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Post by inthenose on Nov 3, 2022 15:18:01 GMT
We have any number of amazing age appropriate ladies actively working that would be terrific in this role (the best of which has already played the part!). I’m not sure why they’d go to the expense of hiring from abroad and putting them up for the run? I guess if they’ve cast young elsewhere they need to cast Diana (too) young also. Caissie Levy isn't too young for the role, she's 41 and the show is pretty explicit about Diana having both her kids relatively young, somewhere in her early twenties. I imagine if it is Levy then it's because she and Longhurst already have an established working relationship after Caroline, or Change on Broadway. I think she'd be very good though I agree that it would be nice for a British actor to get the role considering it's the show's premiere here. Which is all well and good, I am genuinely struggling to think of any who could do it justice. It’s an outrageously hard role. I imagine the rest of the cast will be English. As I said before, my predictions for the rest of the cast really pick themselves. Henry will be non-white, likely too Dr Madden/Fine who will be female, Natalie will be recruited from Mountview or Arts Ed, Gabe will be a popular youngish name with a good social media following, and Dan will be a safe pair of hands. I just can’t see them doing anything different. I am very pleased if it is indeed Caissie Levy, she looks and sounds like Diana then they can build the rest of the cast around her. |
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 3, 2022 15:28:04 GMT
We do have Diana's here - Rebecca Trehearn would be spectacular, Hannah Waddingham would be great, Louise Dearman is the right sort of fit, having seen Tammy Faye I now think Katie Brayben would make a great Diana - it's not fair to say we don't have people that could do it, but Levy will be great if it is her.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Nov 3, 2022 17:19:01 GMT
There's still seats available for every performance (excluding press night) No surprises there.
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Post by apubleed on Nov 3, 2022 17:37:18 GMT
I have probably seen about 9-10 Dianas around the world across 3 different continents, including original and US understudies. As well as new productions. And I’d say the only two that have elevated the material to that kind of ‘greatest performance of all time status’ are Alice Ripley and Marin Mazzie. Everyone else can do a serviceable job but without that X factor in terms of voice, acting and stage presence and the ability to take the role to very dark places where you actually ask yourself if the actor is ok after the role (and apparently Alice Ripley and Marin Mazzie talked about this, and it does take an emotional tole) I would say the material comes across as a little flat. Not bad but just ‘meh’. If it’s Cassie Levy, I trust that the Director has found that person and I would guess the decision was not taken lightly. I was quite impressed with her acting in the Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change - I must admit. And I don’t think it’s an easy role to pull off because it’s so unsympathetic.
I’d also say for those complaining they would like someone British (assuming it doesn’t happen), do remember that Sharon D Clarke transferred the show to BROADWAY, which is an amazing recognition of British talent and shows the director is of course willing to find the best person for the role regardless of nationality. This didn’t go unnoticed by some twitter complainers who thought it was inappropriate to cast Sharon in such an American role. So I think we should place some trust in the Director regardless of outcome.
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Post by apubleed on Nov 3, 2022 17:40:59 GMT
The other thing I’d say is we are of course assuming some of the names here would actually want to take on the role if offered. I don’t think that’s a good assumption. It’s a very hard show to do physically let alone emotionally and taxing on the voice. There is also such hype behind the role that I think actors would be careful to take on the role unless they really think they can pull it off. Who would want press that the London premier is great except that the lead doesn’t deliver compared to the US production. And then to have to actually go on and perform it with hypothetical mediocre press giving your entire voice and emotions to the show would be torture.
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Post by filendile on Nov 3, 2022 21:34:06 GMT
Ailsa Davidson popped into my head as a potential Natalie.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Nov 4, 2022 14:01:23 GMT
I’d also say for those complaining they would like someone British (assuming it doesn’t happen), do remember that Sharon D Clarke transferred the show to BROADWAY, which is an amazing recognition of British talent and shows the director is of course willing to find the best person for the role regardless of nationality. This didn’t go unnoticed by some twitter complainers who thought it was inappropriate to cast Sharon in such an American role. So I think we should place some trust in the Director regardless of outcome. The key words there are transferred with the production, that's very different to opening a role in a brand new production. Sharon D Clarke won rave reviews for her performance and thats what got her to NYC with the same show. The other thing I’d say is we are of course assuming some of the names here would actually want to take on the role if offered. I don’t think that’s a good assumption. It’s a very hard show to do physically let alone emotionally and taxing on the voice. There is also such hype behind the role that I think actors would be careful to take on the role unless they really think they can pull it off. Who would want press that the London premier is great except that the lead doesn’t deliver compared to the US production. And then to have to actually go on and perform it with hypothetical mediocre press giving your entire voice and emotions to the show would be torture. I can't ever see a case where an actress would turn down a role after auditioning for it, and even if they received a straight offer, no one is going to say no based on what the press MIGHT say. Besides, barely any of the press will have seen the original to compare it to. There have been plenty of people who have had not great reviews and still continued to do the role. |
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Post by apubleed on Nov 4, 2022 19:22:15 GMT
I guess there is a wide range of talent and of course some of the names mentioned here would audition and take the role if offered especially if their career was primarily focussed on living and breathing musical theatre, but I was thinking of someone who is more like a 'star' mentioned such as Hannah Waddingham for example. I don't think she would jump at the role if offered personally given the demands of the role and her focus on TV/Film rather than theatre over the past 10 years.
Yes but it's not like there isn't a wealth of Black women in the USA that might have been equal or better in the role (and some, not me though, would suggest more appropriate for the role given it's a deeply American character and story - were any given the opportunity?) I see it as a similar argument to this one the only difference being she 'proved' she could do the role in another country first. Well, Cassie Levy might have proved she could do the role in a private audition with the director. Or do we only care what critics think?
Theatre people are often meant to be all about 'diversity & inclusion' but this whole attitude of 'THEY ARE TAKING OUR JOBSSS' reaks of prejudice to me, and hypocrisy too especially when British actors get AMPLE opportunity to perform on the NYC Broadway stage all the time.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Nov 5, 2022 5:48:22 GMT
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 7, 2022 20:49:59 GMT
Ramin Karimloo as the father?
I posted this in the performers thread but someone on broadwayworld hinted that he was returning to London next year for something.
Thought either this or Groundhog Day
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Post by marob on Nov 7, 2022 21:05:49 GMT
Ramin Karimloo as the father? I posted this in the performers thread but someone on broadwayworld hinted that he was returning to London next year for something. Thought either this or Groundhog Day He’s in a Dr Zhivago concert at the Palladium next year. Could be that? |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 7, 2022 21:13:26 GMT
Ramin Karimloo as the father? I posted this in the performers thread but someone on broadwayworld hinted that he was returning to London next year for something. Thought either this or Groundhog Day He’s in a Dr Zhivago concert at the Palladium next year. Could be that? Possibly, but I got the impression it was something else and implying he was leaving at end of his contract in funny girl and doing something in London. that's just one night so could be done on a short absence, and it's already been announced |
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Post by inthenose on Nov 8, 2022 0:48:51 GMT
Ramin would be incredible.
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Post by steven22 on Nov 16, 2022 14:30:11 GMT
I noticed Caissie Levy follows the Donmar on IG and they follow her. Really hoping she’s playing Diana…
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Post by Mark on Dec 14, 2022 11:13:27 GMT
All booked! First preview and then my Birthday in October Sorting out my summer annual leave and turns out, I did not book the first preview, but the first Friday... That will teach me to look when speed booking. If anyone has an extra ticket in the lower price range for it, I will gladly buy it from you. |
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Post by partytentdown on Jan 26, 2023 12:10:39 GMT
Caissie Levy and Trevor Dion Nicholas confirmed
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jan 26, 2023 12:34:51 GMT
Phew. Trevor is Dr Madden/Dr Fine. Thankfully he's not playing Dan.
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Post by Nelly on Jan 26, 2023 12:44:52 GMT
Booked tickets very quickly after that casting news! Delighted we get Caissie back on these shores again.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 26, 2023 12:50:00 GMT
Caissie Levy. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
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Post by westendrebecca on Jan 26, 2023 13:15:27 GMT
Very excited about this casting! I was lucky enough to see Caissie in Frozen back in 2018 and she was incredible!
Does anyone have any experience with the 16-25 young and free ballot? I have entered, but I’m wondering how far in advance they let you know if you have won, and whether it’s a particular performance, or you get a range of dates?
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Post by ArbitraryGibberish on Jan 26, 2023 14:08:31 GMT
Does anyone have any experience with the 16-25 young and free ballot? I have entered, but I’m wondering how far in advance they let you know if you have won, and whether it’s a particular performance, or you get a range of dates? I won for The Band’s Visit. I was sent an email 12 October and was given an option of 14 dates between 1 November and 2 December, first come first serve (this includes for getting any tickets in general). |
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Post by vickyg on Jan 26, 2023 14:19:31 GMT
Is the whole auditorium either £60 or £45 these days? Seems much more expensive than my last experience with Jean Brodie.
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Post by JustJ on Jan 26, 2023 14:39:47 GMT
I really want to book tickets - but am worried about getting a STALLS side seat (no centre blocks left for the run). Any thoughts on Donmar seating and for what this show might look like? Don't want to spend £60 on an average seat.
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 26, 2023 16:01:53 GMT
Is the whole auditorium either £60 or £45 these days? Seems much more expensive than my last experience with Jean Brodie. No, lots of the cheaper tickets were booked before casting was announced. Lots available between £20-40 originally |
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 26, 2023 16:03:38 GMT
Wasn't Cassie 'out' all the time when she was in Frozen?
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