Chess

[Scswp]

For the poster who mentioned Kerry Ellis as Florence, I doubt this will be the case. She’s not a big enough name at all IMO. I think the only way she could be cast is if the other roles are cast with bigger names.
Kerry has sold out big venues in the past (e.g. Albert Hall) but it’s usually with other people (e.g. Brian May, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel). On her own, she won’t sell anywhere near enough tickets.

[Deleted]

Oct 27, 2017 21:40:11 GMT alece10 said:

Oct 27, 2017 19:46:37 GMT Seriously said:

Why are people wanting Idina Menzel and Kerry Ellis? They've done it before. Let's have someone new.

If it's Idina my friend will refuse to go. She was not brilliant in the RAH concert and looked quite bored throughout. Sang it well though.

I also won't be going if it's Idina, I don't think she sang the RAH version particularly well at all, and the less said about her acting then, the better

[BurlyBeaR]

Oct 28, 2017 8:04:50 GMT Scswp said:

For the poster who mentioned Kerry Ellis as Florence, I doubt this will be the case. She’s not a big enough name at all IMO. I think the only way she could be cast is if the other roles are cast with bigger names.
Kerry has sold out big venues in the past (e.g. Albert Hall) but it’s usually with other people (e.g. Brian May, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel). On her own, she won’t sell anywhere near enough tickets.

Kerry just puts herself about a bit too much to be considered star casting. Let’s face it, she’ll appear in pretty much anything. By the end of this year she’ll have done 4 or 5  different things in Manchester and that’s just the ones I’m aware of. I’m not saying that’s bad, she’s got a great voice and she’s making a living by entertaining people which is wonderful and to be applauded. But it’s getting a bit like “Oh it’s Kerry Ellis... again”. 

[shady23]

True. I'm a big fan and I used to go to everything. Now I very much pick and choose!

[ali973]

Oct 28, 2017 8:04:50 GMT Scswp said:

For the poster who mentioned Kerry Ellis as Florence, I doubt this will be the case. She’s not a big enough name at all IMO. I think the only way she could be cast is if the other roles are cast with bigger names.
Kerry has sold out big venues in the past (e.g. Albert Hall) but it’s usually with other people (e.g. Brian May, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel). On her own, she won’t sell anywhere near enough tickets.

Agreed. Though I'd like to see her play Florence in this (or any Chess, for that matter), I am aware of the high improbability of her booking this. 

[shady23]

I'm sure if she was given the opportunity to be involved, she would bite their hands off (who wouldn't?!) but with Heaven and Earth planned to run til mid May it's not looking likely.

[Deleted]

So I really like Kerry Ellis - her voice is stunning. Agree she puts herself about too much though and does a lot of cheap mediocre ish stuff.

Do feel she still needs that one role for which she will be remembered - a lead in an original big hit musical. Like Paige and LuPone had Evita, Sunset etc. Brightman in Phantom. Salonga in Saigon.
And she just hasn't had that yet. Hopefully there is something round the corner.

But anyway, think she'd be a great Florence - certainly it's a SINGER that can act role.

Will not be going if Idina gets it (well, actually let's face it, I will, I love Chess - but she was TERRIBLE at the RAH).

I am actually in the camp that loved the CRH version - interestingly is the only actor-muso production I have ever liked. Know it got mixed reviews but for me it clicked and worked. Great cast too.

Old enough to remember the Rebecca Storm tour....
Gutted to have missed the Prince Edward though.

[ali973]

**IDINA WILL NOT BE IN IT**

Everyone can relax. La Menzel is going to be starring in "Skintight", an off Broadway play from late May well into the summer. She is in fact not even doing the pre-Broaway run of her upcoming star vehicle, "Jagged Little Pill".

Dom- I hear what you say. With Kerry, isn't "Wicked" her big role, being the first British Elphaba? It had a significant impact on her career and whatever fame she has now is directly linked two her original (and subsequent) stint in Wicked. Heck, it even took her to Broadway, a town with no shortage of singers who can sing quite like her.

[musicallady]

Oct 28, 2017 9:50:42 GMT @sharpe12 said:

So I really like Kerry Ellis - her voice is stunning. Agree she puts herself about too much though and does a lot of cheap mediocre ish stuff.

Do feel she still needs that one role for which she will be remembered - a lead in an original big hit musical. Like Paige and LuPone had Evita, Sunset etc. Brightman in Phantom. Salonga in Saigon.
And she just hasn't had that yet. Hopefully there is something round the corner.

But anyway, think she'd be a great Florence - certainly it's a SINGER that can act role.

Will not be going if Idina gets it (well, actually let's face it, I will, I love Chess - but she was TERRIBLE at the RAH).

I am actually in the camp that loved the CRH version - interestingly is the only actor-muso production I have ever liked. Know it got mixed reviews but for me it clicked and worked. Great cast too.

Old enough to remember the Rebecca Storm tour....
Gutted to have missed the Prince Edward though.

Rebecca Storm version was the best I have ever seen. Maurice Clark was outstanding as the Russian.

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2017 9:56:51 GMT ali973 said:

Dom- I hear what you say. With Kerry, isn't "Wicked" her big role, being the first British Elphaba? It had a significant impact on her career and whatever fame she has now is directly linked two her original (and subsequent) stint in Wicked. Heck, it even took her to Broadway, a town with no shortage of singers who can sing quite like her.

Yup, I agree, so far that is her big role. And certainly what brought her to a wider public.
But it was a takeover in London from Idina of course.


I'd just LOVE her to get the chance to originate an incredible MT role!  

[ali973]

I haven't seen her, but Rebecca Storm sounded quite amazing. Isn't it the only version that opts to use Nobody's Side as a finale? I quite like the current version with Florence singing a bit of Anthem.

[danb]

Oct 28, 2017 10:01:30 GMT ali973 said:

I haven't seen her, but Rebecca Storm sounded quite amazing. Isn't it the only version that opts to use Nobody's Side as a finale? I quite like the current version with Florence singing a bit of Anthem.

She was fantastic!

[Scswp]

Agree about Rebecca Storm - she was fantastic as Florence.

And yes, Nobody’s Side was used as the finale in that version.

Florence also sang ‘Someone Else’s Story’ in that version, not Svetlana. Storm sang that song really well - it really suited her voice.

[BurlyBeaR]

Oct 28, 2017 10:28:26 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Oct 28, 2017 9:11:35 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Kerry just puts herself about a bit too much to be considered star casting.

She earns a living by performing. Not working = no cash, same as the rest of us. No idea what shows she gets offered, but my guess is that she says yes because pragmatically, she enjoys simple pleasures like eating and sleeping indoors in a heated and secure place.

Yes, which I acknowledged 100% in the part of of my post that you didn’t quote. 

[distantcousin]

Oct 27, 2017 21:58:10 GMT ali973 said:

Oct 27, 2017 21:47:40 GMT karloscar said:

Never mind an overlooked Svetlana, Siobhan McCarthy was even better as Florence, and made the romance with Anatoly (Tommy Korberg) far more believable than EP ever did.

Oh? When was this? I wasn't aware she played Florence. 

She replaced Elaine when she left.

[Deleted]

So 'Chess' has always been a bit of a pop musical so they could cast in that direction. Adam Lambert would be a fabulous Freddie with Oscar winning J-Hud belting the living daylights out of Florence. A bit old school I know but they could get Morten Harket wrapping his gorgeous vocals around 'Anthem' as Anatoly and have (and I know she'd never do it) Kylie waltzing in and stealing the show with 'Someone Else's Story' as Svetlana. David Essex could be The Arbiter to keep the old gals happy.

Boom.

[Deleted]

Can you even imagine if Kylie just came on for one number! I don't even know much of Chess, but I'd be there in a heartbeat if that happened!

[ali973]

I think it's fair play to have a Florence and Freddy as non MT performers, but I think they "owe" it to the industry to hire musical theatre performers for Anatoly, and definitely Svetlana. Rebecca Trehearn could be a fab Svetlana. That voice!

[alwaysbeengreen]

Oct 29, 2017 13:52:04 GMT ali973 said:

I think it's fair play to have a Florence and Freddy as non MT performers, but I think they "owe" it to the industry to hire musical theatre performers for Anatoly, and definitely Svetlana. Rebecca Trehearn could be a fab Svetlana. That voice!

Indeed.

 

However, I'd actually really love to see Rebecca as Florence. 

[carmella1]

Oct 29, 2017 11:52:30 GMT @ryan said:

So 'Chess' has always been a bit of a pop musical so they could cast in that direction. Adam Lambert would be a fabulous Freddie with Oscar winning J-Hud belting the living daylights out of Florence. A bit old school I know but they could get Morten Harket wrapping his gorgeous vocals around 'Anthem' as Anatoly and have (and I know she'd never do it) Kylie waltzing in and stealing the show with 'Someone Else's Story' as Svetlana. David Essex could be The Arbiter to keep the old gals happy.

Boom.

Why is there something to keep the old gals happy?  What about gays, young women transgenders, etc.  That line is getting tired.  Oh wait Kylie or Adam would be for the gays.  So just some straight hunk for the young women?  Danny Mac will be available.

   

[Scswp]

Does anyone have any realistic ideas as to when casting will be announced? Is it likely to be soon or are we talking post-Christmas?

[Being Alive]

Is it too hopeful to think Baz might drop a name before public onsale on friday?

[anniel]

Do you think they might have Ramin Karimloo? Surely he's due back from Broadway and he has that brilliant half pop half MT voice.

I'm so excited about this - my finger is poised on the booking button already!

[Being Alive]

Oct 29, 2017 23:48:48 GMT @kevinuk said:

Oct 29, 2017 21:11:56 GMT Being Alive said:

Is it too hopeful to think Baz might drop a name before public onsale on friday?

Well id like to know who was going to be in it, but I suspect if they had names sorted they’d have announced it by now anyway: I believe the last three musicals were announced with lead casting confirmed? 

they were, this is true. I also want to know whos going to be in it, but will grab my usual £12 balcony seat for a matinee purely to hear the orchestra play it and then possibly book a second trip if the casting is good enough.

[ali973]

Again, not a household name, certainly not even a big name in theatreland in the UK, but I think Stephanie J Block would sing the living sh*t out of this. Rumor has it she is slated to be Cher in The Cher Show, but nothing for certain.