Next Eliza in My Fair Lady?

[Broadway Flash]

Any ideas?

[n2nbaby]

I have a feeling it will be closing with Benanti.

[magictodo123]

I have a feeling n2nbaby is right. As much as I would LOVE Kerstin to take over full time, I don't think she's a big enough name right now to carry the show into the summer/fall. I love her interpretation but I do think Laura will be closing the show. 

[natashalost]

My money’s on Solea Pfeiffer after the success of the Camelot concert.

[OlBlueEyes]

They need to goose the box office before the show closes abruptly like The King and I, before they can do the Live from Lincoln Center broadcast. They are doing about 85 percent capacity, but average ticket price hovering over $100 and percent of maximum gross revenue around 55 percent.

The heavy hitters: Reese Witherspoon or Emma Stone. They can lip sync the hard songs.

I think that a fresh young face would have been a good choice. Stephanie Styles comes to mind, although she is currently engaged.

[Wick3]

I love love love Solea Pfeiffer ever since I saw her at Songs for New World last year! Would be a treat to see her as Eliza.

Of the three Elizas thus far on Broadway, Kerstin has been my favorite. 

[Call_me_jorge]

I wonder if they’d bring back the original cast members who have left for a live from Lincoln center taping or keep whoever ever ends up closing out the show.

[lightsarebrightonbroadway]

Have a friend in the show and they have offered Laura a contract through the end of September, most of them feel like that will be it for the show. Betsy Wolfe also came to pick up something from the theatre while I was there a few weeks back, I don't know what this means but it could be interesting. No one knows if the show is closing as I write this now though. 

[bekk99]

A friend at LCT hinted about a month ago that a name was coming into the show after Laura, take that for what you will. 

[LarryD2]

bekk99 said: "A friend at LCT hinted about a month ago that a name was coming into the show after Laura, take that for what you will."

Benanti recently extended till July. I can imagine LCT bringing someone in for two months and closing the show in September, which would allow something new to open later in the fall. Given the current grosses, I don't see the production having legs for a multi-year run like SOUTH PACIFIC did.

[henrikegerman]

Looks like there may be no next.

But I do have a thought.

Uzo Aduba. 

[52889j]

henrikegerman said: "Looks like there may be no next.

But I do have a thought.

Uzo Aduba."

 

I have it on very good authority that she auditioned to originate the role and was heavily considered.

I wonder if Ruthie Ann Miles would be interested....

 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Shoba Naryan just left the Philip tour, and she has a gorgeous upper register. They might bring her in so they can play the diversity card, with the plus of her being a wonderful Eliza (in more ways than one).

[Convoy2]

All the internet experts, gathering around the cauldron, with dire predictions. It’s always amusing to read. Some of the comments look well informed, but some are just truly bizarre.

[Convoy2]

magictodo123 said: "I have a feeling n2nbaby is right. As much as I would LOVE Kerstin to take over full time, I don't think she's a big enough name right now to carry the show into the summer/fall. I love her interpretation but I do think Laura will be closing the show."

^Nope^

[OlBlueEyes]

This show is too good not to run for two years, as did Show Boat and South Pacific. It seems as if it, like The King and I, may be least appreciated in New York. Due to London enthusiasm that production added shows everywhere they could squeeze one in. They are doing a full UK tour, and then a world tour touching Tokyo, Taiwan, Korea, and I believe Russia.

The national tour went so well that before it closed Sher was putting together a cast for what he called the 2nd national tour.

[henrikegerman]

52889j said: "henrikegerman said: "Looks like there may be no next.

But I do have a thought.

Uzo Aduba."



I have it on very good authority that she auditioned to originate the role and was heavily considered.

I wonder if Ruthie Ann Miles would be interested...."

Wow - thanks for posting.

 

[GeorgeandDot]

Uzo Aduba was heavily considered??? That would be the worst casting ever. Although it would be very Sher to do some bizarre casting like that.

[52889j]

GeorgeandDot said: "Uzo Aduba was heavily considered??? That would be the worst casting ever. Although it would be very Sher to do some bizarre casting like that."

I mean, grain of salt ya'll. It's not a first hand account, but the source I heard it from works for LCT and I trust them. Maybe they hallucinated.

Also, I have ZERO idea what their plan is, Ruthie is just me dream casting.
 

 

[OlBlueEyes]

Convoy2 said: "All the internet experts, gathering around the cauldron, with dire predictions. It’s always amusing to read. Some of the comments look well informed, but some are just truly bizarre."

The dire statements because three years ago -- could it be three years already? -- we saw The King and I unravel so quickly when the box office was similar. We thought that it closed quickly because it was very expensive to put on and the losses were piling up too quickly.

I don't remember - naturally, I don't remember - what the source was, but at the time it appeared to be a reliable source that said that a broadcast was planned but the show just closed too quickly.

[BeNice]

GeorgeandDot said: "Uzo Aduba was heavily considered??? That would be the worst casting ever. Although it would be very Sher to do some bizarre casting like that."

It's not so bizarre to me. She IS a classically trained opera singer and is an astounding actress. 

[EllieRose2]

I doubt Uzo would sell tickets. Ashley Park would be perfect, but I do think it will close with Laura.  

[GeorgeandDot]

Uzo is a wonderful actress and a lovely singer, but in terms of type, she's just completely wrong for the role.

[EllieRose2]

I agree, completely wrong in every way. 

[SomethingPeculiar]

OlBlueEyes said: "The dire statements because three years ago -- could it be three years already? -- we saw The King and I unravel so quickly when the box office was similar. We thought that it closed quickly because it was very expensive to put on and the losses were piling up too quickly.
I don't remember - naturally, I don't remember - what the source was, but at the time it appeared to be a reliable source that said that a broadcast was planned but the show just closed too quickly."


They had been trying to film the show during Kelli & Ken's return, but it didn't work out. Also, when it closed, there was no fall show planned for LCT: the Beaumont sat empty from late June through early March (Oslo). Attempts to get a rental in for the fall didn't work out. No idea what the numbers were, but in hindsight, perhaps it would have been financially better to keep King running a few more months, instead of 8 months of a dark theatre? There could be similar thinking behind Fair Lady if LCT doesn't have a Broadway play in their fall season.