Chita Rivera to Star in Roundabout's EDWIN DROOD

[somethingwicked]

...as Princess Puffer.

The season will also include PICNIC directed by Sam Gold and THE UNAVOIDABLE DISSAPEARANCE OF TOM DURNIN directed by Scott Ellis.


http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160233-Chita-Rivera-Is-Broadway-Bound-in-Drood-Roundabout-Plans-a-Picnic-and-a-Premiere-in-2012-13

[Jordan Catalano]

I love you for this, God.

[ljay889]

Whoa. Is this a good role for Chita? I know nothing about DROOD.

[EricMontreal22]

I dread how mediocre or awful a ROundabout revival of Picnic will probably be, but I admit I'd love to see Chita as Puffer...

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!

Wages of Sin will be amazing! Very excited for this casting...how did Roundabout get something so right?!

[ljay889]

Is this a juicy role? I need details. Chita is one my goddesses!

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

Yes a great (Tony-nominated) role! Chita will have fun with it I'm sure.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Amazing.
ijay, it's Cheets, she will make it her own, it's a great role when played by a Master (Mistress).
They are on the right track, Alan Cumming next please.

[wonderfulwizard11]

I so hope Drood extends- I'll be out of the country for a study abroad program this fall, but I would hate to miss a Broadway revival of Drood. And Chita as Puffer is such an interesting choice. She's not the most obvious for the role, but I'm sure she'll do wonders with it.

I hope I can manage to see this!

[WithoutATrace]

Words truly cannot describe how excited I am for this. Incredible casting.

[givesmevoice]

She will be DIVINE. Puffer is such a great role, and Chita is a legend.

Can't wait to see who they cast as Alice Nutting/Drood; hopefully not Sutton.

[allofmylife]

ljay889, the role is GREAT for her. The role is that of a cocaine-addled slattern who may or may not (depending on the night and the audience) be the killer in this grand Guinole murder mystery. Cleo Lane was wonderful in the original cast and was very often chosen by the audience as the guilty party. (The orchestra had eight extra books for the last three numbers, each named for a character and when the killer was revealed, the grabbed the appropriate part and started sawing away.)

I love this show.

[givesmevoice]

After seeing this in Boston in 2007, I desperately wanted to see Erin Davie play Rose Budd, and really hope that happens for this production.

[djb]

i am so emotional right now i can't even breathe. this is what i will be dreaming about every night until it opens. nothing could make me happier ever.

[mormonophobic]

With this and the news of Sondheim working on a new show all announced within the last 24 hours, it's a very special Leap Day. I just saw The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Lincoln Center Archives 2 weeks ago and the thought of Chita in the Cleo Laine role has me grinning from ear to ear. Heck, the thought of seeing Chita in anything would make me all smiley, but a revival of Drood? Extra happy!

[bwayfan7000]

Completely agreed with the above statement- the Sondheim show and now this have put me over the moon.

Chita will be beyond brilliant in this role. It's perfect casting, in my opinion. If that's who they're pursuing for Puffer, I look forward to who else they cast. I hope Osnes is involved as Rosa after Roundabout worked with her in Anything Goes.

[ljay889]

You guys are getting me excited!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Please, please, Heidi Blickenstaff for Drood. Or anyone with a really powerful belt. I love Sutton, but not at all in this role.

[CATSNYrevival]

Won't Sutton be doing her tv show? I would imagine she's not in the running for this. Stop worrying.

[xxdrewboy85xx]

This is excellent news!

but as for Picnic... why isn't Cromer directing? His Picnic was wonderful.

[best12bars]

The role is great, and Chita fits it well, with one exception ... but I have a feeling the whole cast will be in the same boat ... Princess Puffer is definitely a Whitechapel "East End" Cockney, and her songs are all broad Music Hall style. I think Chita will handle the style well enough (similar to Vaudeville), but not sure about the accent. I'll bet most if not all of the cast will be Americans in this production, so that will probably be the case across the board on casting.

Other than that, she fits the part really well. The songs should all be within her range, and the character runs an opium den (hence her nickname). Her big number, "The Wages of Sin," describes her past which includes prostitution, boozing, gambling, etc. She has other solos as well, but that's her best. Plus, she kicks off the shows biggest "show stopper," Don't Quit While You're Ahead.

I remember how engaging Cleo Laine was. Sort of like an aging Nancy in "Oliver!" She could really rouse the audience and get them singing along, etc. (as I say, Music Hall style).

[tazber]

OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!

I didn't even think of Chita for Puffer but she's perfect for it!

Wages of Sin and Garden Path to Hell are going to be AMAZZZZZING.

Obviously I love this show and of course I love Chita.

ljay, it's an ensemble type of show but Puffer is by far and away the most colorful and memorable female character in the show.

[tazber]

Besty, Garden Path is the song that elaborates on Puffer's back story. Wages of Sin introduces us to the character and establishes the seedy world she inhabits.

[MCfan2]

I have GOT to see this. Fantastic way to celebrate Dickens's bicentennial this year!

[EponineAmneris]

This makes me even happier for this

[Michael Bennett]

Totally unexpected but inspired casting; Chita will definitely make the role her own (and likely get another Tony nomination in the process). Really delightful considering most of us expected the Roundabout to cast a television name who was in no way right for the part.