I also would love any of your choices for Belle that have been mentioned. Hailey and Eva would kill A Change in Me and Arden would be so fantastic as the Beast! If he nailed it as Quasi, he would nail it as the Beast.
Yeah Kad, that was their cruise show that was workshopped. Though I would not be shocked to see anything from the live action movie transfer into the show. Gay Lefou, Evermore instead of IICLH reprise, the yellow dress, the Audra McDonald version of the Wardrobe and the piano etc.
Regarding staging, how do people in here feel about the way they did the 'objects' on the newer cruise ship version, where they are puppets operated by the human character?
Personally in this day and age i much prefer this to the original human in a clock costume where knives and forks were 5 feet tall.
What do you all think?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
Not gonna lie, I am SO hype for this, and really hope they don't just copy-paste the cruise show. That version doesn't even have Evermore in it, and that's the best part of the live action version, imo.
I'm excited about this. The first one, while very successful & the kickoff to Disney's reign, was not all that great from a production value standpoint. I think Disney will up its game for this one.
I’d love to see Luke Evans as Gaston on stage, but if they don’t want to get a name for the role, I could potentially see Timothy Hughes getting the part. He’s got the look, he’s worked in a Disney show (Frozen) before, and he’s understudying Hades in Hadestown, which leads me to believe that he’d be a good vocal fit for the role. The fact that so many people are singling him out for praise right now when he’s a nameless ensemble member leads me to believe that he could be getting some good roles before too long
Nikki Renee Daniels as mrs. Potts to Denee Benton as Belle would be amazing. Timothy Hughes would make a great Beast! Also do we know if this will be a reiteration of the original production or a true revival.
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I'd like to say that the production values, and the design of the original production were incredible. The only thing that we would have had close by that point would have been Cats, which is people in a leotard and a boa with face paint. They also could have gone the route of the theme park show which is costumed characters. The Lion King design is completely different, and very show specific.
I'm a HUGE fan of the original production design and show. The most recent tour was a little too bright and fun for me, as was the design by Paul Gallo that played internationally. The new cruise line show I'm not overly crazy about. I like the idea of puppets, but how does a life size teapot play to the back row of the balcony. Regional theatres even seem to be having a tough time making the design look "Broadway". Yes, I know the budgets are much lower, but still. Some of the bigger ones make it look a little off.
I'm sure something will come up, especially if it seems like they aren't just slapping it together.
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
I’m so excited about this. I’d like to see Christy Altomare as Belle but would be open to Laura Osnes or maybe Kara Lindsay.
I loved the 2017 live action film and would love to see a more developed version of what’s running on the Disney Dream or maybe a hybrid of that and the songs from the original show. I’m also game for anyone from that movie playing a role on Broadway. The cast seemed to really enjoy themselves so I could see at least some of them wanting to try this for a while.
I was thinking Alex timbers too. Jerry Zaks wouldn’t be bad
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement