Help cast 'The First Wives Club' musical

StiffedVendor Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 04:15 PM EST

I hear there are cash flow issues and that the producers are not paying their bills... I wonder if it is really going to happen. Is the show in trouble?

Q Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 03:26 PM EST

As I have directed this show (an adaptation of the film)and having given the role of Annie (Diane Keaton) to an african american female, I have seen it done beautifully. Hell, I did it myself! With that being said, this project is a shue-in for broadway and a Tony's knockout. Think of the story; it was brilliant!The cast as a whole delivered amazing performances and the technical aspectects of the show were equally spectacular. With all of that being said, think if it this way, This new musical is exactly that, a new musical with new writing staff, an ADDITIONAL SCORE that was not in the movie at all and a brand new creative team to focus on all aspects of the piece. It will be something else once's it is all said and done. Give it a little time. Oh, Queen Latifa would be a great Guinilla GaRSON- gOLDSBERRY, Originated in the film by Maggie Smith.

nikki Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 11:23 AM EST

Megan Mullally - Goldie Hawn
Latifa - Bette Midler
and i dont know for diane keaton's character!! I Soooo want to see this musical when it opens!!!!

Kandy Mon, Oct 1, 2007 at 11:58 AM EST

Renee Elise Goldsberry would be perfect in this show. She shined in The Color Purple as Nettie, and has a great voice and look. I love this gal

Susan Mon, May 28, 2007 at 10:15 PM EST

I don't care who else is in the cast, but it would be a tragedy not to have the divine Miss M. I agree, why does the cast have to be all one race. That doesn't represent our city or nation.

Midje Fri, May 25, 2007 at 01:23 PM EST

Diane Keaton role - Donna Murphy
Bette Midler role - Patti LuPone
Goldie Hawn role - Bernadette Peters

Michael Fri, May 25, 2007 at 01:06 PM EST

They did make a musical show out of "Sister Act". It premiered at Pasadena Playhouse earlier this year with a hopeful move to Broadway in the near future.

Simonique Fri, May 25, 2007 at 12:45 PM EST

I'd say Angela Bassett should be up for a role if she could sing. But we know she can lip-sync and seriously act like she can belt a tune out. Loretta Devine is a great singer and maybe Sheryl Lee Ralph could be up for a role too!

? Fri, May 25, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST

How about Margaret Cho as one of the cast members? She is hilarious. I agree, a mixed cast would be entertaining and interesting.

Jay Jeffries Fri, May 25, 2007 at 12:31 PM EST

Why can't the cast be mixed race? Wouldn't that be more interesting?

JuJuBee Fri, May 25, 2007 at 12:22 PM EST

Good casting Ceballos!
If they could Jennifer Hudson a role fresh off her ousting on AI, give Mindy a chance and of course, acting lessons. But please don't cast Beyonce as the SJP role. not that her ego would allow her to accept such a supporting role

Dillon Fri, May 25, 2007 at 11:49 AM EST

Yes! Loretta Devine doing Bette's part!

T. Fri, May 25, 2007 at 11:47 AM EST

And you thought redoing "Catch Me If You Can " as a musical was a lame idea...All things aside,the main thing about this project to justify its existence should be the casting, sticking to aged broadway divas.The possibilities are limitless, just think Bernadette Peteres, Betty Buckley, Judy Kuhn, Ann Reinking, Marin Mazzie, Megan Mulally, Linda Eder, Etc..are all out ob a job now, becuase unless you're Audra McDonald or Idina Menzel, broadway producers insist on going younger and younger for women just as they do in the movie biz, so maybe this could be an opportunity for all those greats to have a job after all.

Ron Mexico Fri, May 25, 2007 at 11:42 AM EST

I never saw the movie (a testament to my heterosexuality), so I have no comment on it per se. What I will say is that I wish that Goldie would not have had all of her plastic surgery done. She was gorgeous, and I would like to have seen her age naturally.

I guess we still have Kate.

Ceballos Fri, May 25, 2007 at 11:18 AM EST

I'd go with Queen Latifah, but I'd put her in the Bette Midler role...and NO it's not because her highness is closer to Midler in body type, but because Latifah seems to have an outsize personality character that seems more fitting for that role than Hawn's.

I'm assuming since Queen Latifah's only 36/37, it's not exactly limited to middle-aged actresses, so for the rest of the cast, I'd go with Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) as the Goldie Hawn character and (wait for it) Melinda Doolittle as the shyer Diane Keaton character. Yes, I have no idea whether she could act, but if they decide to recreate the scene in the movie where the other two trick the Diane Keaton character into belting out, I could see Mindy Doo owning that. (yes, this means I've seen "First Wives Club") I know she's like 28, but, come on, she looks older.

Maybe go with someone like Monique Coleman (High School Musical) in the SJP role (or another hot young pop/actress like Mya or Ashanti or whatev

Ceballos Fri, May 25, 2007 at 11:14 AM EST

This is all assuming they decide to go all-black.

I'd go with Queen Latifah, but I'd put her in the Bette Midler role...and NO it's not because her highness is closer to Midler in body type, but because Latifah seems to have an outsize personality character that seems more fitting for that role than Hawn's.

I'm assuming since Queen Latifah's only 36/37, it's not exactly limited to middle-aged actresses, so for the rest of the cast, I'd go with Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) as the Goldie Hawn character and (wait for it) Melinda Doolittle as the shyer Diane Keaton character. Yes, I have no idea whether she could act, but if they decide to recreate the scene in the movie where the other two trick the Diane Keaton character into belting out, I could see Mindy Doo owning that. (yes, this means I've seen "First Wives Club")

Finally, maybe go with someone like Monique Coleman (High School Musical) in the SJP role (or another hot young pop/actress like Mya or Ashanti or whatev

Jason Bonkers Fri, May 25, 2007 at 10:46 AM EST

Queen Latifah should have Lipo Suction on her chin.

Dan Schwait Fri, May 25, 2007 at 10:39 AM EST

Cristine Ebersole (The Diane Keaton Character)
Bernadette Peters (The Goldie Hawn Character)
Bette Midler
Laura Bell Bundy (The Sarah Jessica Parker Character)

Miss USA Fri, May 25, 2007 at 10:14 AM EST

Let them cast an all black cast so what? Black women get dumped too. White women do not have the monopoly on the loney hearts club. And many blacks have plastic surgery. Even Oprah had her nose slighty done. I have noticed it.

Miss USA Fri, May 25, 2007 at 10:13 AM EST

Let them cast an all black cast so what? Black women get dumped too. White women do not have the monopoly on the loney hearts club. And many blacks have plastic surgery. Even Oprah had her nose slighty done. I have noticed it.

Miss USA Fri, May 25, 2007 at 10:12 AM EST

Let them cast an all black cast so what? Black women get dumped too. White women do not have the monopoly on the loney hearts club. And many blacks have plastic surgery. Even Oprah had her nose slighty done. I have noticed it.

kevin Fri, May 25, 2007 at 09:56 AM EST

This is a totally different topic (kind of) but why aren't they making a musical based on "Sister Act." Doesn't that seem like an obvious movie to Broadway musical choice???

Dancing Diva Fri, May 25, 2007 at 09:38 AM EST

Well I think it's time to broaden the horizons of Broadway and stop looking at what we have in front of us or the "formula" that seems to the "norm". In my opinion this is a fantastic project and a great step for the Great White Way. Reuniting Holland-Dozier-Holland to do the score to this show is an amazing idea. Hurray for whom ever managed to pull them back together. I myself can't wait to see what they have done. When does it open and where can I get my tickets? As for some of the comments from Sally. My dear if you feel there are no black actresses/singer that have not been under the knife, I think you need to take a closer look at your television screen, which you may be spending way too much time in front of to begin with. And who's to say "black women" are wanting to re-write the movie to fit them, how are we to know this didn't come directly from the creative team of the show...we all thought Legally Blonde may be a bomb out the gate, but look what it's become.

Ep Sato Fri, May 25, 2007 at 09:36 AM EST

Black celebs and plastic surgery? Two words: Diana Ross.

Queen Latifa's proven to be multi faceted. She can play fun roles as well as dramatic ones. She was able to bring down the house and also set it off, both roles demonstrating a decent breadth of character. While it's usually hard for women to break into hip hop without playing up to the stereotype of women as sex objects, she had hits while staying large and in charge. She's just that good. So IMHO, it'd be worth seeing.

As for the other two, why not cast Rene Russo as the aging ceo who's husband has taken over her company and who leaves her for the shrink. Role 3 could be played by Parker Posey, who's husband leaves her for the underage bimbo. They'd just need to gray Posey's hair.

I'd update their college to the UW Madison in the 1980's (Middlebury in the 60's sounds very, as Jessica Shaw would say, five minutes ago), and would base the story in Chicago instead of NYC.

And I totally want Ivana to cameo.

Millie Fri, May 25, 2007 at 09:30 AM EST

This sounds a little silly. As far as plastic surgery goes, black women have bought into the routine of plastic surgery for beautification.And I agree with the poster who wrote that the Jackson family is a prime example of the surgery. Sorry Queen Latifah, you should not do this role.

brandonk Fri, May 25, 2007 at 09:08 AM EST

Bette should totally reprise her role! I think it sounds fun. I saw that movie in the theater like 4 times!

Juan Fri, May 25, 2007 at 08:52 AM EST

Sally: There are many african-american women that are first wives. And guess what, black people get plastic surgery too. all you have to do is look at the Jackson family.

Justin Fri, May 25, 2007 at 08:51 AM EST

Why don't they just make a "Waiting to Exhale" musical instead? That's the direction this looks to be going in....

lois whitman Fri, May 25, 2007 at 08:50 AM EST

I am an insider. I just read what Sally said. Sally, I am buying you a ticket to opening night. I heard the music that has been written so far and you are going to dance and sing like you never have done before. This is not about plastic surgery, not about color, it is about women feeling good about themselves. HDH has written words and music for this musical that is going to give all women, married and unmarried, a new energetic attitude many of us need to go forward under many circumstances

Sally Fri, May 25, 2007 at 08:35 AM EST

To AA: This is a singing musical, not a drama. Can Kerry sing? And I don't see Whitney Houston doing Broadway, it's beneath her (lol).

aa Fri, May 25, 2007 at 08:23 AM EST

wow sally you have a very narrow view. the actors may have been white but that doesn't make the story white. contrary to what you may think there are in fact pampered wealthy black women who get too much plastic surgery. besides, the more broad point of the book and movie is that women should lean on other women to help them through painful life experiences such as divorce. the queen can do anything and it would be great to see whitney put her acting career back on track. i think kerry washington would be great as one of the second wives.

Houstonian Jen in Baltimore Fri, May 25, 2007 at 06:28 AM EST

From Sally: "(Could it be because nothing original is being written for black actresses)"

YES!!!!

NineDaves Fri, May 25, 2007 at 06:23 AM EST

Really, you don't know any black actresses who are addicted to cosmetic surgery? How about Diahann Carroll? She's had some work done. So has Whitney. So has Mariah. So has Angela Bassett, I'd bet. But with this Broadway offering, I'd rather not cast this movie as an all black cast. Because Bette Midler should just come back and play her character again!

matthew Fri, May 25, 2007 at 05:53 AM EST

I think that Christine Ebersole should take on the Diane Keaton role and Beth Leavel [from "The Drowsy Chaperone"] should take on the Bette Midler role. If things don't work out with Latifah [Although I hope they will] maybe Sheryl Lee Ralph [from "Dreamgirls"]?

Sally Fri, May 25, 2007 at 05:30 AM EST

This sounds like a bomb coming out the gate. Holland-Dozier have never done Broadway and I wish them well, but this is an all-white female actresses' story and why oh why black women want to rewrite these movies to fit their needs is beyond me. (Could it be because nothing original is being written for black actresses) If I recall the original movie, none of those marriage scenarios fit black women's experiences. The Goldie Hawn character was a plastic surgery freak, I don't know of any black actresses/singers who are addicted to cosmetic surgery.