Some interesting casting from my review of theatre news during lunch:
- Jason Alexander, artistic director of LA Reprise, is exploring doing staged readings of The Odd Couple, hopefully re-pairing him with Martin Short, his co-star in The Producers. They make a good team, so this might be worth seeing.
- Another musical in the workshop stage is 9 to 5, moving to the stage the Dolly Parton movie from the 1980s, with additional music and lyrics by Ms. Parton. The current workshop cast includes Allison Janney (in the Lily Tomlin role), Stephanie J. Block (in the Jane Fonda role) and Megan Hilty (in the Dolly Parton role); with Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago) as office snitch Roz; Marc Kudisch (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as the boss, Mr. Hart; and Andy Karl (Legally Blonde), among others, including an ensemble. Quite interesting. This one might succeed.
- Coming to Broadway in October, as we all know, is Young Frankenstein: The Musical. Just cast in the Frau Blucher role originally played by Cloris Leachman is Andrea Martin. Inspired. Martin joins a cast that includes the previously announced Roger Bart (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), Megan Mullally (Elizabeth), Sutton Foster (Inga), Shuler Hensley (The Monster), Fred Applegate (Kemp) and Christopher Fitzgerald (Igor).
- Lastly, for those bemoning the wrong casting of Molly Ringwald in the tour of Sweet Charity, there is good news. When the National Touring Company of Charity opened in San Antonio TX yesterday, the lead role is now being played by Paige Davis (who we all loved from Trading Spaces). I think she’ll be good in this role; I still miss her on TLC (but enjoy her in reruns on Discovery Home–funny how you never see the host from the first season of Trading Spaces).
