Rigby, Willard and Burkhardt to Star in Reprise! LI'L ABNER

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:07am

"Initial casting has been announced for the Reprise! Broadway's Best production of Li'l Abner — the musical that was inspired by the characters in Al Capp's comic strip — which will play UCLA's Freud Playhouse Feb. 5-17 with an official opening Feb. 6.

Directed by Michael Michetti, the cast will feature Cathy Rigby (Peter Pan) as Mammy Yokum, Fred Willard (Reprise! Promises, Promises and Anything Goes) as General Bullmoose and Brandi Burkhardt (Jekyll & Hyde) as Daisy Mae. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

The creative team will also include Lee Martino (choreography) Darryl Archibald (musical direction)..."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114015.html

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:09am

Willard = brilliant.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 1:03am

I hate that show, but I think I NEED to see this cast!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 1:54am

I love Cathy in Peter Pan and Seussical but I'm so glad to see her working in something else finally.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 2:53am

Now they just need to make a recording of it and bring this production to Broadway, and we're all set. I love Li'l Abner! Isn't this the place where Jason Alexander is artistic director? He should totally play Marryin' Sam.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 6:58am

Dumbest show ever. (right next to Cats)

Posted: 1/5/08 at 9:09am

i'd love to see it...its my dad's favorite show!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 11:49am

For a minute I was thinking what a hoot it would be for Rigby to play Daisy

Of course. Nathan Lane would have to be Abner. Think about it.

[Mistress Overdone]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 11:51am

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I really enjoy this musical. Retro, campy fun.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:13pm

It has a certain 1950s Atomic Age panic that has made it dated, but otherwise, there is very smart satire in Li'l Abner, and the score has many gems, with particularly brilliant lyrics. Not to mention Michael Kidd's sensational choreography, on view in the film version, and Phil Lang's swinging orchestrations. I'm sure that a million bad community theatre and high school productions have sullied the show's reputation, but there's nothing 'dumb' about the material.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:18pm

Great show which deserves a decent revival

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:18pm

Great show which deserves a decent revival

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:15pm

Has anybody seen Burkhardt perform? All I know is that she's a former beauty queen and Frank Wildhorn's fiancee, and hopefully she's a better actress than Linda Eder (and for Frank's sake, a nicer human being).

This revival should be excellent. Michetti is a wonderful, wonderful director and I've been hearing that a full orchestra will be used WITH the original orchestrations. The choreographer, Lee Martino, is fantastic as well. Should be great!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:32pm

BroadwayFan4, "Lil Abner" isn't the dumbest show ever. There are many far dimmer shows (Uh, feeling green anyone?) In fact, L'il Abner has some very clever topical references and an underlying theme of the conglomerization of America that are ABSOLUTELY relevant today.

The big problem - as with the brillant book and lyrics of "Finian's Rainbow" - is that the show was very much 'of its time' - ie the 1950's. Al Capp was a student of both human and business foibles and he laced the strip with some pretty wicked barbs. The writers of the musical Norman Panama and Mel Frank were comedy writers for Bob Hope in the 40's, a period in which Hope was basically his time's Jon Stewart. These guys tried to mirror the time they were living in (especially the effect of the military-industrial complex almost four years before Eisenhower coined the phrase) and I think did a good job.

Dumb, no. Dumb like a fox? Darn tootin'.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:27pm

I second Allofmylife...The political/social satire in Lil' Abner is as topical today as it was back then. Plus ca change...

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 6:36pm

Not to mention Michael Kidd's sensational choreography, on view in the film version, and Phil Lang's swinging orchestrations.

I couldn't agree with you more. I haven't seen the film version yet, but I do know that the orchestrations are tops. Listen in the overture for the Glenn Miller-style saxes on "Jubilation", as well as in "Country's in the Very Best of Hands" for some swingin' trumpets and trombones.

[13notes]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:05pm

BroadwayBaby6 - Your posted comment regarding Linda Eder was unbelievable and uncalled for in this thread. (Speaking of Burkhardt here:"All I know is that she's a former beauty queen and Frank Wildhorn's fiancee, and hopefully she's a better actress than Linda Eder (and for Frank's sake, a nicer human being). WHAT????

Commenting on Brandi Burkhardt as a performer would've been totally appropriate since this thread is about her, but gee I didn't see anything along those lines in your post. Well, wait-a-second, I mis-spoke because you did ask the question; "Has anybody seen Burkhardt perform?" followed by the usual paparatzzi type "facts" about her. But you neglected to mention any thoughts concerning the type of "human being" she might be.....Oversight maybe?

Linda isn't mentioned in this thread & she shouldn't be. This project doesn't involve her, so why was it necessary for you to post something negative and rude concerning Linda?

The fact also is that your comment was so far removed from any truth about Linda, it's obvious that you don't have a clue about her.
So for the record, Linda is a warm, caring and very approachable person who is blessed with one of the finest vocal instruments God ever created. Period.

It is true that you are entitled to have an opinion, as am I, and we can post them on this board. Normally, I let rude comments fly by, but I guess your random "negative pot-shot" was just one too many for me.

Want to talk about Linda? Create an LE thread or stop by her message board at www.lindaeder.com and a lot of people would be glad to share in a discussion about Linda.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:28pm

13Notes, I'm not going to be drawn into a discussion of Linda's acting or personal life. I do have the right to not like her as an actress or as a person but I am not going to publish gossip about her despite your goading.

I didn't post any comments about Brandi- I am asking if anybody has seen her perform. That's a fair enough question.

[13notes]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 12:51am

BroadwayBaby6, I was not attempting to goad you into gossiping at all and I appreciate your reply. I also do not want this exchange to get out-of-hand as that was never my intention. To be totally honest, I didn't have a problem with your post as it pertained to your thoughts regarding the professional abilities and careers of individual performers. However, your very final thought/comment had nothing to do with a professional career or ability, it was just a mean-spirited comment directed personally toward Linda. And yes, it's just my opinion, but I do feel like that comment was unnecessary. If I am wrong, then I do apologize for any misinterpretation I made regarding your comment. I would also like to apologize to you now, for my earlier post. While I do think that the last comment in your post could have been omitted, I too went a little overboard myself when I wrote my reply to you. I broke my very own rule, which is to NEVER write or post anything until I am calm enough to edit myself thoroughly before I hit the send key.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 1:44am

Holy Linda Eder fans, Batman.

So what if someone had a bad experience with her?

Burkhardt is a very good singer of contemporary pop-theater music. Can be pitchy live. My experience is that she is a sweet girl.

You can hear her on Jekyll & Hyde: Resurrection as Emma. IMHO she acquits herself nicely and makes it her own.