Casting news for Encores! CALL ME MADAM?

[jayinchelsea]

As performances begin in about a month, how can it be that no casting has been announced for this? I am an Encores subscriber now living in CA, and would fly back IF the casting was interesting. Saw Tyne Daly when the show was done many years ago, and enjoyed it tremendously.

Any news about this?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Lindsay Mendez might be good.

[GavestonPS]

Were I the producer, I can't imagine announcing CALL ME MADAM without having my Sally Adams chosen and under contract. It is very much a "vehicle" show.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Sho Sho Bean?

[Michael19]

If I had my choice, I would love Donna Murphy or Christine Ebersole—I think either would be wonderful.   Donna would be my first choice though.

[Jordan Catalano]

The delay is because the first choice who was going to be in it, was no longer able to do it.

[GavestonPS]

Michael19 said: "If I had my choice, I would love Donna Murphy or Christine Ebersole—I think either would be wonderful. Donna would be my first choice though."

Either one would be great at the "low comedy" the part requires, but it's really a mezzo-belter's role, as are all of Merman's signature roles.

Ethel Merman, Benay Venuta (Merman's perennial understudy), Elaine Stritch (Merman's standby two decades before smoking and drinking destroyed her voice (granted, in an interesting, "character" way)), Tyne Daly (no Merman vocally, but she sings in the same style), Karen Morrow (the last Sally Adams I saw). These are the sort of "belting broads" who have played the role and are right for it.

[GavestonPS]

Jordan Catalano said: "The delay is because the first choice who was going to be in it, was no longer able to do it."

Stephenie J. Block? She might be my first choice of the women who are out there, but it looks like she'll be busy for awhile.

Patti LuPone would be perfect if she had any sense of humor about herself. "Sally Adams" is not only very funny, she's most often the butt of the jokes. Brassy as she was, Ethel Merman was charming because she was willing to play the fool.

[scampsweep]

I believe Patti LuPone was probably the original choice. I really think this part would fit her like a glove and I do believe she would be able to send herself up - I’ve seen her do this very willingly in concert where she tells stories about her experiences. She’s committed to Company in London until March now though.

[SweetLips22]

As usual we can depend on JC to get the goss as he has contact with everybody. 'watch this space'.

I want Pearl Bailey.

[scampsweep]

Bernadette Peters, anyone? Sally Adams needs to have charm and BP could pull this off. She has also done a couple of Merman roles before. She’s very different to LuPone, but I think she could pull this off, especially for such a short run.

[LarryD2]

This is not the kind of show you do without a star personality. Patti? Audra? Bernadette? Donna? Idina? Ebersole?

Phillipa Soo seems like a natural choice for the Princess.

[east side story]

Jordan Catalano said: "The delay is because the first choice who was going to be in it, was no longer able to do it."

And who was this? Just curious. 

[Dollypop]

Loretta Swit

[EdEval]

Look, who else?  Bernadette Peters has done just about every show Merman has done so why not Madame?

[GavestonPS]

Ethel Merman was 42 when she created the role. Bernadette Peters is 70.

I know it's a staged reading but come on! I love Peters in the roles she originated, but I find her thoroughly lacking when she tries to sing a score written for Merman. Tyne Daly (also too old for the role now) does better. Alas, Judy Kaye is also 70, because she did a killer version of "The Hostess with the Mostes'" on one of her solo albums.

I don't know if she does "low comedy", but Carmen Cusack could sing the score as well as anybody I can think of who is also the right age.

[bwayboy22]

I recall Kristin Chenoweth being mentioned in another thread and think she could be a blast in this role!

[GavestonPS]

^^^ I'm sure Chenowith would be hysterically funny and, like the character, she is from Oklahoma. I just don't think her voice is right for the Berlin score. (Obviously, she can hit all the notes and then some; maybe she'd do something radically different from what was originally intended and that would work, too.)

[sabrelady]

If Emily Skinner wasn't in the Cher Show I think she'd be good in the role.

 

I suppose there is no chance that Louise Pitre would be considered?

[Loopin’theloop]

Caroline O Connor would be wonderful, as would Rachel York. Sutton Foster is a bit of an obvious choice in this sort of role but she would also be good.

[qolbinau]

Part of me thinks Bernadette might be a little bit too much 'work' for such a small string of performances that are already heavily sold - not in a diva or difficult way or anything like that, but she is of a certain age, has a couple of concerts that could interfere with rehearsals.....based on the early Hello, Dolly! performances I think she'd need it. It's not going to be a drama-free drop in where a much younger and cheaper performer might be able to just drop in and perform the role. If they do get her, at the very least I hope they release a week or so of extra performances to make it worth it. 

[NoName3]

The rumor at Datalounge is that Chenoweth is who dropped out.

[brettarnett]

Shame as Chenoweth would have been great.

[NoName3]

And now I read a very plausible explanation that the star who dropped out is Patti L., because of the extension of Company in London.

Regardless, there have been some excellent replacement solutions in this thread and I'll refrain from posting further speculation from any source.

[smidge]

I would love for Reba to do this.