Casting of Helen Sinclair- Page 4

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/7/13 at 3:07pm

That they EVER thought Marin Mazzie had the correct comedic chops to play the role sounds to me like it was much more that creator's fault than Marin's.

Yes, Shirley Henderson would be brilliant.

I still am holding out hope for Jane Krakowski. Wouldn't it be nice to have Helen be played by someone who the protagonist might actually be able to get it up for..?

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/7/13 at 3:28pm

Marin has wonderful "comedic chops." She just didn't understand Helen (apparently). But she can be hilarious on stage.

As we've seen with other "funny people," they can't play every comedic role that comes along.

Did you see her in "Kiss Me, Kate?"

[Wynbish]

Posted: 9/7/13 at 3:37pm

Somehow, I can't picture Jane Krakowski shouting, "I do Electra! I do Lady Macbeth!"

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/7/13 at 3:43pm

I honestly think they need to cast this against a "type." I would never ever in a million years have thought Dianne Wiest could have played Helen in the film. It's SO not who she is. Not remotely her usual screen persona.

... which is why I think they need to do a lot of testing and auditioning and thinking outside the box.

[theeatah]

Posted: 9/7/13 at 6:25pm

Ruthie Henshall could work, though not if they're set on a strong soprano.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 9/7/13 at 6:43pm

Best12, you're exactly right.

Auditions? Yep. Even Lupone auditioned.

Testing? Right again, which is why this role will not be cast until the October lab/workshop.

Woody and Stro know how important it is to get this role right, and they're doing what they can to achieve just that.

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 3:54pm

Glenn Close has announced she may be coming back to Broadway "in the not so distant future", does anybody think it could be as Helen Sinclair. I think she would be absolutely phenomenal in the role!

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/171909/ready-for-her-close-up-glenn-close-hints-at-broadway-return-in-the-not-too-distant-future/

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 3:20pm

Well, since Glenn has already played a variation on the role in Sunset it seems weird she'd want to repeat herself. She'd be wonderful in the role however, but as I've said before, it would be interesting to have a Helen that the protagonist could realistically be sexually attracted to. Krakowski ticks all the boxes for me for the role.

Besty, I'm not sure if you were referring to me about Mazzie's comic timing, but if you notice I mentioned "correct" comedic chops for that particular role. I'm not a fan of her's but my favorite thing she's ever done IS Kiss Me Kate. It did make me reevaluate her.

[bobs3]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 2:57am

Marcia Gay Harden certainly has the comedic chops for the role but I don't know whether or not she can sing plus she's currently living in Los Angeles working on a new ABC sitcom. She also just finished filming a role in Woody Allen's new untitled film.

Updated On: 9/22/13 at 02:57 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 8:01pm

Martha Plimpton (who I adore) is every bit Eden Brent, not Helen Sinclair. She's also an alto, not a soprano.

[Honandma]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 8:12pm

will not happen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Chenoweth

[musicalperson17]

Posted: 9/23/13 at 12:55am

I know she doesn't really sing, but Anjelica Huston would be just perfect for the part. Her presence and gravitas are more than enough to compensate, and I can picture her nailing the comedy. But even so, her two songs from the Smash albums, while slight, are beautifully sung.

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/3/13 at 5:37pm

Anyone heard anything about who's doing the reading or any ensemble casting?

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 10/5/13 at 11:54am

It has just been announced that Marin Mazzie will be doing Helen Sinclair for the lab/workshop to begin later this month. However, there is no commitment to cast her in the role. It's pretty obvious that they really want to get this role right. Good for them. Them being Woody and Stro.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/5/13 at 12:09pm

Good for Marin for sticking with it despite the fact that they seem hell bent on a "better bus" coming along. At this point, I wonder if it isn't merely that they want a big name (aka movie or TV star), no matter what. They could have gotten someone else (Carmello, York, etc.) for the workshop/lab, but they didn't. They stuck with Marin. She's apparently fine to develop the show and role at this late stage of the game, but isn't "good enough" (for unknown reasons) to open it on Broadway, in their eyes. That kinda sucks for her.

Perhaps this is a chance for her to develop, and grow, and wow them enough that they forget they need a "big star" in the part for box office.

Marin is enormously talented and versatile. I've worked with her. She can approach different roles different ways. Getting a second shot at Helen may be the best thing that happened for all concerned.

Take Two!

[bobs3]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 6:59am

Marin Mazzie could work her way into the role. For those of you who don't remember, Dianne Wiest was almost fired on the second day of shooting the film. Woody Allen showed her the dailies and said "you are not very good". She asked him if her wanted her to quit. He paused and suggested she try lowering her voice for the character and the rest is film history.

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 7:42am

Where was it annnounced Marin is doing the next workshop? Anyone know who's playing Eden?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:17am

This has turned into Broadway's search for Scarlett O'Hara.

It illustrates how many people perseverate on their expectations of a role. Many have seen a role played a particular way and want to see it replicated. But in the case of Wiest's Helen, even trying to replicate it would most likely be a fiasco. Copying it would be just that, a second rate imitation, and even if a good one, it would by definition lack the originality that distinguished Wiest's performance to begin with. Instead, the best way to cast this is to understand what was at the core of Helen - eccentricity, grandeur, narcissism, self-composure, theatricality - and think out of the box: who can vividly and excitingly find that in a very different way than Wiest did.

No wonder anyone, no matter how accomplished, would have to audition.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 6:10pm

This has turned into Broadway's search for Scarlett O'Hara.

Yeah, but Marin is Paulette Goddard in that scenario.

She's the one who "almost" played it, right down to the wire until they got someone else after filming had already started and Atlanta was burning.

Heigh-ho the glamorous life!

And brava, Marin, for sticking with it.

"That which does not kill you makes you stronger."

[SweetLips]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 7:40pm

Well said Henrikegerman-I would also add 'sexual-seductress' into your list of requirements for the role.