Emily Skinner is Miss Mona in 'Whorehouse'

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 5:50pm

Emily Skinner is Miss Mona in 'Whorehouse' Benefit Concert

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=12630

The Actors' Fund of America has announced that Tony-nominee Emily Skinner will take on the role of Miss Mona in The Fund's one-night-only benefit production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on October 16th at The August Wilson Theatre.

In addition, Jersey Boys' Daniel Reichard, Peter Gregus, Matt Scott and Tony-winner Christian Hoff have joined the cast.

"We feel very fortunate to have Emily. She's a remarkable actress; funny, sexy and the perfect choice," said event producer Tim Pinckney in making the announcement.

Skinner, who recently appeared as Agnes Gooch in the Kennedy Center production of Mame and at NYMF in Have a Nice Life, received a Tony Award nomination for her star-making performance as Daisy Hilton in Side Show. Other New York credits include Dinner at Eight, The Full Monty, James Joyce's The Dead, My Life with Albertine, and Jekyll & Hyde. She also toured in the Disney revue On the Record, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Company, Merrily We Roll Along and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Originally staged on Broadway in 1978 (and consequently a movie starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds), "this musical dramatizes the real-life story of a legendary house of ill-repute that remained open for many years until the Governor orders the local sheriff to shut it down. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a rip-roaring, high octane production," state notes.

Other cast members include Jennifer Hudson ("American Idol," Dreamgirls; the Movie), Harry Groener (Spamalot, Crazy for You); Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) Andrea McArdle (Annie, State Fair, Beauty and the Beast); Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida); Mary Faber (Avenue Q); Richard Kind (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels); Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol," The Wedding Singer), Michelle Kittrell (All Shook Up), Amber Efe (The Seven), J. Elaine Marcos (The Wedding Singer), Rachelle Rak (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Christina Norrup (The Producers), Angie Schworer (The Producers), Jen Cody (Urinetown), Dennis Stowe (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Bret Shuford (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Jeff Lewis (Fiddler on the Roof), Jason Patrick Sands (The Producers), Will Taylor (La Cage Aux Folles), Roxane Barlow (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Matt Rossoff (Reefer Madness), Rick Faugno (Wonderful Town), Justin Greer (The Producers), and the cast of the award-winning musical [title of show].

Rounding out the cast are: MaryAnn Hu, Kate Pazakis, Sue Goodman, Nina Hennessey, Naomi Naughton, Ed Carlo, Giovanni Stella, Darius Nichols, Phil Fabry, Charlie Schwartz and Trent Armand Kendall.

The creative team comprises: Director, Mark S. Hoebee; Artistic Producer/Musical Director, Seth Rudetsky; Choreographer, Denis Jones; Set Design, Paul Weimer; Costume Design, Michael Growler; Producers, Tim Pinckney/Steven Yuhasz

The Actors' Fund of America is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals - both performers and those behind the scenes - in performing arts and entertainment. Administered from offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, The Actors' Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis, or transition.

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will be presented Monday, October 16, at 7:30 pm, at the August Wilson Theatre, 245 West 52nd Street, New York. Tickets are $2,500/$1,000/$500/$250 and are available by phone at 212.221.7300 x133 or email [e-mail].



Great choice!

Updated On: 10/2/06 at 05:50 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 6:23pm

Not my first (second or third) choice and frankly I'm surprised by the casting but good for her! I'm sure she won't be a let down.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 6:37pm

I thought that they would try and get a big name for this

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 6:45pm

She might not be a box office draw but she is definitely a very talented actress and I'm quite excited to see her in the role. I'm a bit disappointed that since they did not get a big star we probably won't get a reocrding, then again the OBC is definite in many ways. It's going to be a great night.

[justme2]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 6:46pm

Not my choice at all, but I hope she does well anyway. Too bad it won't be Hoty.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 7:02pm

def. not my choice either. although i am sure she will do wonderful. she def. can sing. I just feel she is young for the role. but i did not choose her...so all the power to her.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 7:50pm

I'm surprised they didn't get a "draw name," but she'll be great (if a bit too young).

So... who's the sheriff???

*crickets*

Oh, and I bet the Jersey Boys are playing the Doggettes. Great idea! They sing the "barber shop quartet"-like Watchdog Theme, and act as Melvin P. Thorpe's four sidekicks. I played one of the Doggettes a thousand years ago in "Whorehouse" with (the fantastic) Becky Ann Baker as Mona.

[Producer2]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 8:30pm

i wanted delta!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:22pm

She would be great - in 2017.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:28pm

Well...for an event that screams for STUNT casting -- we get Emily Skinner. Why don't they just have Alice Ripley take-over for Act 2. That'll make it a bit more interesting.

Don't care for Emily...and was hoping that Reba would come in at that last moment and save the day. Even if she stood there carrying her script for the entire time, she would eclipse anything Emily attempts.

Congrats on the gig, Ms. Skinner. Unfortunately, I no longer have any interest on this anymore.

Way to go, Seth. You should have brought back Marin. Even Audra would have been an interesting choice...even Whoopi, Kristin or even Liza.

Oy!

[jsand25]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:30pm

Jennifer Hudson is going to bring the house down with 24 hours of lovin!!! It will be all that everyone talks about after the show. I guarantee it!

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:35pm

did you all bitch this hard about age and miscasting when they did Dreamgirls?

You know.. with an Effie old enough to be Effie's grandmother? Or did you forgive because there was a talent there that was undeniable?
Updated On: 10/2/06 at 10:35 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:42pm

In this case, there are other undeniable talents who are both bigger names AND the proper age range.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:49pm

and don't count out Andrea McArdle.
Ms. Skinner is indeed a Talent with a Large "T"
but I thought they would get a Country Rocker or a
bigger B'way Star.

[kyle.]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 11:56pm

Emily is so underused and under appreciated. I hope they record this.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 12:31am

In seth's defense...he has a lot to live up to. Hair was a huge hit last year that many people love. Whorehouse is equally great but some celebrities are not as nice as they appear. Some may forget that it is for charity and not really care. Emily will do great I have faith in her. It is one night only not a Broadway run...everyone calm down...it is all for a good cause....*and rip me into shreads*

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 1:11am

So when they do stunt casting for a show everyone complains that Broadway is dying, when they actually hire a great girl with amazing talent everyone asks why they didn't get a big name. *sigh*
I do understand she is very young for the part, but it really is just a concert, she'll sing the score beautifully. Now, if they got Skinner for this role, I wish they had gotten Alice Ripley to play Amber/Angel but oh well.
Now, why have they not announced who's playing the sheriff?

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 6:29am

I do understand she is very young for the part, but it really is just a concert

So, that makes it ok?

No one questions her talents, and she does have a good voice, but why deny she's around 20 years too young? I'm sure she'll look as old as the girls she's supposed to look after... If not Reba, I wanted Dolly again, hmph!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:12am

Um, it's a ONE NIGHT ONLY benefit concert, therefore people are paying top dollar to attend a SPECIAL EVENT. At times like these, stunt casting IS a requirement since it's only one performance. If it were a extended run, then we're talking about something totally different.

People were pining for a 'big' name, like Reba and Dolly, which for a benefit concert staging is more than apropo. It's all for charity therefore if they faltered, no big whoop. Judging by the past concerts, Emily Skinner playing Miss Mona is a HUGE disappointment, aside for her limited loyal following.

Audra as Deena Jones in DREAMGIRLS. Whoopi, Ricki Lake, Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrea Martin, LaChanze as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL. Need I continue? THIS made those concerts 'events'. People playing roles you know is off their marks.

Emily Skinner as Miss Mona? Emily who? That chick from "Side Show"? Wasn't she also in "Sunset Blvd."? No, that was Alice Ripley. Aren't they the same girl? Um, no. Oh.

Emily who?

Oy!

[NBC]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:21am

Why does everyone think Emily is too young? How old is Miss Mona supposed to be? Based on quick internet research:

When Carlin Glynn played Miss Mona on Broadway, she was 38.

When Dolly did the movie, she was 36.

According to ibdb.com, Emily is...36.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:28am

I was really hoping for Crystal Bernard.

:-P

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:34am

Kyle. I agree.

I think Ems will be perfect.

Brody were you up for Daisy?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:38am

While I would have loved to have seen Dee Hoty in the role, Emily Skinner is a superb choice for this. Let's not forget the bitch can s-a-n-g and she has rather good acting chops as well. While technically a bit too young for the role I have no doubt she will be fab!

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:45am

Don't you know that "36" is the new "26?"



Actually, Mona just needs to be old enough to have had the reputation of being Miss Wulla Jean's "favorite whore," who has since moved up the ladder and taken over as their new Madam.

She should be older than her "girls," but she doesn't have to be old enough to be their mother.

Becky told us this hilarious story about working on the original production: In the Broadway show, they do all this "back story" in the opening number (20 Fans). Miss Wulla Jean was played by the real-life "Miss Mona." That was part of her deal. They could tell her story on stage, but she decided she wanted to do a Broadway show and see what that was like. But she wasn't an actress at all, so Tommy Tune put her in this wheel chair and rolled her around the stage during the opening song (20 Fans), so she didn't have to remember any blocking or dialogue.

Then (I think it was a few months into the show), she told everybody backstage that she was bored with doing this eight times a week, and she wanted to leave New York and go home. She got up out of the wheelchair, went to the dressing room packed up her things right then, and just LEFT... never to return. She didn't give notice at all, she was just bored, so she went home.

Updated On: 10/3/06 at 10:45 AM

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:58am

I wonder if whoever will play Earl will be around the same age as Emily.