If there ever was an all-Black production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC...

[DMsquared2]

Been pondering this for a while...A production of A Little Night Music with an all-Black cast.

Desiree Armfeldt //// Audra McDonald (obviously)
Fredrik Egerman //// Brian Stokes Mitchell
Ann Egerman //// Nikki M. James
Henrik Egerman //// Jelani Alladin
Petra //// Rashidra Scott
Fredrika Armfeldt //// ?
Madame Armfeldt //// Whoopi Goldberg
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm //// Norm Lewis
Countess Charlotte Malcolm //// Anika Noni Rose

Who would you cast? 

[BCfitasafiddle]

DMsquared2 said: "Been pondering this for a while...A production of A Little Night Musicwith an all-Black cast.

Desiree Armfeldt //// Audra McDonald (obviously)
Fredrik Egerman //// Brian Stokes Mitchell
Ann Egerman //// Nikki M. James
Henrik Egerman //// Jelani Alladin
Petra //// Rashidra Scott
Fredrika Armfeldt //// ?
Madame Armfeldt //// Whoopi Goldberg
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm //// Norm Lewis
Countess Charlotte Malcolm //// Anika Noni Rose

Who would you cast?"

Would die to see Leslie Uggams as Madame Armfeldt.

[Midnight Radio]

Eartha Kitt would have made a stunning Madame Armfeldt

I'd throw in Christian Dante White for Henrik

[DMsquared2]

Leslie Uggams as Madam Armfeldt! Yes! Love it! 

[singer234]

Jelani would be a great Carl Magnus but a tenor he most certainly is not.

[BCfitasafiddle]

DMsquared2 said: "Leslie Uggams as Madam Armfeldt! Yes! Love it!"

She'd bring so much LIFE to it. I can hear it now and I want it! Haha!

[viagalactica6]

What about Jordan Donica from My Fair Lady as Hendrik? He was such a discovery for us all.

[AEA AGMA SM]

BCfitasafiddle said: "DMsquared2 said: "Leslie Uggams as Madam Armfeldt! Yes! Love it!"

She'd bring so much LIFE to it. I can hear it now and I want it! Haha!"

She's already played Desiree, so it's not too much of a stretch for her to play Madame Armfeldt

 

[JBroadway]

Love this!

As the OP said, Audra as Desiree is a no-brainer. And I can't think of anyone better for Frederick than Stokes, especially paired with Audra. Though I think Norm Lewis could also be good in that role. 

For Madame Armfeldt, I also would have LOVED to see Eartha Kitt (though she died not too long ago, I never got to see her live and she is one of the top performers I would go back to see if I had a time machine - moreso than Merman, Olivier, or almost any other departed stage legends). 

As for people still alive, I agree Leslie Uggams would be a great choice. Cicely Tyson would also be a marvel in the role, though I don't know how well she sings (not that Madame Armfedlt needs to have the voice of an angel). 

And as for the rest of the cast, I like all of the suggestions thrown out there already, but here are a few more:

Anne - Lindsay Roberts (a standout in CSC's Carmen Jones), or Denee Benton

Henrik - Isaac Powell 

Carl-Magnus - James Monroe Iglehart 

Charlotte - Eisa Davis 

Petra - Patina Miller or Adrienne Warren 

[NOWaWarning]

Desiree Armfeldt //// Angela Bassett or Vanessa Williams
Fredrik Egerman //// Brian Stokes Mitchell
Anne Egerman //// Denée Benton
Henrik Egerman //// Christian Dante White
Petra //// Renée Elise Goldsberry
Fredrika Armfeldt //// Shahadi Wright Joseph
Madame Armfeldt //// Leslie Uggams
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm //// Joshua Henry
Countess Charlotte Malcolm //// Anika Noni Rose

[Owen22]

Vocally, Audra as Desiree would be a waste.

[JBroadway]

Owen22 said: "Vocally, Audra as Desiree would be a waste."

 

She is a better vocalist than the role demands, yes, but acting-wise it would be a great role for her. And as far as I'm concerned, she is among the most technically skilled actors working onstage today - musical or otherwise. And by your logic, you could argue that that she is wasted in non-singing roles too, but she has played many non-singing roles and still had no trouble demonstrating her immense talent. 

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Larry Owens for Henrik and Danielle Brooks for Petra! I’d also love to see Jenifer Lewis as Madame Armfeldt.

[devonian.t]

I'm keen.  When does box office open?

[singer234]

Jackee Harry could be inspired casting as Desiree. Would be so fun to watch.

[wiggum2]

NOWaWarning said: "Desiree Armfeldt //// Angela Bassett or Vanessa Williams
Fredrik Egerman //// Brian Stokes Mitchell
Anne Egerman //// Denée Benton
Henrik Egerman //// Christian Dante White
Petra //// Renée Elise Goldsberry
Fredrika Armfeldt //// Shahadi Wright Joseph
Madame Armfeldt //// Leslie Uggams
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm //// Joshua Henry
Countess Charlotte Malcolm //// Anika Noni Rose
"

Renée Elise Goldsberry's version of the Miller's son is one of my favorites

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkrontwcp-w

[fosterfan2]

devonian.t said: "I'm keen. When does box office open?"

^This! And can you imagine the cast album?

[David10086]

I think the best choice to play Madame Armfeldt would have been the late Diahann Carroll -she had the elegance and the vocal talent.

Since she's no longer with us, I would go with Diana Ross (seriously).  

[Loopin’theloop]

AEA AGMA SM said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "DMsquared2 said: "Leslie Uggams as Madam Armfeldt! Yes! Love it!"

She'd bring so much LIFE to it. I can hear it now and I want it! Haha!"

She's already played Desiree, so it's not too much of a stretch for her to play Madame Armfeldt

Loooooove me some Leslie but she should’ve set that costume on fire.

"

 

[MadonnaMusical]

DMsquared2 said: "Been pondering this for a while...A production of A Little Night Musicwith an all-Black cast.

Desiree Armfeldt //// Audra McDonald (obviously)
Fredrik Egerman //// Brian Stokes Mitchell
Ann Egerman //// Nikki M. James
Henrik Egerman //// Jelani Alladin
Petra //// Rashidra Scott
Fredrika Armfeldt //// ?
Madame Armfeldt //// Whoopi Goldberg
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm //// Norm Lewis
Countess Charlotte Malcolm //// Anika Noni Rose

Who would you cast?"

The only changes I would make are:

Moving norm Lewis to Frekerick, Josh Henry as Karl, and madame Armfelt played by Jennifer Lewis.

[A Director]

Why is an all-black production needed to cast any of these actors in a production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC?

[Falsettolands]

Pretty sure any of these actors could be in ALNM regardless of whether it's an all black cast.

I'm fully in support of the idea, but I wouldn't consider the notion radical or something that changes the dynamics of the piece.