He has a fantastic voice and killer looks. Swooon. He would make a great Billy Flynn in "Chicago". Whether he would want to do a Broadway musical is another story. But we can dream?
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
I thought Marsden was a revelation in HAIRSPRAY. But his height is listed as 5'10", which probably means he is 5'8". Pretty as he is, I'm not sure he has the physical stature to play Stone or Cinderella's Prince on stage.
^ There's a reason why someone like Joel Grey was never cast in traditional leading man roles. And it's not because he couldn't sing and act them.
For those who like Marsden nudity, there's a great full-body shot in DEATH OF A FUNERAL. But the shot also reveals that, like many movie stars including Mel Gibson, Marsden is a little guy with a big head. NOTE: YES, I KNOW HOW THIS PARAGRAPH READS, BUT NOTHING IN IT IS A DOUBLE ENTENDRE. The shot in question shows his back side.
I dunno. I think a casting director may be willing to make an exception for someone like Marsden. If Daniel Radcliffe (5'5"), Matthew Broderick (5'8"), and Darren Kriss (5'7") can do it (albeit, they're probably slightly bigger box office draws), I think Marsden (who is a much better suited to musical theatre than those guys) would be fine.
And I think Joel Gray was never cast as a traditional romantic lead because... he isn't a traditional romantic lead, in addition to his height (5'5") which would make him difficult to cast opposite many stage actresses. He's a wonderful performer, but he doesn't exactly read particularly masculine or conventionally attractive, and his voice is not suited to much of the standard baritone material. It would not be too difficult to find a leading lady to play opposite Marsden at 5'8"ish.
^ There's a reason why the actors you mention played Finch rather than Curly in OKLAHOMA!
(Although I must admit that when I met an elderly Alfred Drake, I was shocked how short he was in person. But of course everyone was shorter in his day.)
Just because Marsden is "dreamy" on screen doesn't mean he is right for John Raitt/John Cullum/Howard Keel/James Naughton roles.
ETA: the casting issue goes far beyond whether Marsden is as tall as his leading lady. Updated On: 6/28/14 at 09:41 PM
^ True, but I don't think anyone is asking for him to headline a Bart Sher-directed revival from the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon -- just for him to do SOMETHING on Broadway. I think the aforementioned Billy Flynn would be a good fit, but I think he's too good to waste on that production.
EDIT: Okay, I can see how he might not work for some of the aforementioned roles (Cinderella's Prince in ITW, etc.), but I think there is a place for him on Broadway, even if it isn't that particular cut of lead.
Je-sus! All this talk about height is hilarious. Height certainly didn't keep Tom Cruise from being one of the biggest stars of all time. Unless it's specific to the script a la Cinderella's prince in ITW ["Well, he's tall..." "Is that all?"] who cares? He's a talented, attractive, charismatic performer. He's leading man material in my eyes.
Marsden has been offered several Broadway shows over the years and has passed on all of them. He's never had much interest in performing on stage, it seems. Here's hoping that changes in the future.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.