Merle Dandridge To Return to "RENT"
Merle Dandridge To Return to "RENT"
#1Merle Dandridge To Return to "RENT"
Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:47pm
Merle Dandridge will return to "RENT" for just over a month, stepping in for the injured Tonya Dixon and returning to the role of Joanne, effective July 9th.
From her blog:
"Tango Anyone?
Oh yes. I will be back in the RENT for a limited engagement. Tarzan is closing July 8th and I will be at the Nederlander July 9th. I will stay to see in Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal. And then take my bow mid-august. Mama Gorilla needs a rest! See you there..."
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 7/1/07 at 07:47 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#2re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:50pmdamn, my tickets are in the end of August, but this gives me more reason to see it again in the beginning of the run, I love her!
BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless
SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!
Johnnytoc
Broadway Star Joined: 12/19/04
#2re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:57pmLove her in anything she does. She was fantastic in Rent when I saw her.
TapTapTapioca
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/07
#3re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 8:00pmWoah, that is a pretty fast move. She closes Tarzan on the 8th and starts Rent on the 9th, has that ever happened before (not going from Tarzan to Rent but with any two shows)?
I shave me Xanadu every morning!
Updated On: 7/1/07 at 08:00 PM
#4re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 8:33pmWhenever I see Marle Dandridge's name, I think of Merle Louise, and think, "what the hell is SHE doing in RENT?"
#5re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 8:39pmThis woman is a goddess. I'm glad she's got something to go into... she's an amazing Joanne. I hope she hops into another new project!
::bust a move::
#6re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 8:54pmFantastic news. I'll see her on July 30th!
MungoGypsy8232
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/07
BroadwayBound86
Leading Actor Joined: 1/24/07
#8re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 10:10pmWhen she told us tonight at the stagedoor I was beyong excited! I already had tickets to see Anthony and Adam and now that Merle is in it it makes me happy knowing I got my tickets when I did. She's really excited about it and was telling everyone to come see her.
#9re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 10:24pmIs Nicolette Hart still Maureen? (She is listed on the Rent website, but I'm not sure how often that gets updated.) If so this will be both my most favorite Maureen/Joanne together at the same time.
ikmbway
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/22/05
#10re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 10:44pmI wish I could see her. She was a brilliant Joanne.
friedrichVT
Leading Actor Joined: 5/4/06
#11re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/1/07 at 11:12pmAnyone know what happened to Tonya?
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#12re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 1:45amI'm glad she is returning, but it looks like they will need to take out the embalming utensils and prep her for her robot transplant. I think they will keep her backstage in a locker along with Matt Caplan as permanent residents of Rent.
Craww
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#13re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 1:52amCool! But can we get a suitable Collins in there before August? Anyone? No?
#14re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 2:10amMarcus Paul James. That would be the closest to my dream cast that I could ever have hope of actually occurring (well, from the few characters I have strong enough feelings about to have determined a favorite actor).
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
Updated On: 7/2/07 at 02:10 AM
Wanting life but never knowing how
Show Off
Stand-by Joined: 7/20/06
#15re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 2:29amI love Merle, glad she's coming back.
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#16re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 5:29amI had been busy but I was thinking about how Rent recycles cast members and wanted to start a thread mentioningthisand asking if you guys thought if she was going to return to Rent. She is and I can't say I'm suprised.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#17re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 7:18amShe's the best Joanne I have ever seen.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#18re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 7:31amUgh! Maybe I should go before The Return. I don't want to risk not seeing her, since it seems like she'll only be in a week or 2 while the boys are in. I can't count on winning lotto!
It's just a message board. Let's not take it too seriously.
smurfet
Swing Joined: 2/24/07
#19re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 10:22am
for those who asked,
Nicollete is still in the show.
Tonya is on medical leave.
#20re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 11:44am
Good for her! I'm a big fan since seeing her go on as Aida.
Broadway Blog: From the Mouth of Alan Jay Lerner
#21re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 1:21pm
nicolette is still in the show.
but is she staying through the return?
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#22re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 1:25pmTo whoever asked about show-hopping, Asmeret was in In the Heights yesterday and will be in Legally Blonde today. AND she's not even going back to a role she already knew...
broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway
#23re: Merle Dandridge To Return to 'RENT'
Posted: 7/2/07 at 3:26pmYeah, but Asmeret doesn't have a main role in Legally Blonde, just one of Elle's friends, right?
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
#24oops, double post! Sorry!
Posted: 7/2/07 at 3:26pm
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
Updated On: 7/2/07 at 03:26 PM
