2014 ENCORES! Announced - LITTLE ME with Christian Borle, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA with Shuler Henlsey & IRMA LA DOUCE

[Rob]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:29pm

Click Here to Read Breaking News: 2014 ENCORES! Announced - LITTLE ME with Christian Borle, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA with Shuler Henlsey & IRMA LA DOUCE

[dreaming]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:38pm

These excite me much more than this year's offerings. Irma La Douce is of particular interest and I wonder who they'll cast in the title role.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:39pm

Sounds like a fun season.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:40pm

ooo this is an exciting season!

[somethingbypuccini 2]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:41pm

I can't wait! Really excited to hear the Encores orchestra play The Most Happy Fella.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:41pm

Shuler Hensley as Tony (Esposito)?! Yes please!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 1:42pm

This sounds like a terrific season, and both actors should be terrific in their respective roles.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 2:34pm

IRMA LA DOUCE is one of these classic 1960's musical comedies that has pretty much vanished from the reperetoire. The 1963 film cut all of the songs an played it as a basic comedy. There has never been any kind of revival on Broadway. I recall reading some years ago that the rights were in limbo and the show was unavailable for performance. The only time I have seen this staged was a delightful production at the Startford Festival in 1989.

The cast album (still in print on CD from Sony) makes a strong case for the show. I hope Encores will do it justice.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 2:50pm

I can't wait! What a great lineup!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:08pm

Good casting.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:13pm

I'm honestly not overly familiar with Irma La Douce, but do any of you have dream casting for the title role? (or any of the roles in any of the shows, really)

[jv92]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:16pm

FYI: A pre-Fred Ebb John Kander did dance arrangements for IRMA LA DOUCE.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:20pm

Seriously, this news made my day.

She might be "long-in-the-tooth" for Rosabella, but after Kelli O'Hara's splendid Julie in CAROUSEL, I wouldn't mind seeing her do it. And I'm usually the first one to say, "Please not Kelli, again!", as wonderful as she is. Just not Kate Baldwin, who's all wrong for the part.

Vicki Clark as Marie, Tony's sister, maybe?



Updated On: 5/21/13 at 03:20 PM

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:23pm

well, looks Like I'm moving to New York for a few months!

If a CBorle-led Little Me doesnt make the move to broadway there is no Justice in the World.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:26pm

LITTLE ME has a terrific score, and it's hysterical, but if any of these shows are a "lost masterpiece", it's MOST HAPPY FELLA. It's done enough, and people know it, but not like they know that OTHER show that opened in 1956.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:48pm

JV: Wasn't sure what show you were talking about, but did a quik search. What a great year for musicals (and an certain operetta)!


1956 Musicals

[somethingbypuccini 2]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:49pm

Jv, have you heard Kelli's Somebody, Somewhere? It's really wonderful.

[Jon]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:49pm

Megan Hilty should co-star opposite Borle.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 3:57pm

I love Most Happy Fella so so much. I saw a gorgeous regional production in Houston in the 90s and have longed to see it again fully staged with a big orchestra. To me, it's one of the landmarks of dramatic musical theatre and I would still love to see this made into a feature film (all the underscoring is already so cinematic).

Sutton Foster and Curtis Holbrook as Cleo and Herman, please.
kthnx

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 4:00pm

I even loved the NYCO production of FELLA starring a bizarre Paul Sorvino. I think the show is astounding. I simply cannot wait!

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 4:13pm

I seem to recall reading an interview with Rob Fisher where he said he would definitely return to conduct at Encores if they did MOST HAPPY FELLA. I love Rob's conducting, so I hope that is indeed the case.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 4:19pm

A friend has described Irma La Douce as the only show that hasn't been revived that deserves to be revived.

Any production of The Most Happy Fella is welcome.

And with Little Me, I hope Encores uses the original book and two Belles. That version works.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 4:19pm

In Irma, how about Cheyenne as the boyfriend and Nathan Lane as the narrator? I saw the original and it was one of the most delightful things I've ever seen on the stage, anytime, anywhere.

Posted: 5/21/13 at 4:58pm

This sounds fantastic! I hope they record all three again, but especially LITTLE ME. I hope they use the original version and not the revisions.

Also, I agree with Jon that it'd be great to see Megan Hilty as Belle.

Updated On: 5/21/13 at 04:58 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 5:10pm

Every year I patiently wait for them to announce MACK & MABEL and they never do, here's to another year. Hard to complain with this line-up though, sounds exactly like the kind of shows Encores! should be doing...speaking of Hilty and MACK & MABEL, she'd be an ideal Mabel.