And the Hollywood Bowl's Bialystock will be...

[Bialyhoos22]

...Richard Kind - according to Richard himself on Kevin Pollaks Chat Show. I love me some Richard Kind but was hoping we might see some new faces in the lead roles (Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce seem to be obvious duo left to play them) He also suggests Roger Bart will be reprising his role as Carmen Ghia.

Anyone hear any rumblings on other casting?

[rosscoe(au)]

Really..Color me unimpressed. Was hoping for Nathan at least

[best12bars]

Bloom will probably be someone like Neil Patrick Harris or Erick McCormick.

[willep]

Yeah, that's a bit disappointing.

[madbrian]

I didn't see him as Bialystock, but I did see him as Andre in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and I was not a fan. At all.

[EponineAmneris]

This makes me very sad ... I had high hopes.

[showchoirguy]

Oh..... Wished it was Nathan....

[Wildcard]

Hmm... that's disappointing. He's not really the "star" they promised

[Overkill]

I do love Richard, I'm a fan, but his Bialystock was very boring, honestly...

He wasn't bad, just very generic...it felt like, "I'm Richard Kind AS Max Bialystock, and God himself, Mel Brooks, wrote this thing, so I'll take NO artistic license...like every other Bialystock after Henry Goodman......."

I was hoping for someone who wouldn't do the role otherwise, ya know? Love him, but definitely disappointing.

If Roger isn't playing Leo, maybe they're looking for the big name to be him. Sean Hayes would be a great choice, IMO.

[showchoirguy]

^Agreed

[darquegk]

From what I heard, the Broadway and Tour casts were given no leeway to break the mold- they were told to do EXACTLY as Nathan, Matthew et al did.

If you find the bootleg of the Los Angeles cast with Jason Alexander and Martin Short (who was allegedly Brooks's first choice for Leo), it's the only one you'll ever hear that truly sounds like a different cast doing the show a different way.

Robin Williams would be an interesting- but probably chaotic- Bialystock.

[willep]

^That would be MUCH more interesting casting.

Who could the get for Franz? Bring Will Ferrell in?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Boring.

[darquegk]

Here's the cast I would love to see...

Bialystock: Robin Williams (we need someoen to take it in a different direction than Nathan Lane, while still acknowledging the comedy style that the character portrays. Plus, it would give tons of chances for improvisation... for good or ill)
Bloom: Daniel Radcliffe (the man has a knack for comedy, and since a lot of Blooms are cast young anyway, you need someone who can hold their own against Robin Williams)
Franz: Chris Parnell (no one does semi-over the top, semi-deadpan better than Parnell)
Roger: Alec Baldwin (unlike Carmen, Roger thrives on being equally camp and equally butch... perfect Baldwin comedy)
Carmen: Wesley Taylor (you can't watch SMASH or Rock of Ages without seeing the potential here)
Singing Stormtrooper: cameo by Matthew Broderick (he may not have the majestic voice the role is typically cast with, but it would be a great bit)

[nasty_khakis]

Parnell is kind of an inspired choice!

Who for Ulla?

[showchoirguy]

Rebecca Duval....

[SondheimFan5]

Can't stand his Max. At least get Brad Oscar.

I'm sure they'll star-cast some minor roles like in the movie. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Mel agrees to do a bit part (at least his "Don't be stupid be a smarty" line).

Part of me wants Gary Beach as Roger but if anyone's seen him recently I don't think that'd work too well... (He's gained a ton of weight and has a white beard and hair).

[SondheimFan5]

Spean Hayes or NPH would actually be very good Leo's.

[CapnHook]

Mary Testa as Bialystock, Sutton Foster as Bloom, and Andrew Rannells as Unger (instead of Ulla).

[Bialyhoos22]

I too would love to see Beach reprise DeBris but I too worry that it might only tarnish my memories of seeing him triumph in the role during his long Broadway run. The hip replacement surgery he underwent in '07 arguably put the kibosh on a lot the physical comedy he was so well known for (and that had undoubtedly taken its toll...)

He seemed especially tentative during the whole 'Springtime' sequence at the Kennedy Center Mel Brooks tribute in 2010...that was truly disheartening especially after witnessing him SLAY that number at the St James only a few years earlier. That said, this is a concert staging so it might actually be the best venue for him to reprise the role...

[darquegk]

Another great Roger DeBris, especially for a semi-casual production like Hollywood Bowl, would be Seth MacFarlane.

[The Josh]

Seth McFarlane would be great! How about Taran Killam for Franz?

[nasty_khakis]

Any shot in hell of McFarlane putting on a dress and not giving a lisping homophobic performance??

[SondheimFan5]

Remember...when the Hollywood Bowl says concern staging they lit'rally just mean it's a normal show with a fairly minimal set and the orchestra onstage.

Beach's voice is also not what it used to be (and it was not stellar and melodious to begin with).

[DAME]

They must be really struggling to find anyone interested in doing it. The Bowl season has already been on sale for a while and till no cast.

[keb2]

I thought, based on his tweets, that Jesse Tyler Ferguson had been cast as Bloom. Is that not a thing?

https://twitter.com/#!/jessetyler/status/201076343226630144
https://twitter.com/#!/justinmikita/status/201105453034381312