but I'd have pegged her to eventually go for Celie since she was a bonafide successful replacement as Ella in Cinderella. How do we feel about Renee Elise Goldsberry? You guys think she'd come back to the revival for a support role? I think Patina Miller would be fantastic replacement too - but even she's too big of a name.

 

"

I agree with all of this^^^^^. I'm hoping that when Jennifer does leave that maybe they get Sasha Allen to take over, she seems to be the only person that would be able to keep up with the vocalss that Jennifer has provided. Just a thought.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 5:28pm

Valentina3, I'm not sure where you're basing your claim that Taraji "can't sing to save her life" from but it's wildly off base. She had a musical theater background before she hit it big in film and she's shown singing chops on several songs since, including on "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" (which she sang live at the Oscars.)

And if you think she's incapable of playing vulnerable, you clearly didn't see her Oscar-nominated work in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB1tqACl9Rg

Updated On: 3/24/16 at 05:28 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 5:38pm

While normally Patina Miller probably wouldn't take a replacement role, most replacements aren't often following Oscar and Grammy winners. I know she's working on that show Madam Secretary, so who knows if she'd be available, but she'd be fabulous and I'm sure could be convinced to play the role. 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 6:05pm

I'd be interested to see what Jennifer could do with Celie's material

[Valentina3]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 9:49pm

Yeah, Taraji still cannot sing Shug's role. You're right about her being able to play vulnerable - but I wasn't being very clear. Jennifer doesn't break down or anything as Shug. She has a softness, a tenderness to her Shug - something which is not brash or unkind in any way (unlike the original production). If they want to maintain that character - Taraji wouldn't be my choice. 


How about Uzo Aduba? She's currently in London playing a murderous maid, and the question about her potentially reprising her role in The Wiz is still unresolved. But if this production runs long (which I hope it doeS), she would be a great star replacement. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 9:54pm

Patina would be absolutely stunning, but I agree, I don't think she'd be a replacement right now. 

Hudson is giving a great performance that was well reviewed. This production is very lucky to have her, she is such a great partner to Erivo's brilliant Celie. 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 10:47pm

I obviously don't know what Patina Miller's plans are, but to get the chance to tell this iconic story that is so important to the history of black women artists in a high-profile revival that is so beautifully conceived sounds like a hard opportunity to turn down. It's an incredible opportunity for any theatre actress, and you bet they will want a high-profile star to replace the Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson. Remember many of us never thought Hudson would play anything but Celie given her level of stardom, and she surprised everyone by showing that she was willing to take a risk and make a smart choice that showed her commitment to improving herself as an actor and her commitment to being part of Alice Walker's incredible legacy. As a result, she obtained the best reviews of her acting career since DREAMGIRLS and is giving a performance that by far surpasses her acting as Effie.

When I saw the title of this thread, Patina Miller was the only person that came to mind as someone who is high-profile enough to replace Hudson, who has the vocal and stage acting chops, and who would be able to embody all the qualities that make Shug such a dynamic character. That's not to say she is the only person who could do it. As usual, I love somethingwicked's casting suggestion. The idea that Taraji P. Henson can't play quiet vulnerability is ridiculous and speaks more about the limitations of the poster's imagination than about Henson's versatile acting skills.

I'd love to see Anika Noni Rose or Uzo Aduba as Celie, Patina Miller as Shug Avery, and--though I know she is much older than the other women and it would never ever happen--Chandra Wilson as Sofia.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 3/24/16 at 11:30pm

Tichina Arnold auditioned for the role, but lost out to Hudson. I think she'd be an amazing replacement! She posted a clip of her audition on Instagram. https://instagram.com/p/BDWCHCtzUeN/