Well, hello, Patti (LaBelle)!

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 7:22pm

Quoting from an interview promoting her newest album:

"Four years ago, producers of Hello, Dolly! approached LaBelle for the recent revival's lead role. 'That was something else I said no to. Now [Bette Midler] is doing it. I'm going to check it out and I think I might do it when she leaves -- I mean, I would like to.'"

Thoughts?

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 7:34pm

I'd like to see her in it. I don't know if she'll be box office boffo though.

Updated On: 5/25/17 at 07:34 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 7:45pm

How were her numbers when she went into AFTER MIDNIGHT?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 8:11pm

I think she'd be likely to sell more tickets in a well known show like Hello, Dolly!.  It would also be an event if they chose to bring in an all black company as they did with Pearl Bailey. Creel's understudy could also step in full time. He's fantastic. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 10:15pm

Ms LaBelle is confused. There had been at least 2 different Broadway producers attached to the rights for a revival of HELLO DOLLY over the past 5 years--- but neither one came through (obviously). One of them may have approached her about it at some point ---but I can assure you that Scott Rudin has no interest in her as a replacement Dolly. He's thinking a lot bigger. 

[DAME]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 10:28pm

JSquared2 said: "Ms LaBelle is confused. There had been at least 2 different Broadway producers attached to the rights for a revival of HELLO DOLLY over the past 5 years--- but neither one came through (obviously). One of them may have approached her about it at some point ---but I can assure you that Scott Rudin has no interest in her as a replacement Dolly. He's thinking a lot bigger. 

 

"

Maybe Patti can do a bus and truck?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 10:39pm

Not that I would accuse any random person on an Internet forum of being at all disingenuous, but how much bigger can Mr. Rudin be aiming? It's not everybody who will come in to replace Bette Midler in a record-breaking Broadway run, even if they get the same deal she did. Hell, those are very hard shoes for Donna Murphy to fill, and she's just doing it once a week. Unless his idea is earth-shattering or miraculous (nothing short of Barbra fits that category, and unless she gets at least a comparable deal to Bette, no way she's coming), I'd think he'd be happy someone -- anyone -- of Ms. LaBelle's stature wants in.

Updated On: 5/25/17 at 10:39 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 11:20pm

^Dolly Parton's name has been bandied about by some usually credible sources on here. 

Whether or not she'd do it is another matter entirely, of course. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 11:27pm

Queen Latifah was approached for it and is still being asked. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 11:29pm

I dunno; I've heard Dolly do it, and I'm not super interested. (Frankly, she sounds like Sister Amnesia from the Rue McClanahan video of Nunsense giving it a whack.) That's just me though.

As for Queen Latifah, she's making much more money in the movies. (Not so much as a producer, but acting-wise, she's doing A-okay; the last Ice Age movie did good business back in July.) Maybe she's not getting the plum roles from her peak period, but I don't think that's an indicator that she's coming to replace Bette Midler on a Broadway salary, unless, of course, she's got a comparable deal.

Updated On: 5/25/17 at 11:29 PM

[darreyl102]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 11:32pm

I'm certain if she did Dolly, Parton would perform differently then that video- which has a less Broadway sound to it and more country pop. It's hard to judge from that video when it isn't in character 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 11:37pm

On the contrary -- I think it's rather a rash assumption that they won't massage the material to fit the performer. Bette's always had that classic Broadway sound, but would it work so well with Dolly's voice? Even Reba McEntire got a hoedown dance break for "I Got the Sun in the Morning" in Annie, Get Your Gun.

Updated On: 5/25/17 at 11:37 PM

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 11:47pm

Dolly Parton has a special relationship to the show. Her first ever trip outside of Tennessee was a class trip in high school to NYC. When the bus pulled into Manhattan and they saw billboards saying "Hello, Dolly!" she made jokes like "How'd they know I was comin?" I'd kill to see her play the role.

However, the name I heard attached to replace Bette was Reba.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 12:15am

Reba's been filming that pilot with Marc "Desperate Housewives" Cherry this spring. I think she'd want to wait and see if the series got picked up first.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 12:21am

I've seen people on here claim to it to Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Reba, and someone posted Bernadette was asked. Either they are lining up replacements or they have a lot of offers out. LOL

Personally I'd rather see Latifiah or Bernadette. I'm mainly hoping this could be Bernadette's big return to Broadway.  

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 1:01am

Well interestingly enough, Reba was just at the show a week or so ago..... Possible research trip?! But in all honesty, I really am pulling for Reba as Dolly. She's got musical theatre experience, has proven she is more than capable of carrying a show and would sing the heck out of it! Fingers crossed! 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 2:15am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Reba's been filming that pilot with Marc "Desperate Housewives" Cherry this spring. I think she'd want to wait and see if the series got picked up first."

It was already announced that Reba's pilot is definitely not moving forward at ABC. So unless CMT or Lifetime pick it up, Reba will be free to play Dolly Levi. And what a great choice she would be.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 10:14am

Hey, I'm not saying Patti LaBelle will be great (I'm not looking forward to the 20-minute version of the title song that just barely fits in all the vocal acrobatics), I'm just saying out of the choices named so far, she seems rather likely to get the gig. I could be wrong.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 10:37am

There's no way Reba is a bigger box-office pull than Patti LaBelle, is there? Am I living in a bubble?  And maybe Patti and Latifa can have a Donna - Bette kind of arrangement?

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 11:15am

I actually think Reba would be a bigger box office draw than Ms. LaBelle, especially for middle-America. Both are equally as endearing with their own loyal followings. I'd be delighted to see both in the role. I think Reba would be especially great.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 12:22pm

Reba is a much bigger draw - there's really no comparison. Sorry. 

[BJR]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 12:58pm

We should all be so lucky for Latifah, Dolly OR Reba to do it.

That said, just the other day I was thinking what a bummer it is Reba never made it back to Broadway after such an incredible debut.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 1:05pm

Valentina3 said: "There's no way Reba is a bigger box-office pull than Patti LaBelle, is there? Am I living in a bubble?  And maybe Patti and Latifa can have a Donna - Bette kind of arrangement?"

I'm afraid you are.  No one under 60 (70?) knows who Patti LaBelle is.  Reba starred in a self-named network sitcom for years that is now syndicated in heavy rotation on TV Land/Nick at Night.  There's no comparison between the two (IMO).

[gleek4114]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 1:05pm

Reba would be my guess/choice as well. However, part of me hopes her pilot does get picked up somewhere. I miss her being on my TV every week (I was a big fan of both her sitcoms).

[DAME]

Posted: 5/26/17 at 1:06pm

Patti is definitely confused as this particular production came about because of Bette.   I hope what will happen is this... Bette will continue to have a great time doing it and will extend. but with a possible break during the winter months .   Then the show will close when she does leave and a tour will be mounted with someone else.  Even though I wish she would tour with it and take her Dolly to the world.

Updated On: 5/26/17 at 01:06 PM