Wait, Catherine Zeta-Jones was supposed to star in Women on the Verge?

[Will42]

According to Michael Riedel, she'd accepted an offer, to star in Women on the Verge, but the producers decided she'd have to audition, and she passed. Soon Stephen Sondheim called her and persuaded her to do A Night Music instead, because they needed a big name since Angela Lansbury only agreed to join the production if another star would play Desiree. The rest is history.

Well, considering that A Little Night Music was a major success that won her a Tony Award, while Women on the Verge closed after only 69 performances, I guess it's safe to say that Zeta-Jones made the right choice. I do wonder what role she was supposed to play, she doesn't seems right for Pepa, so I guess it was Candela?

Here's the link to Riedel's article: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/item_B11atdDcJe69yPABUBZaeL;jsessionid=CA63D96712DE11EC51B8363DF57DB739

[bwayphreak234]

I remember reading about that somewhere. I would love to hear her sing Lovesick and Island.

[bwayphreak234]

I remember reading about that somewhere. I would love to hear her song Lovesick and Island.

[BrodyFosse123]

Well, considering that A Little Night Music was a major success that won her a Tony Award, while Women on the Verge closed after only 69 performances...

From the onset, WOMEN ON THE VERGE was a Limited Engagement. It just bumped-up its closing a few weeks but it was always intended as a limited run and not an open-ended run.

[AC126748]

CZJ was offered Pepa. Candela was always going to be Jessica Biel until she backed out and Benanti came in.

[ljay889]

I love CZJ and VERGE, but she really lucked out big time.

[Mildred Plotka]

She was offered the role and then asked to audition. I believe she said she wouldn't have minded auditioning in the first place, but the audition after offer left a bad taste in her mouth (and I don't blame her).

[GlindatheGood22]

Would it have made any difference in the show's life?

[ljay889]

CZJ was a massive draw in Night Music. I'd imagine Verge would have at least played out its original run with CZJ.

[AEA AGMA SM]

"From the onset, WOMEN ON THE VERGE was a Limited Engagement. It just bumped-up its closing a few weeks but it was always intended as a limited run and not an open-ended run."

To me that's even sadder, that Lincoln Center couldn't even get their subscriber base to keep it open to play out the entire limited run.

And I agree with ljay that it would probably have managed to make it through at least its entire limited run with Zeta-Jones on board.

[everythingtaboo]

Never thought I would say this, but thank you Jessica Biel.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Jessica Biel would have made a cute Candela, but Laura Benanti was wonderful. Catherine as Pepa could have been sublime.

[mikem]

Of course, it's all "what if..," but I think Women on the Verge would have been much better off with Zeta-Jones as Pepa. I think Sherie Rene Scott was really miscast. I'm not sure Zeta-Jones is a great fit either, but she would have brought in the audiences and may have done better in the part. I also think the show got bad buzz from its troublesome early previews, and if the run had been longer, I think the buzz might have changed a little (as happened with Audra's Porgy and Bess).

I can't see Jessica Biel being as daffy/zany as Benanti was. Benanti was perfect in the part.

[RippedMan]

Makes LCT look pretty bad.