COMPANY negotiating a spring 2020 transfer at a Shubert theater

[TotallyEffed]

Patti will, of course, transfer with this production. And she will probably win a third Tony for it.

[ljay889]

Of course, Patti will absolutely do it, but she's known for playing hardball. She has previously said that she'd only move with it if certain cast members could join her, presumably she's referring to Craig and Bailey. 

 

[Hamilfan2]

If they do end up casting an American actress for Bobbie I would love to see Betsy Wolfe or Caissie Levy take a stab at it.

[qolbinau]

Imagine seeing Laura Benanti and Patti LuPone in the night club scene together again. It has to be her if it's not Craig! 

[rg7759]

jane krakowski has done company, and she is long due a starring, superstar role. i think shes perfect. can we get rosie odonnell too?

[TotallyEffed]

rg7759 said: "jane krakowski has done company, and she is long due a starring, superstar role. i think shes perfect. can we get rosie odonnell too?"

Jane is too old. 

Rosie as who, Larry?

[ljay889]

SJB is too old as well. The plot revolves around the character's 35th birthday. If they went with a Broadway name, Benanti is the best choice. 

[Skye8]

Hamilfan2 said: "If they do end up casting an American actress for Bobbie I would love to see Betsy Wolfe or Caissie Levy take a stab at it."

Yesss, would love to hear Betsy Wolfe sing this score!

[GeorgeandDot]

Benanti would be a great Bobbi. She's got the charisma to pull it off and she reads as 35.

[bwayphreak234]

Count me in as another vote for Benanti.

[ljay889]

At the end of the day, if they don’t go with a name, I think Rosalie will be the one. She literally developed the role/production with the creators from the beginning, from the filmed workshop that got Sondheim on board. Also, Patti fiercely adores her, and Brantley’s love letter certainly doesn’t hurt.

[Lou2]

ljay889 said: "At the end of the day, if they don’t go with a name, I think Rosalie will be the one. She literally developed the role/production with the creators from the beginning, from the filmed workshop that got Sondheim on board. Also, Patti fiercely adores her, and Brantley’s love letter certainly doesn’t hurt."

I agree. I think Patti is the big name for American audiences and I'm almost certain she won't transfer without Rosie. Plus, Rosie is awesome – she was critically acclaimed for the role in London and rightfully so. Fleeshman is quite know across the pond also, so will be interesting to see if he transfers, especially after the Olivier nomination. 

[RippedMan]

I just hope it happens! Seems such a big project not to have a quick transfer!

[ljay889]

I agree, the waiting sucks, but a spring transfer is the BEST option for a Sondheim revival. It won’t have to worry about surviving the winter, and it can ride on the excitement, buzz, and strong reviews through the Tonys and summer.

[RippedMan]

Totally! Just seems like something that should have been written into their contracts!

[BJR]

I have a hard time imagining they replace Craig (if they do) with anyone other than a TV or film actor.

[QueenAlice]

I think there are a dozen American actors who would be better in the role than Rosalie Craig was, but I agree it seems likely that unless they get a major name she will likely come over with it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Patti’s name doesn’t sell a show. It didn’t with War Paint, The Anarchist, Women on the Verge and even her Gypsy closed early.

Also, Sondheim shows don’t always do well financially as it is, unless they’re produced by Roundabout. My point is they’d be smart to try to get some major names in this because as it is, I just can’t see it succeeding (financially).

[ljay889]

Jordan, with all due respect, the revivals of Sweeney, Night Music, and Sunday all recouped commercially, and had no involvement with Roundabout. Granted, two of those revivals had major stars, but they were financially successful Sondheim revivals nonetheless.

I agree, the smartest decision would be to pair a bankable name with Patti in Company, but at the end of the day, I just can’t see them pushing aside Rosalie who has helped develop this particular production from the beginning. Maybe Rosalie can open it and do a limited run of a few months, and then they can find a name to replace her who wouldn’t mind missing out on the chance of a Tony. We’ve seen some surprising replacements in the past.

[\_(•_•)_/]

War Paint sold a good Six months with Ms. Lupone. She most definitely has a bankable name.

What’s your deal with hating everything people seem to enjoy? It’s like you get off on having the unpopular opinion. @ Jordan.

I would love to see a Company revival! But count me out if Ms. Lupone does not transfer with the production.

As for a house, I would put my life savings on the Cort theatre.

[TotallyEffed]

Of course Patti sells tickets, but Jordan is not wrong in saying that selling tickets doesn’t equal a hit.

[broadwayboy222]

As much as I adore Laura Benanti, vocally alone, she is all wrong for Bobbie, as is evidenced by Rosalie Craig’s performance, Bobbi needs to have belting capabilities of which, as Laura herself has stated many times, she does not have. Count me among those who truly hopes Rosalie transfers or someone like SJB is cast.

[GreasedLightning]

_(•_&bull_/ said: "War Paint sold a good Six months with Ms. Lupone. She most definitely has a bankable name.”

Selling “good” for six months means absolutely nothing if the show closed at a total loss. It did. .

“As for a house, I would put my life savings on the Cort theatre. "

Best of luck to you on this guess. Very unlikely. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Stephanie J Block could not possibly be more wrong for the role of Bobbi. She is a decade too old to play the part. A part where the character's age is important to the story. I bet anyone suggesting her for the role hasn't seen the show, since you're suggesting a woman in her late 40's to play a character who is celebrating her 35th birthday. It's kind of what the whole musical is about....

Patti does sell tickets, and if the show is received well and gets great reviews, it will do well. However, if they want a smash hit you can pair Lupone (a Broadway legend) with someone like Anne Hathaway (a movie star and Oscar winner). The show would struggle with Patti alone. Even if they paired her with Benanti, who would be great and can belt/mix enough to sing the role just fine. I also think most of the smaller supporting roles can be stunt cast quite easily.

As for the Cort, that thing is a pile of bricks. I hope this doesn't go anywhere close to that dump.

[AEA AGMA SM]

_(•_&bull_/ said: "War Paint sold a good Six months with Ms. Lupone. She most definitely has a bankable name."

Let's be real. War Paint sold ok for about three and a half months (and even it's "ok" sales would have taken forever to offer recoupment if it had been able to sustain even those numbers). After that it slipped pretty quickly and from July through the rest of its run it had only four weeks where it broke 50% of its gross potential, and not even one of those weeks managed to crack 54%. That does not in any shape or form imply that Ms. LuPone, as talented and respected as she may be, is a bankable name.