Casting “what-ifs”
Casting “what-ifs”
Harpz2006
Broadway Star Joined: 1/3/08
#1Casting “what-ifs”
Posted: 5/21/19 at 1:15pmDo you ever see a show then imagine if it wouldve been as well-received (or more, or less well-received), with a different lead? I just saw Tootsie and thought Santino was fantastic. I then found myself wondering what it wouldve been like with say, Aaron Tveit, in the role, as he has a kind of similar vocal range. Would it have been as fun, or would he have been a little stiff in the role? I stumbled upon an interview last night of Tveit on Show People in 2011 talking about how devastated he was to not getting a Tony nomination for Next to Normal, and you could tell he kind of thought Catch Me would be his year (it wasnt). Would he have been equally successful as Andrew Rannells if hed ended up in Mormon? Would Catch Me have been better with Rannells in the drivers seat? Sorry most of mine seem to revolve around Aaron . Any other imaginary casting switches you find yourself pondering?
#2
Posted: 5/21/19 at 3:08pm
I know I bring up The Band's Visit and its cast everywhere... but I do genuinely wonder what would've happened if Indecent had been more successful & run longer (as it should have), and TBV still transferred at the same time. Would Katrina Lenk have left Indecent, or would TBV have recast? I believe the show's strong enough to be beautiful whoever's in it, but she really was something special as Dina.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3
Posted: 5/21/19 at 3:22pm
^I just saw it at the Huntington in Boston. about 2/3 of the cast was the same as off bway - but not Lenk. She was missed. (The show was still pretty terrific) She SO has that IT factor. you just yearn for her.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
LarryD2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
#4
Posted: 5/21/19 at 3:26pm
Um Kulthum said: "I know I bring up The Band's Visit and its cast everywhere...butI do genuinely wonder what would've happened if Indecenthad been more successful & run longer (as it should have), and TBV still transferred at the same time. Would Katrina Lenk have left Indecent, or would TBV have recast? I believe the show's strong enough to be beautiful whoever's in it, but she really was something special as Dina."
Lenk was always committed to TBV. If INDECENT had continued, she would have left the production.
SomethingPeculiar
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/14
#5
Posted: 5/21/19 at 3:46pm
The bigger "what if," for me, is what Hal Prince's production of THE BAND'S VISIT would have looked like, if he had continued on with it. Would he have won his 22nd Tony? Would it have still been as intimate and play-like? Or was Cromer the secret ingredient that made the show work? (I don't know how much changed between Prince's departure and the final product, but Hal was involved for years.)
#6
Posted: 5/21/19 at 4:47pm
SomethingPeculiar said: "The bigger "what if," for me, is what Hal Prince's production of THE BAND'S VISIT would have looked like, if he had continued on with it. Would he have won his 22nd Tony? Would it have still been as intimate and play-like? Or was Cromer the secret ingredient that made the show work? (I don't know how much changed between Prince's departure and the final product, but Hal was involved for years.)"
Huh, I did not know that he'd been involved! Now I'm curious too.
dramamama611 said: "^I just saw it at the Huntington in Boston. about 2/3 of the cast was the same as off bway - but not Lenk. She was missed. (The show was still pretty terrific) She SO has that IT factor. you just yearn for her."
I'd meant TBV & that Dina, but actually yes I believe that of both shows :) I saw a production of Indecent in DC this winter– it was pretty great overall, I thought, except for the actress playing Dine/Dorothee/Manke definitely paled in comparison to KL. And I missed Lisa Gutkin's music too.
