Casting rumors that never happened, but you wish did

[Call_me_jorge]

What are some casting rumors that’s you’ve heard that never saw the light of day, but you still wish(ed) had happened?

[TotallyEffed]

Liza as The Chaperone.

[BrodyFosse123]

Madonna was rumored to be in talks to replace Natasha Richardson in the 1998 Broadway revival of CABARET.  Due to the intimate staging at the Kit Kat Klub (aka the Henry Miller Theatre), Madonna wanted high level of security measures they couldn't provide which gave way for Jennifer Jason Leigh taking over the role.  A few months into Leigh's run the Henry Miller Theatre suffered major flooding which is how CABARET moved over to the legendary Studio 54 and remained there for its entire run and turned it into a legitimate theatre again.  

[NOWaWarning]

Benanti as Eliza Doolittle.

[theoriginoflove]

Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake or Miley Cyrus as Hedwig in HATAI.

It would have brought a lot of people to see the show. Wish the broadway run/ tour ran longer.

Also Lady Gaga would have been amazing.

[darquegk]

Elvis Presley as the singing voice AND acting role of Tony in the film "West Side Story." Damn Col. Tom Parker for putting the kibosh on that.

[Valentina3]

Kristin Chenoweth as

[Mildred Plotka]

LuPone in Dolly
Pink in Hedwig
Audra and Oprah in ‘Night Mother
Audra in Kiss of the Spider Woman
Ann Hathaway in Promises, Promises

[BroadwayConcierge]

I’m still holding out for Heather Headley in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Would be freaking incredible.

[nasty_khakis]

I think there's a difference in rumor vs "did readings but didn't play the production"

Hathaway did readings of Promises and Audra did readings of Spiderwoman and that idea isn't dead right now.

[Allegra23]

Colin Firth and Anne Hathaway in My Fair Lady.

[poisonivy2]

Tony played by Jerome Robbins' then-lover Montgomery Clift. But this was before Montgomery Clift's car accident and drug/alcohol issues made him unemployable.

[bwayphreak234]

Nicole Scherzinger as the Leading Player in Pippin.

[BrodyFosse123]

Tony played by Jerome Robbins' then-lover Montgomery Clift. But this was before Montgomery Clift's car accident and drug/alcohol issues made him unemployable.

What on Earth are you talking about?   Montgomery Clift only inspired Robbins to update and modernize ROMEO AND JULIET.   This was around the late 1940s.   Clift was never even suggested nor ever considered for WEST SIDE STORY.   His famous car accident happened in 1956; WEST SIDE STORY debuted on Broadway in 1957 and the film adaptation went into production in 1960.  

[The Other One]

BrodyFosse123 said: "Tony played by Jerome Robbins' then-lover Montgomery Clift. But this was before Montgomery Clift's car accident and drug/alcohol issues made him unemployable.

What on Earth are you talking about? Montgomery Clift only inspired Robbins to update and modernize ROMEO AND JULIET. This was around the late 1940s. Clift was never even suggested nor ever considered for WEST SIDE STORY. His famous car accident happened in 1956; WEST SIDE STORY debuted on Broadway in 1957 and the film adaptation went into production in 1960."

Add to this that Montgomery Clift was not a singer.  This was never a rumor.

 

[CindersGolightly]

Marilyn Monroe in "Damn Yankees" and Britney Spears in "Sweet Charity."

[GeorgeandDot]

Michael Cerveris replacing Josh Groban in The Great Comet.

Also, Laura Benanti and Colin Firth in My Fair Lady.

[trpguyy]

Mandy Patinkin in Great Comet (too soon?)

Liza was slated to go into the Pippin revival, but Josh Kauffman tanked the box office before it could happen.

[BJR]

BrodyFosse123 said: "Madonna was rumored to be in talks to replace Natasha Richardson in the 1998 Broadway revival of CABARET. Due to the intimate staging at the Kit Kat Klub (aka the Henry Miller Theatre), Madonna wanted high level of security measures they couldn't provide which gave way for Jennifer Jason Leigh taking over the role. A few months into Leigh's run the Henry Miller Theatre suffered major flooding which is how CABARET moved over to the legendary Studio 54 and remained there for its entire run and turned it into a legitimate theatre again."

It has always made me so sad this didn't happen. I actually think she'd have made a great Sally. And that production's interpretation would have shown off her talents and cushioned her more limited abilities to good effect. If only.

[markypoo]

Jack Benny (in drag - seriously!) in Hello, Dolly!

The Pointer Sisters in an abandoned tour of Over Here!

Rick Moranis/Tony Danza and Sheryl Lee Ralph in The Goodbye Girl.

[BJR]

trpguyy said: "Liza was slated to go into the Pippin revival, but Josh Kauffman tanked the box office before it could happen."

Wait, really? I can't imagine she was able to be insured, and they would've restaged it without the acrobatics, right?

[trpguyy]

Yes. There’s was going to be a “Winter of Stars” marketing campaign, where a bunch of divas of a certain age would come in for a week or two and boost sales. No acrobatics, just park and bark a la the original.

[Dollypop]

Melania Trump in MAME

[Bwayfan292]

Ana Villafane as jenna in Waitress

Jessica Vosk in the ensemble/ Eliza Cover in My Fair Lady

Eva Nobelzada as Eliza in Hamilton

[Alex Kulak2]

I don't know if it counts, but that joke at the Tony's where Josh Gad said he'd be playing Pseudolous in Forum.