Dolly said three women will play her, little dolly, earlier years Dolly, and an older Dolly. She said she hopes to get the show to Broadway by late 2025.
Yeah I kind of hoped this isn’t the route that would be taken. And as for a search for Dolly. Maybe for young Dolly. But please not middle and mature. I’m really hoping now for megyn hilty and Kristin Chenoweth pairing or something like that with Chenoweth
I am the only one that reads Dolly and immediately thinks ‘dolly levi?’ I’m finding it impossible to unlearn/unwind this association. IN BROADWAY THEATRE THERE IS ONLY ONE DOLLYYYYYY.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Doing a bio musical that covers the time period from her childhood to present day sounds very tedious and more appropriate for Branson than Broadway. It would be more interesting and entertaining using one actress and focusing on the period of her life beginning when she first arrived on the music scene in the mid 1960s to when she became a household name in the early 80s.
It will be search for Barbra next[her book was boring enough]. Personally I don't want the life and drama of a singer, I just want to listen to their songs. I'd rather have a fictional story with the songs woven into it like Mamma Mia. I can't watch the decline of the great[Whitney], I just want their music.[Yes I live in fairyland].
pmensky said: "Doing a bio musical that covers the time period from her childhood to present day sounds very tedious and more appropriate for Branson than Broadway. It would be more interesting and entertaining using one actress and focusing on the period of her life beginning when she first arrived on the music scene in the mid 1960s to when she became a household name in the early 80s."
agreed or have it be 2 musicals (one focusing on her younger days up to 1980s) and if that’s successful, do another one that’s from that time period to today.
From what I recall, Beautiful only had 1 actress as Carole King? Or were there two?
I think the life and times bio musical structure is boring and having a narrator really grinds everything to a stall. I like the idea of picking just one big moment from their career and exploring that. Or sort of the device being used in MJ is an interesting take (thought I've not seen it)
Someone once commented that Fun Home's most lasting legacy is the use of three actresses to play the same character over time in a musical. I know it wasn't exactly dragging 'em into the theatre but isn't 9 to 5 like one of the most produced musicals in the world now? The woman writes something like 6 songs a day, she can't crank out a score?
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They already did a “Search For Dolly” contest for the West End production of 9 To 5. This would actually be more interesting a show, I would think."
Did they? I have absolutely no recollection of that. Especially since they went and cast a seasoned West End performer in the role.
Damn my memory - It was a special on casting for the Judy role, not Dolly. It was called “Amber & Dolly” and followed Amber Davies’ journey to the West End premiere and her going to Tennessee to meet Dolly. She was from reality television and went in to do the UK Tour after as well. I stand corrected!
This current concept though, sounds interesting for a television mini-doc series.
What's strikes me as odd about this concept is I don't think mid career Dolly and Dolly now as being that different. As least Cher or Donna or Michael had 3 very distinct personas, though Donna's was a girl none of us knew and Michael's and Cher's were famous.
Maybe a child Dolly would be powerful for her upbringing in the Smoky Mountains, but young performer Dolly isn't so different from 70 yo Dolly...