Call me crazy but I really thought a Bette lead Dolly would be the perfect vehicle for a magnificent multicultural non-traditionally casted production. The casting and creative crew put together for this feels like we're in for a traditional revival. Much like when I was growing up and shows like No, No Nanette and Irene came to town. Is it safe producing or a show that can't bare the weight of some rethinking? I did see Ethel Merman in it as part of my first exposure to theater and then saw Carol in two revivals so I guess I've been Dollied out by the images of the original production. I just hope they aren't treating it as sacrosanctly as my instincts are telling me.
In terms of the leads, I'd say I'm very satisfied. The ensemble is mostly Broadway vets; a solid mix of older & younger actors.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Everyone who was cast are all perfect and are also very talented, but I agree there should have been some more diverse cast. I wonder if that question was brought up when they were casting the show.
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"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I saw a Facebook ad that was literally just a black screen with flashing red letters that said something along the lines of "Bette Midler. Hello, Dolly. Need we say more? And, oh yeah, Telecharge.com." Is that what you're talking about, Greased? Thought it was terribly lame and pretentious.
BroadwayConcierge said: "I saw a Facebook ad that was literally just a black screen with flashing red letters that said something along the lines of "Bette Midler. Hello, Dolly. Need we say more? And, oh yeah, Telecharge.com." Is that what you're talking about, Greased? Thought it was terribly lame and pretentious.
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Yes! They played it at least once per commercial break during the Emmys tonight. I rolled my eyes every time it came on.
GreasedLightning said: "Yes! They played it at least once per commercial break during the Emmys tonight. I rolled my eyes every time it came on."
I streamed the Emmys and they didn't show it on there... and I'm like 90min out of NYC now, so I should be in the zone they are targeting, you'd think (although given the number of my new co-workers who say they hope to see a Broadway show someday, maybe the producers know what they're doing!)...
A multi-ethnic cast would have been lovely, and the OBC production did do the all-black replacement cast, but I didn't expect anything more than "safe" with the casting of this revival.
Just think, it's a show that had its leading lady return decade after decade over and over
It feels like me like another She Loves Me situation- everyone they cast is appropriate and I can't begrudge them that, but a little more diversity wouldn't have killed 'em either. At least there are a few people of color in the ensemble, which is better than some musicals can say.
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.
This part needs a star, and a star is what they've got. Midlers casting is perfect. I can't think of any musical in recent memory that has been led by such a starry name.. It feel like it harks back to the golden age of Broadway when big names headlined musicals.
Totally. Everyone they cast is amazing, but of all productions this should have been one to take some chances with bending the rules of traditional casting and stuff. Producers always blame playing it safe on the fact that it's so hard to have a successful show, so they don't want to risk making any missteps or alienating audiences when it could mean their show fails. But this show cannot fail and is going to sell out, so why not push it a little! And seriously, having a few featured characters that aren't white/cis/ablebodied/whatever straight laced thing is going on is not exactly pushing boundaries!