Alice Ripley's replacement in N2N?- Page 4

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 3:17am

2 Words.... Polly Holliday!

[Kelly2]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 3:31am

Haven Burton would also need to improve her mediocre acting skills and look about 10 years older. Saw her "star" in Legally Blonde and was not at all impressed. Don't really get the hype with her. She's got a killer voice, but she doesn't seem "star quality" to me.

Updated On: 8/14/09 at 03:31 AM

[moowithme85]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 8:32am

Have to admit, I have not seen much of the West Wing, although I saw a few episodes here and there and was not overly impressed. I'm basing my opinion on the other shows I've seen her in: Away We Go, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Juno, 10 Things..., and of course, 9 to 5. I'll admit that I enjoyed her in each of these, but would not have put her on my list of emotionally raw actresses. Although, if her performance in West Wing was as incredible as you are saying, I could stand corrected.

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 11:36am

I think this show could run past the original cast if it still sells well. After all, these performances are MUCH less iconic than the original Rent cast, but that show survived a long time.

Plus, this is Alice Ripley, in, NEXT TO NORMAL. not

Alice Ripley
IS
"Next to Normal"

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 11:38am

I think Ripley's performance will be remembered as quite iconic, actually.

[bardolator]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:02pm

"I just can;t believe that people are suggesting, not here but on other sites, that Stephanie J. Block should play this part."
Agreed.

"I mean, we need someone who can act! Stephanie doesn't really belong in that categorie."
Disagreed.
Updated On: 8/14/09 at 01:02 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:04pm

I think this show can run a long time even after Ripley if a strong Diana is cast. I think this show speaks to people on a visceral level and people are loving that journey.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 10:40am

"I'm not sure what Kelly2 means by saying that Kaitlin Hopkins has the voice Ripley lacks since Ripley gives a brilliant vocal performance in NEXT TO NORMAL. Her voice never fails to blow me away."
The one thing that people have to remember with Alice Ripley's voice is that it is VERY different and it is not for everyone. At first, I couldn't listen to her sing...but after a little while, I got used to the unique tones in her voice. I still don't find her to be pleasant to listen to, but I don't mind her voice at all. She's just one of those singers (like DRV) who splits audience members with her unique voice.

[Trina55]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 11:11am

To run beyond the original cast, they'd need to employ some stunt casting.

My idea (in dreamland) is Megan Mullally. Not sure how she'd do with such a dramatic role, but I really think she has the vocal chops to pull it off.
Updated On: 8/16/09 at 11:11 AM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 11:57am

"I just can;t believe that people are suggesting, not here but on other sites, that Stephanie J. Block should play this part."
Agreed."

I'm one of Stephanie's biggest fans, but I'm not so sure if I fell any pain for the character if I saw her sing "I Miss the Mountains."

[NakedMaid]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 1:52pm

Carolee Carmello!!!

[NakedMaid]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 1:52pm

Carolee Carmello!!!

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:00pm

I do not get the Haven Burton obsession at all. She's not in the right age range for this part. Not even slightly. How would one believe she had birthed two teenage children?

I would go ape-**** for Julia in this role. I think she and Alice have many similar qualities. It could most definitely work. After Alice, she's the actress my mind immediately jumps to for Diana.

However, I would love to hear Megan Mullally sing "I Miss The Mountains."

As for SJB, she could definitely make it work. She's a phenomenal actress and her voice is unstoppable, but that is where the problem is for her and this role. She's unstoppable. This role, in my opinion, calls for an actress with a bit more vulnerability, not an unstoppable force of nature.

Alison Fraser could be wonderful.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:01pm

I dont think they need to stunt cast. Exactly the opposite, they need to quality cast. Everyone thought the Original Cast of RENT was the second coming of Christ and no one could picture it without the originals. It did exceptionally well. I think the story is drawing people in. I think people are having strong emotional reactions to the story and they are relating deeply to aspects of it. I think it will continue to do well with a Diana who can sing the part and bring the emotions every night. Actually Dana Fuchs from Across The Universe comes to mind. She can sing the rock and bring the frenetic emotion. I think the actress needs to be comfortable with rock music and with edgy acting. I don't think Murney, Mullally or Carmello have the chops. I've seen Megan in concert and she could not sing the part of Diana 8 times a week. Her voice was strained from doing limited concert work. There is a reason she had 2 songs in YF.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:02pm

Dana Fuchs isn't bad, but she's really a poor man's Orfeh, especially vocally.

The only conceivable problem I could see for Orfeh in this role is the fact that she looks too young to be the mother of two kids as old as Natalie and Gabe. Also, she's a little beyond being someone's replacement, IMO, but that's neither here nor there.

Updated On: 8/16/09 at 02:02 PM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 3:18pm

"As for SJB, she could definitely make it work. She's a phenomenal actress and her voice is unstoppable, but that is where the problem is for her and this role. She's unstoppable. This role, in my opinion, calls for an actress with a bit more vulnerability."

I felt she brought vulnerabiltiy when I saw her play Elphaba in 2005. I also felt she brought more when she performed alongside Sebastian during her Broadway run. However, I'm still not sure if she'd bring enough of it if she were to play the role of Diana.
Updated On: 8/16/09 at 03:18 PM

[romgitsean]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 3:31pm

SJB...maybe. If she pushed herself.

DAPHNE RUBEN-VEGA?! Maybe in an alternate universe where she could sing! Ha!

Orpeh...now, there's an idea.

Alice Ripley although she's an incredible actress, at times her voice can be quite insufferable. I saw the show on Thursday night...pretty good. I saw the revival of Hair the day before, and by comparison, Hair is much better.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:17pm

I'm sorry, but SJB is not a phenomenal actress. She would be a disaster as Diana.

[ElizabethCurrie]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:24pm

Carolee Carmello! Yes!

[Kelly2]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:36pm

Not sure why people think SJB would be good for this. She looks a solid 5 years younger than Ripley, maybe more, and her acting isn't something to write home about.

[jansal]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:46pm

I don't think it's a problem if Diana looks a bit younger. I mean we don't want her TOO, young, but...

I vote Raul Esparza. He can do anything!

[heo1128]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:53pm

SJB would be a disaster as Diana. I don't really get the hype about her...she over acts in everything.

[.x.EdEnEsPiNosA.x.]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 5:11pm

Stephanie's style of acting seems to be making it look as contrived and overdramatic as possible. Not a good choice for this role.

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 5:19pm

A part of me would love to see LaChanze as Diana.

[QuiteSo]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 5:39pm

Jessica Molaskey, anyone?