Cats

[ali973]

I think people who "kind of" go to theatre will know who Kerry Ellis. I would think she has the popularity and name recognition of Ruthie Henshall outside of the MT crowd in the 90s.

[jaqs]

The thought of ALW and Nicole making magic is making me vomit.

[ali973]

Reports indicate that Leona Lewis might be Grizabella on Broadway.

[theatre-turtle]

May 22, 2016 21:26:37 GMT jaqs said:

The thought of ALW and Nicole making magic is making me vomit.

It's just Christine with the Phantom. Nothing weird about that.

[westendwendy]

May 22, 2016 19:26:02 GMT Steffi said:

Shoshana Bean would actually make me consider watching the show on Broadway.

I sat next to her at a dinner party once with her pushy father and Shoshana was not pleasant. I never saw her as talented after that, you can see in her eyes how pushy and icy she is.

Still an amazing talent.

[Deleted]

Leona Lewis rumours are quite interesting, I could see it happening. She is a great singer, have never seen her act but Griz doesn't require that much anyway.

[Deleted]

Leona was in that musical film, Walking on Sunshine. Think she'll be quite good onstage

[Deleted]

May 23, 2016 15:07:56 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

Leona Lewis rumours are quite interesting, I could see it happening. She is a great singer, have never seen her act but Griz doesn't require that much anyway.

If Nicole Scherzinger is anything to go by, the part is a doddle. Dash through the first half of 'Memory' like she's got a taxi waiting outside, shout out the "Touch meeeeeeeeee" bit and lap up the applause. Job done. No acting required. Apart from the oh-so-humble hand on heart bow at the end.

Even Leona Lewis who has always seemed nice but a bit on the dull could manage that.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2016 15:34:23 GMT @ryan said:

May 23, 2016 15:07:56 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

Leona Lewis rumours are quite interesting, I could see it happening. She is a great singer, have never seen her act but Griz doesn't require that much anyway.

If Nicole Scherzinger is anything to go by, the part is a doddle. Dash through the first half of 'Memory' like she's got a taxi waiting outside, shout out the "Touch meeeeeeeeee" bit and lap up the applause. Job done. No acting required. Apart from the oh-so-humble hand on heart bow at the end.

Even Leona Lewis who has always seemed nice but a bit on the dull could manage that.

Clearly we feel very different about how amazing Nicole was in the role but, on paper, yes, it is a very simple role haha.

[d'James]

May 23, 2016 15:31:04 GMT @george22 said:

Leona was in that musical film, Walking on Sunshine. Think she'll be quite good onstage

I enjoyed that film. Preferred it to Mamma Mia anyway.

[Steffi]

May 23, 2016 15:03:26 GMT westendwendy said:

May 22, 2016 19:26:02 GMT Steffi said:

Shoshana Bean would actually make me consider watching the show on Broadway.

I sat next to her at a dinner party once with her pushy father and Shoshana was not pleasant. I never saw her as talented after that, you can see in her eyes how pushy and icy she is.

Still an amazing talent.

You never saw her as talented after that but still an amazing talent? ;-)
I'll be honest, I don't care what she's like at a dinner party. I think she would be an amazing Grizabella. :-)

[Deleted]

Would Leona sell tickets in the US?

[Deleted]

May 23, 2016 17:47:39 GMT @uktheatrefanatic said:

Would Leona sell tickets in the US?

She wouldn't, but she wouldn't need to. Cats will sell Cats for long enough before they need to bring a star name in.

[djp]

May 23, 2016 15:07:56 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

Leona Lewis rumours are quite interesting, I could see it happening. She is a great singer, have never seen her act but Griz doesn't require that much anyway.

Orribly miscast if true - old cat - young sounding, and looking, actor. Well in keeping with the current trend to cast  Christine's who sound 30+, and the Wicked anniversary cast -  who are playing characters they first played up to 8 years ago. Wicked  now has  a university starting age well into your thirties.

 Leona lewis could sing it beautifully, but she's the personification of the slinky athletic looking young cat, and will sound  it too. Elaine Paige at least woud be the right age .....

[ali973]

Is her age really set in stone though? It's clear that the direction they took with the Palladium version is a younger, sexier Grizabella who has done crystal meth and has fallen from grace.

[HereForTheatre]

A little birdy tells me Leona will be announced for this possibly today....but don't hold me to it!

[raiseitup]

Apparently confirmed - she's on a 4-month contract with the option to extend.

[Deleted]

I just learned that Cats will be coming to Belgium as part of a special 35th anniversary tour. Has anyone heard anything of this tour? I guess it's not the current UK tour, but it will be a new production.

[raiseitup]

Confirmed - www.broadwayworld.com/article/Official-CATS-Finds-Its-Grizabella--Leona-Lewis-Will-Play-the-Glamour-Cat-on-Broadway-20160526

[HereForTheatre]

An there it is....phew!

[Deleted]

Asif this is a thing that is actually happening.

[ali973]

Where does it say it's only for four months?

[BurlyBeaR]

Bet Nicole's face is a picture.

[Deleted]

God help them if Leona is thrown into promotional interviews etc... she is very vanilla. I actually love her music etc and she seems a sweet girl but she is very vanilla when she talks in interviews.

[BurlyBeaR]

May 26, 2016 16:49:26 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

God help them if Leona is thrown into promotional interviews etc... she is very vanilla. I actually love her music etc and she seems a sweet girl but she is very vanilla when she talks in interviews.

I'd describe her as 'inept' at interviews.