FALSETTOS 2016

[gypsy101]

Anyone know why this thread was locked?

Anyway... I've been listening to the two recordings a lot lately (March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland), I forgot how much I loved the score. At this point they've cast Marvin: Christian Borle; Trina: Stephanie J. Block and Whizzer: Andrew Rannells. Who else would we like to see cast? Mendel, Jason, Charlotte and Cordelia haven't been cast yet (or announced). Josh Colley would be terrific as Jason (I assume only based on his performance at Miscast).

[BroadwayConcierge]

It blew up into a whole borderline offensive gay commentary thing. I think the moderators were too quick to shut it down, but whatever. Thanks for starting a new thread on it!

[lucillefrank]

John Cariani told me he's auditioning for Mendel and I REALLY hope he gets it. That would be amazing.

[CindersGolightly]

I'm not happy with the cast they've chosen - Block is fine, the rest bothers me quite a bit. But I'm happy this show is coming back, regardless.

[pupscotch]

He might be too old, but I think Jake Lucas could be a great Jason!

[cristalconnors]

I don't get the Block casting. I think she's fine. But I think she's only fine. Very strong voice but not very interesting to watch. I'm not thrilled with Rannells but whatever. Kind of like the idea of Borle as Marvin. I just really wish they had an actress with more personality than Block.

[Kad]

I would've loved to have seen Leslie Kritzer as Trina, but alas.

[wish i were here2]

I still vote Joshua Colley as Jason! 

[GavestonPS]

Rannells as Whizzer seems like perfect casting to me. He may be the sweetest guy in the world, but the persona he projects is very Whizzer-like. (I'm not saying Whizzer is a villain, just that he is very confident of his own appeal.)

Personally, I think Borle would make a better Mendel, but I don't live in New York and know him only from TV. (No, I don't care about his personal life and it doesn't affect my opinion on casting.)

[Broadway Bob*]

My dream cast would be:

Dr. Charlotte - Emily Skinner or Lisa Howard
Cordelia - Megan Hilty
Mendel - Raul Esparza or Norbert Leo Butz

[SmoothLover]

I don't think Andrew has the right voice for Whizzer. The original actor was so sexy.

[South Florida]

"I don't get the Block casting. I think she's fine. But I think she's only fine. Very strong voice but not very interesting to watch. I'm not thrilled with Rannells but whatever. Kind of like the idea of Borle as Marvin. I just really wish they had an actress with more personality than Block."

God may forgive you but I can't.

[LesWickedly]

I was listening to Patti Murin's podcast with Andrew Ranells and he mentioned it was a limited run and would close in January. I'm not sure if it was announced already, but thought I'd add that here.

[Copperfield2]

I agree Block does nothing for me.

Would like to see Ann Harada as one of the lesbian neighbors next door.

I don't see Rannells as a Whizzer who plays baseball.

[Will3700]

Does anyone have any further info on the limited run? I wil be in NYC  Jan 3-11 and I'm so hoping to see it.

[LesWickedly]

Will3700 said: "Does anyone have any further info on the limited run? I wil be in NYC  Jan 3-11 and I'm so hoping to see it.

 

"

He said mid-January so you should be fine.

[A Canadian in NYC]

Do we know when tickets go on sale?

[LesWickedly]

Could Josh Grisetti be in this? I don't know the show well and whether or not there's a good role for him, but he had to draw out of the Muny this summer and according to his Instagram, for very good reasons.

[Valentina3]

It's possible (Josh Grisetti). He'd make a great Mendel. There's also Hello Dolly (but I don't think he's a big enough name for latter).

[The Distinctive Baritone]

So is Borle doing both Falsettos and Willy Wanka in the same season? That's kind of amazing.

[standingovation79]

The original was cast brilliantly. Not easy to do.  Borle is ABSOUTELY more of Mendel. Marvin is more like a Younger Raul Esparza, like when he did Company. He needs to be complicated and a bit edgy, more typical tall dark and handsome.  That's not Borle.

Rannells is also just not right for Whizzer. Whizzer is supposed to be unaffected, a regular guy, not camp. His song at the end, You Gotta Die Sometime is a take on Operatic Tragedy. Rannells voice is wrong ..Rannells is all camp. This casting is potentially what could make this revival a failure.

Block as Trina is the best of the three at least. She will sing this exactly the way it should be sung. What she lacks as actress she makes up for in song interpretation and the show is almost entire sung through.

Lisa Howard would be a perfect Dr. Charlotte. Her type is a nod do Heather MacRea and she is quite possibly the best Will Finn interpereter out there.

Cordelia is a tough one...she needs to be funny and quirky but believable. Annaleigh Ashford would be fun, leslie kritzer (toned down) Kerry Butler (she'll have to go for more nuanced.

I think James Lapine is the wrong choice to helm this in 2016. He is a decent director, a better designer, but he's dated and I'm not sure he's going to investigate this piece the way it needs to be investigated now.

[wicked1492]

Can Rob McClure jump ship at SOMETHING ROTTEN and play Mendel PLEASE

[FiddleMeThis]

I agree with ALL of this. Rannells is all wrong, and could sink the ship. And Lapine should have tried harder to find a different director. Borle is terrific at everything he does but I agree, he's miscast.

[South Florida]

Are the reviews coming any day?  Some of you seem to know exactly how the show will go.

[CindersGolightly]

They're just stating they believed it is miscast, and I can't say I disagree. Amazing performers, all of them, of course. I just hope the rest of the cast is more suited for their roles.

[henrikegerman]

I would love to see Brandon Uranowitz as Mendel.