Does the Vivian Beaumont have a show booked after My Fair Lady?

[IHeartNY2]

[Bwayfan292]

Yes. Ruben and Clay’s, we are more then american idol stars musical spectacular

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

As of now, no one knows how long My Fair Lady will end up running.

[Sondheimite]

I'm sure they at least have some ideas

[IHeartNY2]

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "As of now, no one knows how longMy Fair Lady will end up running."

Oh ok. Just curious since Broadwayforbrokepeople listed a Jan. 2019 closing date.

[BroadwayRox3588]

"Broadwayforbrokepeople" doesn't exactly sound like the name of a particularly reputable website.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

I don't see why My Fair Lady would close in January, it's still making money. Plus, Laura Benanti is currently scheduled to be in the production through February 17th while Danny Burstein will be in it from January 8th-April 28th.

[SomethingPeculiar]

IHeartNY2 said: "Oh ok. Just curious since Broadwayforbrokepeople listed a Jan. 2019 closing date."

It's an open-ended run, but My Fair Lady is currently on sale through June 9, 2019. There is always the possibility that it could extend past June, that's just when the current block of tickets ends. 

If it runs until June 2019, it would have about the same run as King and I. K&I had the benefit of winning Best Revival, but My Fair Lady arguably has better name recognition, more opportunities for star-casting, and it's the only Golden Age "classic" musical on Broadway (until Kiss Me Kate this spring).

[BroadwayConcierge]

I still want to see Phillipa Soo’s Eliza Doolittle so, so badly.

[BrodyFosse123]

BroadwayConcierge said: "I still want to see Phillipa Soo’s Eliza Doolittle so, so badly."

I was a party several months ago and someone asked her about this.  She said she tried to get an audition but, in her words, “they weren’t interested.” 

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

BrodyFosse123 said: "I was a party several months ago and someone asked her about this. She said she tried to get an audition but, in her words, “they weren’t interested.”"

Ugh. Very annoying. 

To any Lincoln Center casting people reading this thread, I'll politely leave this here again...

[Sondheimite]

Let me first say that I don’t offer any conclusions in this nor am I sharing what I think on these matters.  I’m just posing the questions.  

There’s a weird thing that has to be considered and talked about.  It kinda came up in the Carousel revival.  And it has to do with the weird dichotomy of the best person for a role being a person of color but casting a person of color might be considered tonally tone deaf and insensitive.  The example being a big angry black man physically abusing a small meek white woman.   The question being:  does that casting perpetuate dangerous racial insensitivity?  And, if it does, what does it mean if the best person for Billy is a person of color?  It’s a tightrope walk of a conversation.

Luckily for the production, the concept/direction was so bad that these questions got buried.  

I think the producers of My Fair Lady are aware that it might come off as racially insensitive to have a “proper” upper class white male trying to change the “improper” linguistics of a poor female person of color.  I’m not saying if I agree or if THEY agree, per se.  I think they’re aware of what of what a damnable offense if they’re labeled as a “racist” on the internet even if the creative team was just trying to cast the best possible person in the role.

 Look what happed at Great Comet:
It was wildly reported that Oak didn’t show up to his music rehearsals.  He was so under prepared that the creator of the show had to go on for him for a while because Oak needed more and more time.  It was reported by some that Oak’s laziness contributed to this.  So Oak isn’t lighting up the box office and he’s (maybe) kinda being not so much fun to work with.  The show is sinking.  They bring in Mandy Patinkin to boost the box office and buy Oak out.  Cynthia Erivo claimed it was racist because a white man was replacing a black man.  This seemed to not be the case.  The drummer of the show posted a picture on twitter of a plant with a sign that said “poisoned oak” in front of it.  Oak knew these claims were not true (maybe) and he refused to say anything even though the cast (reportedly) begged him to dispel that is was racism.  The (uneducated) twitter masses and Erico buckled down and shot down any discussion.  Mandy Patinkin pulled out because the backlash was so bad.  The show closed.  Because of “racism.”

Producers are scared of being the next to have that happen to them and it sadly might be having the opposite effects intended by decreasing the number of people of color getting cast in leading roles (which is terrible).  
 
Again, I offer few opinions I'm just sharing some factors that might be coming into play when it come to Phillipa.

[LizzieCurry]

BroadwayRox3588, seriously? It's been around for years and is very dependable.

[Kimbo]

Sondheimite said: "Let me first say that I don’t offer any conclusions in this nor am I sharing what I think on these matters. I’m just posing the questions.

There’s a weird thing that has to be considered and talked about. It kinda came up in the Carousel revival. And it has to do with the weird dichotomy of the best person for a role being a person of color but casting a person of color might be considered tonally tone deaf and incentive. The example being a big angry black man physically abusing a small meek white woman. The question being: does that casting perpetuate dangerous racial insensitivity? And, if it does, what does it mean if the best person for Billy is a person of color? It’s a tight rope walk of a conversation.

Luckily for the production, the concept/direction was so bad that these questions got buried.



I think the producers of My Fair Lady are aware that it might come off as racially insensitive to have a “proper” upper class white male trying to change the “improper” linguistics of a poor female person of color. I’m not saying if I agree or if THEY agree, per se. I think they’re aware of what of what a damnable offense if they’re labeled as a “racist” on the internet even if the creative team was just trying to cast the best possible person in the role.

Look what happed at Great Comet:
It was wildly reported that Oak didn’t show up to his music rehearsals. He was so under prepared that the creator of the show had to go on for him for a while because Oak needed more and more time. It was reported by some that Oak’s laziness contributed to this. So Oak isn’t lighting up the box office and he’s (maybe) kinda being not so much fun to work with. The show is sinking. They bring in Mandy Patinkin to boost the box office and buy Oak out. Cynthia Erivo claimed it was racist because a white man was replacing a black man. This seemed to not be the case. The drummer of the show posted a picture on twitter of a plant with a sign that said “poisoned oak” in front of it. Oak knew these claims were not true (maybe) and he refused to say anything even though the cast (reportedly) begged him to dispel that is was racism. The (uneducated) twitter massesand Erico buckled down and shot down any discussion. Mandy Patinkin pulled out because the backlash was so bad. The show closed. Because of “racism.”

Producers are scared of being the next to have that happen to them and it sadly might be having the opposite effects intended by decreasing the number of people of color getting cast in leading roles (which is terrible).

Again, I offer few opinions I'm just sharing some factors that might be coming into play when it come to Phillipa."

This is very well said, and I’m sure is on the minds of many casting directors, possibly more so than ever in the current politically sensitive and happily gender-conscious moment we're living in.  After the debacle of "The Great Comet" and the questions raised about "Carousel", I personally think that (rightly or wrongly) we're more likely to see quote-unquote non-traditional casting in shows where the ethnicity doesn't really matter (Audra in "Frankie and Johnny", playing a role previously played by Kathy Bates, Edie Falco and Rosie Perez), or in productions where the production is conceived with such a thing in mind (the all-African-American productions of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Streetcar" over the last decade come to mind).  But, at least for the foreseeable future and until the world simmers down a bit, and whether one agrees this is fair or not, I woudln't be expecting to see a Lilli Vanessi of color replacing Kelli O'Hara any more than I'd be expecting to see, say, a Latina-cast Effie in Dreamgirls.

[Jonwo]

SomethingPeculiar said: "IHeartNY2 said: "Oh ok. Just curious since Broadwayforbrokepeople listed a Jan. 2019 closing date."

It's an open-ended run, butMy Fair Ladyis currently on sale through June 9, 2019. There is always the possibility that it could extend past June, that's just when the current block of tickets ends.

If it runs until June 2019, it would have about the same run asKing and I.K&I had the benefit of winningBest Revival, butMy Fair Lady arguablyhas bettername recognition, more opportunities for star-casting, and it's the only Golden Age "classic" musical on Broadway (untilKiss Me Kate this spring)."

I wouldn't be shocked if they cast a name for Higgins when HHP leaves. Maybe if they another want Downton alumni, perhaps Dan Stevens? I'd also could see Damian Lewis in the role although he'd have to do it in the down time of Billions. 

[StardustsChild]

Sondheimite said: "Let me first say that I don’t offer any conclusions in this nor am I sharing what I think on these matters. I’m just posing the questions.

There’s a weird thing that has to be considered and talked about. It kinda came up in the Carousel revival. And it has to do with the weird dichotomy of the best person for a role being a person of color but casting a person of color might be considered tonally tone deaf and incentive. The example being a big angry black man physically abusing a small meek white woman. The question being: does that casting perpetuate dangerous racial insensitivity? And, if it does, what does it mean if the best person for Billy is a person of color? It’s a tight rope walk of a conversation.

Luckily for the production, the concept/direction was so bad that these questions got buried.



I think the producers of My Fair Lady are aware that it might come off as racially insensitive to have a “proper” upper class white male trying to change the “improper” linguistics of a poor female person of color. I’m not saying if I agree or if THEY agree, per se. I think they’re aware of what of what a damnable offense if they’re labeled as a “racist” on the internet even if the creative team was just trying to cast the best possible person in the role.

Look what happed at Great Comet:
It was wildly reported that Oak didn’t show up to his music rehearsals. He was so under prepared that the creator of the show had to go on for him for a while because Oak needed more and more time. It was reported by some that Oak’s laziness contributed to this. So Oak isn’t lighting up the box office and he’s (maybe) kinda being not so much fun to work with. The show is sinking. They bring in Mandy Patinkin to boost the box office and buy Oak out. Cynthia Erivo claimed it was racist because a white man was replacing a black man. This seemed to not be the case. The drummer of the show posted a picture on twitter of a plant with a sign that said “poisoned oak” in front of it. Oak knew these claims were not true (maybe) and he refused to say anything even though the cast (reportedly) begged him to dispel that is was racism. The (uneducated) twitter massesand Erico buckled down and shot down any discussion. Mandy Patinkin pulled out because the backlash was so bad. The show closed. Because of “racism.”

Producers are scared of being the next to have that happen to them and it sadly might be having the opposite effects intended by decreasing the number of people of color getting cast in leading roles (which is terrible).

Again, I offer few opinions I'm just sharing some factors that might be coming into play when it come to Phillipa."

Just wanted to pop in and say that this is incredibly well written, and is a point people tends to gloss over when "dream casting" until it happens and the issue blows up in their face. Radcliffe has a great monologue at the end of Lifespan of A Fact about how the internet has warped the lines between Truth and Conspiracy - I'm going to dig out my copy of the script when I get home and post a few quotes from it HERE because I think it is a similar argument to what you are making here. 

Thank you so much for you consistently thoughtful posts on these boards Sondheimite, I always look forward to seeing you chime in on a thread. 

[Sondheimite]

StardustsChild said: "Thank you so much for you consistently thoughtful posts on these boards Sondheimite, I always look forward to seeing you chime in on a thread."

Thank you so much for the kind words!  They are greatly appreciated! :)



 

[GeorgeandDot]

I'm hoping My Fair Lady has a long and prosperous run. However, I do wonder what they'll do next. I'd love to see them do a new musical again. Has the Beaumont housed an original musical since Piazza?

[teatime2]

Hadestown

[uncageg]

BroadwayRox3588 said: ""Broadwayforbrokepeople" doesn't exactly sound like the name of a particularly reputable website."

I am thinking that was sarcasm. If not, it is a reputable site. I have used that site for years. People here have orten referred to and suggested it's use. She runs the site on her own, last I heard. Sometimes the updates are late but she has maintained that site, and pretty well, for a long time.

 

[BobbyBubby]

Is it necessary to quote entire lengthy posts when responding? Can’t we just say the poster’s name or quote small sections when necessary? It makes threads tedious to read and engage in.

[natashalost]

Sondheimite, such a thoughtful and well written post. I think the points you brought up are very important. However, as a person of color I see no problem with this. I think the idea of an wealthy “proper” man trying to “fix” a poor “improper” woman is already problematic, and now audiences see that more than ever with this production. With a person of color portraying Eliza, it would only add new meaning and relevance to the show, especially with regards to intersectionality of class, gender, and now race.

This has been done before with Bendlam’s production of Pygmalion in London, which was a tremendous success, where Eliza was played by an Indian actress.

I hope producers won’t allow the Oak controversy to prevent them from casting a woman of color in this role. It would be a tremendous opportunity

[Sondheimite]

natashalost said: "Sondheimite, such a thoughtful and well written post. I think the points you brought up are very important. However, as a person of color I see no problem with this. I think the idea of an wealthy “proper” man trying to “fix” a poor “improper” woman is already problematic, and now audiences see that more than ever with this production. With a person of color portraying Eliza, it would only add new meaning and relevance to the show, especially with regards to intersectionality of class, gender, and now race."

That's what my personal opinion tends to be about My Fair Lady as well, especially given how the ending of the current Broadway production is staged! :)