Eliza? - My Fair Lady Revival 2018

[Robbie2]

henrikegerman said: "barcelona20 said: "Theatre star or someone from movies/tv?"

Jordan answered "Both.... ?"

I'm going to take a very wild guess because she's someone I think could be a sensational Eliza (and because in spite of what might be taken as a hint suggesting otherwise, hasn't it already been fairly well established that Benanti is out of the running?):
Lara Pulver.

 

 

"Star Lara Pulver has joined the cast of Amazon’s upcoming Amazon anthology series “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams.”

 

[henrikegerman]

^thanks Robbie.

[Robbie2]

LAURA BENANTI?

In July 2017, it was announced that Benanti would be unable to return to the series for its third season due to her work schedule and that Erica Durance would assume the role of Alura.

In 2015, Benanti joined the cast of Supergirl, where she has a recurring role as Alura In-Ze, Zor-El's wife and mother of Kara[43] and Alura's twin sister General Astra, who wants to take over earth as its new ruler and destroy her niece Kara.

 

METEOR SHOWER 

ALSO, hmmmmmmm...An official announcement has not been made, but it is expected that the play will open in November 2017.

 http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Steve-Martin-Eyes-Amy-Schumer-Laura-Benanti-to-Lead-METEOR-SHOWER-on-Broadway-20170615

[Mickey3309]

I've heard it's Ashley Park!

[Robbie2]

Mickey3309 said: "I've heard it's Ashley Park!

 

"really...anybody know her agents at BRS/Gage?

 

[froote]

So in this thread we have people that have heard it's Sierra, people that have heard it's Laura and people that have heard it's Ashley.

Yeah I think I'll wait for the official announcement.

[GeorgeandDot]

A friend of mine called me today and told me that she had also heard that it was Benanti and another emailed me saying that it was Park.  Maybe it came down between the two of them, but no one is really sure who has actually been offered the role.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Maybe someone's starting all these rumors just to throw us off.

[Collingswood]

I say Kerstin Anderson!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerstin_Anderson

[Valentina3]

^ Get that Julie Andrews gig :)

(though we can say same thing for Laura Benanti). I want Kerstin Anderson to be on Broadway, but this might be too big of a fish for her to bite in her first NYC foray. 

[GeorgeandDot]

^Ok, but is there any reason to be believe she's in the running?  I haven't heard about her from anyone inside the industry.  She is not among the names that I have heard thrown around for this role.

I think it may be safe to assume that it's between Benanti and Park.  Both are fabulous and would give terrific performances.

[BeingAlive 2]

Gosh both Park and Benanti are thrilling choices. As a non-white artist myself,  the idea of someone as brilliant as Ashley getting this opportunity is so exciting on its own but then you add in how historic it would be its truly wonderful. And Benanti- gosh I've been wanting to see her do this role for over a decade- she'd be stunning. I gotta say, the suspense is killing me (although I'm guessing its Laura since Jordan's clues lead more directly to her and Jordan has delivered time and time again with the scoop). Either way Eliza will be in tremendous hands. 

[Gorlois]

I really want it to be Laura Benanti.

[broadwayboy223]

I will explode with joy if it's Laura

[OlBlueEyes]

Bart Sherr was being interviewed not too long ago and was talking about auditions and how difficult they can be. He was asked if someone really unknown to him had come in and just had a fabulous audition and won the role outright. He mentioned this Brazilian opera singer of whom he had never heard and of whom he didn't have high expectations who auditioned for the role of Emile.

Paulo Szot gave one of the best auditions that Sher could remember.

So I guess Sherr is open to casting someone unknown to him. Like a Julie Andrews.

[GeorgeandDot]

^Yes I'm sure many unknown actresses were taken into consideration, but from what I'm hearing from my friends (who work in casting and marketing and design) is that it probably won't be an actress that they pulled off the street.

Also, Julie Andrews was not an unknown when she was cast in MFL.  She's wasn't a superstar yet, but she wasn't an unknown.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

As I've mentioned before, Bartlett Sher stated in an interview with Broadway Box back in April that he wanted to find his Henry Higgins first before moving on to Eliza Doolittle. Michael Riedel did recently report in his column almost three weeks ago that the creative is still hoping Colin Firth would commit to it. I guess we shall see.

[CindersGolightly]

Well. First, plans change. Secondly, maybe they've already found him. Maybe they found him a day after he said that. Maybe they already had someone in talks when he said that. Third, maybe they haven't found him but are announcing Eliza first because that is, objectively, the more anticipated casting choice? 

[jonlow09]

BeingAlive 2 said: "Gosh both Park and Benanti are thrilling choices. As a non-white artist myself,  the idea of someone as brilliant as Ashley getting this opportunity is so exciting on its own but then you add in how historic it would be its truly wonderful. And Benanti- gosh I've been wanting to see her do this role for over a decade- she'd be stunning. I gotta say, the suspense is killing me (although I'm guessing its Laura since Jordan's clues lead more directly to her and Jordan has delivered time and time again with the scoop). Either way Eliza will be in tremendous hands. 

 

"

 

Just want to second both of these sentiments. I can't shake the thought of Park, but Benanti would also make me jump up and down. I also feel like I'm going to be sad for whoever doesn't get it.

 

[SmoothLover]

I heard from some friends of mine who live in the city that they are considering someone from Minneapolis.

[OlBlueEyes]

Right. Julie Andrews made her Broadway debut in The Boyfriend in 1954 and L & L saw her there.

She loves to tell that story about auditioning for Richard Rodgers and he asks her if she has auditioned for anything else and she answers "Yes, for My Fair Lady" and he tells her to take that role if offered it, otherwise he can use her.

I guess she would have made that decision without his advice.

(Aside. It's so weird hearing Bob Dylan singing torch songs. What aging pop/rock star has still not recorded an album of standards? Mick Jagger?)

But seriously, Emma Stone ??, Reese Witherspoon ????

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Not for nothing but Benanti has been liking a handful of tweets over the past few days dreamcasting her as Eliza. Hmm... can't wait for them to just announce already!

[froote]

Interesting. I once knew of someone that got blocked by Benanti for suggesting Kelli as Eliza. I think dream role may be a bit of an understatement haha.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Not for nothing but Benanti has been liking a handful of tweets over the past few days dreamcasting her as Eliza. Hmm... can't wait for them to just announce already!"

Or maybe she just likes that her fans would love to see her in the role.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Alright, enough speculation. Everything is just rumours so let's wait for the official announcement.

[fashionguru_23]

In theory, anything is possible. I remember the Chatterbox episode (God, I miss those!) with Kelli O'Hara where she said that for a little while Bart Sher had her, Victoria Clark, and Celia Keenan-Bolger all at the very end of call backs for South Pacific, because he wasn't sure what age or how he wanted his Nellie to be played...perhaps Ashley Park, Laura Benanti are all in the same situation.