Eliza? - My Fair Lady Revival 2018

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Can we just import Samantha Barks (Amelie; Eponine in the Les Miz movie and 25th Anniversary Concert)?

[MikeInTheDistrict]

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[froote]

MikeInTheDistrict said: "Can we just import Samantha Barks (Amelie; Eponine in the Les Miz movie and 25th Anniversary Concert)?"

The only person that would actively put me off.

[GeorgeandDot]

I'm pretty sure that she's an alto.  I think she is.  Idk, she's pretty boring.  She suffers from the same thing that Sierra Boggess does, they're really boring.  They're pretty and have beautiful voices, but they are extremely vanilla.

I like Laura Osnes, but she's not a good comedic actress and the role will be quite a strain on her voice.  She's still wonderful, though.

[Robbie2]

GeorgeandDot said: "I'm pretty sure that she's an alto.  I think she is.  Idk, she's pretty boring.  She suffers from the same thing that Sierra Boggess does, they're really boring.  They're pretty and have beautiful voices, but they are extremely vanilla.

I like Laura Osnes, but she's not a good comedic actress and the role will be quite a strain on her voice.  She's still wonderful, though.

 

"yup ur right

 

[poisonivy2]

I know it seems weird on the surface but Sara Bareilles? When I saw her as Jenna she really impressed me with her earthy sense of humor and also her consistent Southern accent. She also is one of those women who has the ability to look either girl-next-door or stunningly beautiful.  

[GeorgeandDot]

poisonivy2 said: "I know it seems weird on the surface but Sara Bareilles? When I saw her as Jenna she really impressed me with her earthy sense of humor and also her consistent Southern accent. She also is one of those women who has the ability to look either girl-next-door or stunningly beautiful.  

Classical soprano.....?????

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

MikeInTheDistrict said: "Can we just import Samantha Barks (Amelie; Eponine in the Les Miz movie and 25th Anniversary Concert)?"

She is my personal choice.

[broadwaysfguy]

i like samantha barks and saw her in amelie in berkeley

i was surprised her stage presence was not "star"

level and dont think shes best for eliza in nyc

also have seen sierra boggess onstage and she has star presnce and would crush the eliza role

 

[Elfuhbuh]

I honestly hope they cast a younger, unknown actress who can do the role justice, like Julie Andrews way back in the beginning. I'm a bit perplexed by a couple responses in here claiming they won't even see the show if Laura Benanti doesn't get the part; don't you want to give other actresses a chance to prove themselves? 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Lawd, please do not cast PHILLIPA SOO and subject us all to "Wouldn't It Be Nasally." Ugh.

[froote]

Phillipa's voice is ever so slightly nasal, not enough that it's a problem or would cost her roles. You're the only person I've seen that has a major issue with it, but then you're also the only person I've seen that thinks Andy Karl now has an ego and depression from not winning a Tony so it makes sense.

[dramamama611]

Elfuhbah....most of that is just hyperbole.  (and/or they aren't likely to see it anyway)

 

I don't care who they cast (I mean, I CARE, but only so that it can be wonderful).   I just wanna see it in all its beautiful gloriousness.

[little_sally]

Now that someone has suggested Ashley Park, I can't get the idea out of my head.

[givesmevoice]

I would love to see Mikaela Bennett, who was a lovely Penelope in The Golden Apple at Encores, as Eliza, if we're going for a young unknown.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "CurtainPullDowner said: "Phillipa Soo is the perfect choice and age, and would be the most Exciting Choice."

The question I have about that is has Bartlett Sher ever done colorblind casting in any of his productions?

 

Sher cast Ann Sanders, who is Asian as an Anna understudy in THE KING AND I and she went on several times (I saw her and she was wonderful.)  You don't get more colorblind casting than an Asian Anna."

 

[bwayandstuff]

Throwing another name into the ring just for fun. What about Christy Altomare? Might be an interesting idea to entertain...

[Robbie2]

bwayandstuff said: "Throwing another name into the ring just for fun. What about Christy Altomare? Might be an interesting idea to entertain...

 

"

Christy...O no, all wrong for Eliza! 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Awww. Christy would probably be a delightful Eliza. 

[froote]

Yeah I think Christy could do well but I expect she'll stay with Anastasia for at least the full year so I don't see it happening.

[henrikegerman]

CurtainPullDowner said: "Sher cast Ann Sanders, who is Asian as an Anna understudy in THE KING AND I and she went on several times (I saw her and she was wonderful.)  You don't get more colorblind casting than an Asian Anna."

Point taken.
however, in actual fact Anna Leonowens was a biracial Eurasian.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/books/review/Price-t.html

 

 

"

 

[VintageSnarker]

givesmevoice said: "I would love to see Mikaela Bennett, who was a lovely Penelope in The Golden Apple at Encores, as Eliza, if we're going for a young unknown.

Ooh, I didn't see Golden Apple but her voice sounded lovely in those rehearsal/press clips. Do you think she could do the comedy and the cockney half of Eliza?

 

[givesmevoice]

VintageSnarker said: "givesmevoice said: "I would love to see Mikaela Bennett, who was a lovely Penelope in The Golden Apple at Encores, as Eliza, if we're going for a young unknown.

Ooh, I didn't see Golden Apple but her voice sounded lovely in those rehearsal/press clips. Do you think she could do the comedy and the cockney half of Eliza?"

I'm actually not sure, but I know she could sing the hell out of it!

(I'm also totally on board with Ashley Park, who I know could do the comedy.)

[henrikegerman]

The only concern I might have about certain non-traditional casting choices for Eliza is Karpathy's conclusion about who this Miss Doolittle is.

How would it play for Karpathy to take Cynthia Errivo or Ashley Park for a Royal Hungarian?  (I'm sure it wouldn't play at all unusually with Soo by the way)

On the other hand, the potentially comic implications of such an unorthodox seeming conclusion might resonate well with the themes of identity, speech, appearances, and verbal and other class distinctions imbedded in My Fair Lady.  After all, no matter who's playing Eliza, Karpathy's verdict is meant to be funny.

[Valentina3]

henrikegerman said: "CurtainPullDowner said: "Sher cast Ann Sanders, who is Asian as an Anna understudy in THE KING AND I and she went on several times (I saw her and she was wonderful.)  You don't get more colorblind casting than an Asian Anna."

Point taken. However, in actual fact Anna Leonowens was a biracial Eurasian.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/books/review/Price-t.html "

This article is all sorts of blasphemous for a The King & I lover, haha (and I don't claim to be one). The Anna we know from the show is far from a "gifted con woman". I guess that's a little subjective. The woman sounds like someone who did what she had to do to survive in what I'm sure was a difficult environment for a widow born in Bombay, India.