PLAYBILL POLL: Readers Dream Cast Musical Adaptation of The First Wives Club | Playbill

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News PLAYBILL POLL: Readers Dream Cast Musical Adaptation of The First Wives Club It was recently announced that a musical adaption of the 1996 film "The First Wives Club" is headed for Broadway. With a 2015 Chicago Pre-Broadway Premiere confirmed, we wanted to know who our readers would cast in the three leading roles played in the film by Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler.

Playbill.com polled our readers via Facebook and Twitter. Their responses follow:

The role of the aging, alcoholic and plastic surgery addicted movie actress Elise Elliot was originally played by Academy Award winner Goldie Hawn. Here are some of our readers' choices of who they'd love to see play this role on Broadway.

Jay Goldsworthy: Kristen Chenoweth.

Kloe James: Kristin Chenoweth would be AMAZING!

Jennifer Wilkins: Nelson Chenoweth in Goldie role

A Tony Award winner for her performance as Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Chenoweth is known for originating the role of Glinda in the international hit musical Wicked. She will return to Broadway in 2015 in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of On Twentieth Century opposite Tony nominee Peter Gallagher.

James Grimes: Megan Hilty

Shannen Banzhoff: Megan Hilty was my first thought

Cherish Angelica: Megan Hilty, Megan Hilty, Megan Hilty!


A Drama Desk Award nominee for her performance in 9 to 5, Megan Hilty has also been seen in Wicked, as well as on the hit NBC television series "Smash."

Jen Lau: Sherie Rene Scott.


Ben Rimalower: Sherie Rene Scott

Gaspar Marino: Sherie Renee Scott? 


@BrunoGabs: @playbill Sherie Renee Scott!

@AndrewRyHolder: @playbill SHERIE!

Sherie Rene Scott made her Broadway debut in 1993 as Sally Simpson in The Who's Tommy. She was also Tony nominated for her performances in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Everyday Rapture. Scott is a Clarence Derwent Award winner for Most Promising Female Actress for her performance as Amneris in Aida.

Tracey Chiriboga: Laura Benanti

@TarrynNSteyn: @playbill I think @LauraBenanti would make a great Elise Elliot!

A Tony Award winner for the 2008 revival of Gypsy, Benanti has been seen on Broadway in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Wedding Singer and the 2002 revival of Into the Woods. She also starred as Baroness Else Schräder in the NBC live television broadcast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.

Blake Sherman: Stephanie J. Block would be great


Block made her Broadway debut as Liza Minelli in The Boy from Oz, opposite Hugh Jackman. She received a Tony nomination for her performance in the title role of the 2012 revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Andrew Victor: Annaleigh Ashford would be absolutely perfect for the role!



Ashford originated the role of Lauren in Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, for which she received a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She has also been seen in the original cast of Legally Blonde as Margot and is set to star in the 2015 revival of You Can't Take It With You with James Earl Jones.

Academy Award winner Diane Keaton originated the role of Annie MacDuggan, who suffers from extreme self-esteem issues after her husband leaves her for her therapist. Here's who our readers' would love to see play this role in the upcoming musical adaptaion.

Betsy Boo: Karen Ziemba!

Karen Ziemba is currently starring in Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway as Eden Brent. She has also been seen on Broadway in A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Crazy for You and Contact, for which she won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

David Scott Sollish: Allison Janney

Noah Gipson: Allison Janney.

Four-time Primetime Emmy Award winner Allison Janney made her Broadway debut in the 1996 revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter. She ahs also been seen in 9 to 5 and A View from the Bridge, both of which earned her Tony nominations.

Billy Dixon: Alice Ripely.

Tracey Chiriboga: Alice Ripley

Lindsay NeptuneL: Alice Ripley!!

Hunter K.: Taylor Alice Ripley would be perfect!! I can just imagine her in the scene where she's screaming at her husband and therapist!

A Tony Award-winner for her performance as Diana in the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, Ripley has also been seen in Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She was also the first actress to be co-nominated, with Emily Skinner, for a Tony Award for her performance as conjoined twin Violet Hilton in Side Show.

Juan Zadala Ramos: Kerry Butler

Kerry Butler made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of Les Miserables. She received a Tony nomination for her performance in the 2007 production of Xanadu, and also starred in the original casts of Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors and Catch Me If You Can.

Cheryl Simon: Joanna Gleason! She's be totally perfect!

Joanna Gleeson originated the role of the Baker's Wife in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was also Tony-nominated for her performance in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Multiple Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Bette Midler played the divorced and financially struggling Brenda Morelli in the 1996 film. Here's who our readers' would cast in the Broadway-bound musical adaptaion.

Alanna Perkovich-Smith: Lesli Margherita would be perfection in this role. Her voice, facial expressions and energy would definitely do Bette Midler justice!

Alison Loughlin: Lesli Margherita

Lesli Margherita made her Broadway debut in Matilda The Musical, a performance that earned her an Astaire Award nomination for Outstanding Female dancer in a Broadway Show. She is a Laurence Olivier Award-winner for her performance as Inez in the West End production of Zorro.

Andrew John Howell: Emily Skinner

Emily Skinner was Tony-nominated for her performance as conjoined twin Daisy Hilton in Side Show. She has also been seen in Jekyll & Hyde, The Full Monty and Bill Elliot: The Musical.

David Scott Sollish: Bette Midler

Nathan Bottorff: Bette Midler! It's a no brainer!


Mike Canestraro: Bette Midler.


David Bowen: Bette could still play that part!


@scottyspec: @playbill how about @BetteMidler?

Bette Midler was most recently seen on Broadway in the one-woman show I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers, for which she received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. She also received 1974 Special Tony Award.

Bryan Giansanti: Mary Testa!!!


Noël Soisson: I second Mary Testa


@kingduncan42: @playbill The only real answer is Mary Testa, right?

A two-time Tony nominee, Mary Testa was most recently seen in the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls. She has also been seen on Broadway in Wicked, Barnum, Xanadu and 42nd Street.

 
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