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"Shrek the Musical": Sutton Foster and a singing ogreFor the past few years, I've been studiously ignoring the fact that Shrek the Musical is in development and coming to Broadway this November. It keeps getting delayed (I believe it was originally projected to open in 2006), so it's been fairly easy to dismiss. And it's not a given that I'll hate it if I see it. The movie wasn't bad. It won't be a jukebox musical. And I haven't heard any stunt-casting rumors. Yet I find it difficult to get excited about a show starring an ogre and wisecracking donkey. Odd, that.
But it just got interesting. Tony Award winner Sutton Foster has signed on to star as Fiona, the princess who falls for the ogre. Sutton Foster is one of the best actresses in musical theater these days. And her story is great. She was an ensemble player in a number of shows in the late '90s and early '00s before she was plucked from the chorus of Thoroughly Modern Millie and cast in the starring role. She won Best Actress in a Musical for that performance and became one of the most bankable actresses on Broadway as a result. Her story could be the stuff of a corny Broadway musical (à la 42nd Street)! I wasn't a huge fan of Millie, but I became a huge fan of Foster. Here she singing and dancing her heart out to “Forget About the Boy.” (An easy song to embrace.) She's the only reason I saw the obscenely tedious Broadway production of Little Women. Well, her and the fact that a friend of mine got comps so I didn't have to pay for it.
The show was really bad. But she was much better than the material. (The other thing that kept me engaged was my fantasy that Maureen McGovern [Marmie] would anachronistically belt “The Morning After” — the theme from The Poseidon Adventure — but it didn't happen. Alas.) And, of course, I hope that a incipient baby dyke or two crushed out on Foster's portrayal of Jo. Foster went on to star in The Drowsy Chaperone and is currently playing Inga in Young Frankenstein.
But even Sutton Foster cannot induce me to see another overblown Mel Brooks musical. Next, a legion of young boys will likely crush out on her portrayal of Fiona. And legions of young girls will learn that a princess doesn't have to be ladylike. And that it's OK to love an ogre. Submitted by on February 11, 2008 - 5:04pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Oh dear...
A Sutton blog on afterellen.com...be still my heart. Not like that, though she is very cute.
Only recently took notice of your blog, but love that you bring the theater. Will you be going to see Vita and Virginia or The Beebo Brinker Chronicles?
nice pic there
I agree, it is always enjoyable to see theatre stuff on ye olde afterellen.com
Like your pic, did you see the revival of Sunday In The Park With George on Broadway or in London?? I would love to see it...way more appealing than the Young Frankenstein Little Mermaid fare.
SITPWG
I was wondering if anyone would ever get/comment on my pic. :) I guess if any, this is the thread that would do it.
Saw it on Broadway and lurved it. Better than the original IMO, which I only saw on dvd. Going again in March.
lucky lucky
extend
It's extended 2x already so come on down!...from wherever you are.
I'm curious what Brantley will say about it. My guess is that his review will be very mixed, but we'll see.
Beebo and Vita
I didn't see Beebo Brinker the first time around, but I might see it in its off-broadway run. I've heard mixed things about it, but feel like I should support lesbian theater.
There's a fairly decent chance that I'll see Vita and Virgina. I usually see more musicals than plays but, lately, it's the off B-way plays that are catching my attention. I do have tickets for Gypsy though and am probably going to try to catch Sunday in the Park with George. It was on TKTS a couple of weeks ago.
and
move over, sutton foster
I love Sutton Foster. Whenever I hear Thoroughly Modern Millie I think, "I'd like to help her forget abuot the boy."
yes, my sense of humor is often 12 years old.
Love Sutton Foster!
...
btw, announcement today of the theater for Shrek and preview and opening dates:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980709.html?categoryid=15&cs=1
I'm a Musical Theater Major
I'm a Musical Theater Major at Columbia College Chicago, We have one of the biggest musical theater programs, but there's only about three other lesbians. All the men are gay men save for three straight men. I'd say we are highly outnumbered, but do exist.
Ooooo my donkies, Sutton Foster??!
Adore Sutton Foster!!
Sutton Foster is a fabulous throwback to the glory days of triple threats, when leads in musicals weren't just American Idol castoffs! I've been a huge fan ever since her turn as Eponine in an old tour of Les Miz.
Even when the shows aren't good, she still manages to shine.
As for Shrek the musical, I don't know that yet another Disney movie needs to be brought to broadway. Isn't anyone writing any original shows these days? Why must they all be movies turned theatre!!
Oh no... I can't believe
Oh no... I can't believe Sutton Foster is going to be in this one. I like her much better from Drowsy Chaperone than from Millie (and I haven't been able to get into Young Frankenstein at all), but I do love her. But-- SHREK? This is bringing back that same sick feeling I got when I heard Sherie Rene Scott was going to play Ursula in Little Mermaid.
I'm so ready to not hear about any more movie adaptation musicals. Thanks for reporting though--I love when I get an afterellen.com spin on my Broadway news.
Why?
Oh, Sutton. Why? First Young Frankenstein, and now Shrek. Maybe she has some sort of attachment to large green men?
...And now I've grossed myself out. Sorry about that.
Anyway, I'm still not excited about Shrek, as awesome as Sutton is. We'll see how the cast/reviews turn out.
THANK YOU!
first of all, i am so excited that people are actually talking theatre! second of all, i am so glad that people actually agree with me with the idea that shrek is a bad idea for broadway! third of all, i totally love Sutton Foster and i think she's totally cute! but yea i'm actually going to see The Little Mermaid, cause i love Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and the movie....and Sierra Boggess is a totally hottie. What can i say i'm attracted to talent.. :) Anyways Shrek= Bad Idea! I honestly have no idea what Sutton is thinking she could do so much better.
Report back after you see Mermaid...
I don't know that I can bring myself to see it...at least not unless I get comps. But I'm a huge Howard Ashman/Alan Menken fan. Of course, if Howard Ashman were alive and had worked on the new music, I'd be there in a flash. But then, of course, it would be a different show.