I know LuPone was asked to be the Witch in the original production of Into the Woods but fought it because she wanted to be Cinderella. When she consented to be the Witch, Anything Goes and other actresses had already come into play.
It's a pity. Hearing her sing "Last Midnight" would be divine.
I can't imagine her being Cinderella. Ever. At any age.
Both Benjamin Walker and Cheyenne Jackson played Elder Price at various points in Book of Mormon's development. Heidi Blickenstaff was also involved in workshop last year, but her role has (obviously) since been cut.
Blickenstaff was originally Elder Price's mother, I think the role had a couple of songs originally, but through the workshopping process the character was cut down to just being in the one airport scene, so she decided to pursue other things.
Meryl auditioned for SWEENEY, but didn't get it. Tim Burton went with his girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter instead. She took Mamma Mia as a consolation prize and a free vacation.
Zachary Levi, from Chuck, was supposed to be in "Young Frankenstein" but decided to do Chuck instead.
Sean Wing was supposed to be the standby of Johnny, Will & Tunny for "American Idiot" but he decided to do pilots instead so the standby role went to Van Hughes. Sean ended up temporarily replacing Chase Peacock & Declan Bennett when they left the show briefly due to injuries.
Jillian Mueller, from "Bye Bye Birdie," was suppose to be in "American Idiot" as a swing/Extraordinary Girl understudy when Aspen Vincent left, but then the show closed so she never officially joined. I think that she still did go to rehearsals, though.
Darren Criss auditioned for "American Idiot." Don't know if he was offered anything but he, of course, didn't join.
Bryce Ryness was part of the "American Idiot" workshops.
When John Gallagher Jr. left "Spring Awakening," he was scheduled to do the MTC's production of "The Starry Messenger" but that was cancelled. He ended up not doing the 2009 production when it finally opened.
Yeah, Blickenstaff's role was fairly small in the workshop. I believe she also had some ensemble roles. Originally, there was a bit more focus on Elder Price's homelife, but it was decided that the story needed to stay fully in Uganda and get there as quick as possible. So now all the small non-African female roles are played by the Missionary ensemble.
If I remember correctly Karen Ziemba was, at one time being considered for the revival of Sweet Charity. But because she wasnt a name, her name was dropped from the running.
Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful that Patti couldn't originate Fosca because she was scheduled to do Sunset Boulevard at the time.
Donna Murphy was flawless as Fosca, but I think that Patti could've turned in an incredible (but very different) performance had she had a strong director and longer rehearsal period than what she had for the Lincoln Center concert. And I'm very sure that's not a popular opinion.
The Distinctive Baritone - That's really strange. I've heard the opposite! I just can't see her passing it up, although I don't see her and Johnny Depp having the best chemistry...
I remember when the movie was being planned. I was campaigning for Kelsey Grammer and Bernadette Peters. With George Hearn as Judge Turpin. I was so naive. Thinking they would cast B actors and Broadway performers in a big budget Hollywood movie. lol
I remember reading in the newspaper back in the early 1980's that Ann Reinking had the lead role in the Broadway version of Cats. I'm not sure if they were talking about Grizabella.
And speaking of Cats, how can we forget that Dame Judi Dench was the original Grizabella in the London version until she broke her foot or ankle (?).
I also remember reading that in the mid-1980's a rock musical movie version of Oliver Twist was being planned with Tina Turner as Fagin and Madonna as the Artful Dodger. Obviously that never, ever happened.
"Donna Murphy was flawless as Fosca, but I think that Patti could've turned in an incredible (but very different) performance had she had a strong director and longer rehearsal period than what she had for the Lincoln Center concert. And I'm very sure that's not a popular opinion."
I absolutely agree. I was a fan of some of LuPone's choices in that telecast, and that was with very minimal rehearsal. I actually think it would have been a role everyone thought she was "born to play" had she done so. But yes, Murphy was incredible.
I just finished reading The Guys and Dolls book which was published at the time of the National Theatre production in the '90s.
For the 1992 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls: Bernadette Peters was offered the role of Adelaide and Sarah Brown but declined
James Naughton, Kevin Kline and Mandy Patinkin were offered the role of Sky Masterson but declined
Judith Ivey was offered Adelaide and Patty Ben-Petersen was offered Sarah Brown
Carolyn Mignini originally was cast as Sarah Brown right up until the first preview, when director Jerry Zaks fired her in favour of Josie de Guzman, because Mignini wasn't delivering the performance Zaks wanted to match Peter Gallagher's Sky Masterson.
Nathan Lane was considered too young for the role but they cast him anyway.
Overkill--all my sources say Meryl turned it down as well, in favor of Mamma Mia. You might even say she "chickened out." She wasn't ultimately comfortable with the complex singing. She didn't think she would be good. She really wanted to do a musical, though, and Mamma Mia was offered to her at the same time, and she went with that instead (and from a business point of view, after just coming off the filming of "Doubt," it was the right choice). But it was her decision. And it was only after she turned Mrs. Lovett down that others were considered and screen-tested (including Bernadette Peters, Emma Thompson, and Toni Collette). Ultimately, he went with Bonham Carter, but it was after Sondheim had also said that her test was the best of the bunch. So, really, both Burton AND Sondheim picked Helena. And then (to my huge frustration), Burton made her whisper the entire time. I hated that!!!
Anyway ...
The big role/show that got away in the '80s in NYC was Angela Lansbury in "Sunset Blvd." by Stephen Sondheim. The show's announcement was up for months on the casting board at Actors' Equity. Then one day, about six months later, it came down. That was in 1985-86.
after just coming off the filming of "Doubt," it was the right choice.
DOUBT began principal photography about a month after MAMMA MIA! wrapped -- not the other way around. In other words, Meryl did NOT do MAMMA MIA! after DOUBT.
Dolores Hart made her Broadway debut in 1958 in the Samuel Taylor comedy, "The Pleasure Of His Company". She was also slated to to reprise her role in the film version.
One night during a performance she looked out into the audience and saw Debbie Reynolds taking notes, she knew right then and there that Reynolds would be replacing her in the film version.
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joined:11/24/06
Posted: 5/14/11 at 12:13pm