And I always wanted to be Madame Rose in Gypsy, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and the Witch from Into the Woods...and Sally and Phyllis in Follies, Desiree in A Little Night Music...
I don't know if it's true, but there's a rumor that they were considering a male witch for the 2002 revival of Into the Woods. I could actually see that one working the easiest in terms of switching genders. Wouldn't change the story that much at all.
I don't think a Mr. Lovett would really change the story that much either if it was done that way.
Didn't they do an all gay male version of Company a few years ago at some college or something? I remember heard that Sondheim actually signed off on it, too. I would have to have seen it. It sounds like a neat idea.
Billy Porter was strongly considered for The Witch in the ITW revival around ten years ago.
The current Pippin has a female Leading Player, and there have been many female Emcees in Cabaret.
I've seen men in drag play Mother Burnside in Mame, Miss lynch in Grease, and of course there are the shows written to have men play women, like Hairspray and Ruthless.
There was a production of Into the Woods in Philadelphia years ago which was done in the style of a British "panto" - with Jack played by a girl, and Jack's Mother and Cindererella's sepmother played by men.
Many productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella have cast men as the two stepsisters.
So far people are talking about making clear changes to both libretto and music to fit someone playing the opposite gender. I wonder if anyone has seen a contralto or countertenor playing a male or female role (respectively) without the music being transposed, with the audience supposed to be believing that the character is a boy, not a boy being played by a girl, done so that if you didn't look at the name in the program you wouldn't realize the actor was of the opposite sex. Do you think this could work?
I will play Sally Bowles one day. I think a man can play her without changing a thing in the script. Except I'd be cutting Cliff's solo and adding "Maybe This Time".
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)
I'd play it as a man playing a woman. Sally isn't supposed to be a good singer, and she was said to have a low, husky voice, so the singing wouldn't be an issue, and nothing would have to change in the script, so no unintentional hilarity would ensue.
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)