Alex Timbers to Direct Revival of The Philadelphia Story for Roundabout

[Kad]

I love Alex Timbers' work, and the play, but this is very surprising for me. Doesn't seem like a good mix of director and material.

[frogs_fan85]

iirc, Roundabout did a reading of this a year ago with Jon Hamm and John Krasinski.

[wickedfan]

I was about to say, Kad, it looks like they picked the wrong director from Peter and the Starcatcher. The Philadelphia Story seems much better suited for Roger Rees.

Being Roundabout, this could go either way. I would love to know who they're looking at for Tracy Lord.

[Kad]

I suppose Timbers is trying to show he can do something more conventional.

[PalJoey]

He seems very excited about it. I have faith that he'll rise to the occasion--and the material!

[jnb9872]

Not to mention Hamm and Krasinski, but Scarlett Johansson as well in the Hepburn role.

[nasty_khakis]

Nina Arinda IS Tracy Lord.

Seriously, casting is supremely key. It needs to be perfect fit, not a "well, Mary Louise Parker or Katie Holmes might be cute" situation.

That being said there are many "gettable Roundabout names" that come to mind. I just hope they cast her younger and not in her 40s even if the idea of Debra Messing intrigued me years ago. Hepburn was 33 in the movie.

[TalkinLoud]

I was always wondering what happened with this. The reading cast was John Krasinski, Jon Hamm, and Scarlett Johansson. If they are able to get the three of them for this production I would flip out.

[bobs3]

"Nina Arianda IS Tracy Lord."

I agree but unlikely, she's got 4 films in pre-production for 2013.

[little_sally]

While I really like Timbers' work, the fact that this is Roundabout doesn't give me high hopes.

[somethingwicked]

Alex Timbers has directed several readings of the show for Roundabout over the last several years, with (as far as I know) a different actress playing Tracy Lord every time. Since Roundabout has finally greenlit the show toward production, I assure you that it's because they've finally locked in someone they liked well enough to play Tracy.

[peachesr82]

The biggest problem they're going to have is that Barry wrote the role for Hepburn, it's more her than anything else she did. To find someone who can play that part without 'being Hepburn' is going to be a real challenge. Still, it's very exciting. I love the film and it could make for a really exciting cast if they get it right.

[loliveve]

Has there been any more news on this show? I was super happy when it was announced, but since then haven't heard anything more.

[theatreguy]

It's not happening. At least not this season.

[Gothampc]

My guess is they are trying to get Anne Hathaway to do it. But Hathaway is trying to get into the My Fair Lady revival.

[nasty_khakis]

I doubt it was Anne Hathaway. They most likely had another great candidate for Tracy get a pilot/movie/other offer.

I DO think Anne would be great. She can play snobbish ice queen, comedy, and girl in love all at the same time. However, I don't see someone with her A+, just won an Oscar, white-hot calibre doing a limited run with a non profit. If this were a commerical production and she could get a bigger pay day and perks, I could see her jumping. But she likes keeping her options open so maybe she would.

This sounds crazy and I'm sure she has 0% interest in doing theatre and is no way a recognizable name by any means, but Eliza Coupe from tv's "Happy Endings" could make a GLORIOUS Tracy.

[dramamama611]

Somehow, I don't think Hathaway needs to concern herself with a paycheck. That being said, though, I suppose the "in" thing to do is see just how much you can get them to pay for your name.

I like her, and would love to see what she might do on stage -- in any appropriate vehicle.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I highly doubt Anne Hathaway is really worried about how much she's gonna get paid, her only NY stage appearances have been in limited runs with little pay, like Encores! or Shakespeare in the Park. If she's not doing it it's probably because she's not interested.

[RippedMan]

She's greedy. She wants a Tony.

[nasty_khakis]

I know she's done small/not for profit runs in the past and doesn't "need" the money, but I just don't see her making her big debut in a Roundabout show, especially right now. In a couple years, sure, why not, but not while she's very much in demand.

She's entirely age-appropriate for the role, the same age Hepburn was when she played it on stage, however, I think Roundabout will probably going for an older name. Don't as me why, it's just a gut feeling. For example, I can see someone like Cynthia Nixon knocking it out of the park.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Cynthia Nixon? I feel like she'd be more appropriate for the DINNER WITH FRIENDS Roundabout revival than for Tracy Lord. But who knows?
I just think that if Anne Hathaway doesn't work with Roundabout it's more because of the bad reputation they've established recently rather than because they can't give her money. For example, I'd see her working with LCT in a heartbeat (like in the proposed KING & I revival, though it seems like that's Kelli O'Hara's show).

[nasty_khakis]

Ray, Roundabout's reputation is what is giving me pause more than any money situation. I just used the money as another reason why I don't see her doing this. Mostly it's just a gut feeling I have. If it were the Public of LCT I could easily see her doing it, but Roundabout NEVER gets white-hot A+ names. I mean, they get GREAT actors and big names, sure, but never when they're at their ultimate. Like, they got Megan Mullally but it wasn't during the Will and Grace peak, ya know?

Also, I'm not really adding Cynthia Nixon to my list. I'm just saying someone of her age/caliber/name would be more inline with Roundabout's way of casting. I think she'd do a stand-up job though, regardless of how wrong she really is. It's similar to the WAY too old casting of Mary Louise Parker in "Hedda Gabbler" and Laura Linney in "Les Liasons." Both terrific actresses in terribly misguided roles. So, if anything I'm punishing Annie for being too right for the role.