Samuel Jackson, Angela Bassett . . . and the biggest star . . . Martin Luther King Jr!
The Mountaintop only has about 5 weeks left it in its high grossing limited run on Broadway . . . but one of you is going to see it for free!
I've got 2 tickets to this star-packed show to giveaway. And here's how we're going to do it.
The Mountainop is a historical docudrama (one of my favorite types of theater) that takes place the night before MLK's tragic assassination.
Tell me the name of a historical figure you would like to see 'storied' in a play. Bonus points if you name the actor you'd like to see play him or her.
Ready, set, comment!
(Got a comment? I love 'em, so comment below! Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!)
—————-
FUN STUFF
- Come to the 4th Annual Producer's Perspective Social on 12/15! RSVP today.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
90 Responses to The Sunday Giveaway: 2 Tickets to The Mountaintop
Leave a Reply
Ken’s Current Shows
Ken’s Other Projects
MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS
Email Me
Subscribe in a Reader
Ken’s Top 5 Reads
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business...
Seth Godin
buy now
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
Christopher Vogler
buy now
The Commercial Theater Institute ...
Frederic B. Vogel & Ben Hodges
buy now
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Robert B. Cialdini
buy now
Producing Theatre : A Business Guide
Donald C. Farber
buy now
Id love to see a play about Amelia Earhart and played by Laura Benanti
Imelda Marcos , it’s really difficult to cast her.
I think about the life of Harriet Tubman would be amazing. Even better if Terri White starred!
I would like to see an all star cast of the women in the Black Panther Party. So many historical figures at one time. However, most of the attention went to the men. A story of the womens struggle inside and outside the party would be great.
Assata Shakur- Sanaa Lathen/Regina King
Angela Davis- ME
Kathleen Cleaver- Thandie Newton
Elaine Brown- ?? Open
Thomas Jefferson played by John Malkovich. I love his work; he’s incredibly versatile. Just saw him at BAM, playing a serial killer — terrifying and totally captivating.
Audra McDonald as Coretta Scott-King. Preferably with Music!
So this isn’t exactly ancient history, but I think that Barak Obama would be a good subject for a historical docudrama. Or, to go older, Thurgood Marshall. (Yes, I know that one was done, but it still would make a good show.)
Princess Diana played by Kello O’Hara.
Robespierre, with Daniel Day-Lewis
Female: Lillian Hellman played by Christine Ebersole
Male : Charlie Chaplin played by Martin Short
I’d like to see Ben Kingsley reprise Mahatma Ghandi…he’s the right age now.
Benjamin Franklin played by Brian Denehey
Mary Todd Lincoln, played by Cherry Jones.
Imelda Marcos played by Lea Solanga
Jesus played by Hunter Parish. Huh? Really?
I noticed that someone else also chose Imelda Marcos, so let me try again.
Mata Hari played by Meryl Streep
Napoleon – played by Danny Devito.
Hernando Cortes played by Bobby Carnavale
Andrew Jackson with Benjamin Walker as wait… That’s been done.
In actuality it would have to be Marlene Dietrich with Melanie Laurent playing the role. She has the gumption to make it interesting.
Walt Disney played by Clark Gable (you didn’t say it had to be a living actor!)
Audra Macdonald as rosa parks!
Benjamin Franklin – Brad Oscar
A Martha Stewart musical based on the made-for-TV movie, Martha Inc., starring Veanne Cox. Seriously.
Barbara Jordan played by Halle Berry
Lee Harvey Oswald’s life…and death. Malkovich is another good, but obvious choice. An interesting choice would be Brad Pitt….if he could pulll off the stage work.
The Perfect Choice Would Be Malcolm X -With Denzel Washington Who Was Nominated For An Oscar For The Role! J
A musical about Hillary Clinton…. starring Beth Leavel
A meeting of Mark Twain and Nicola Tesla, respectively played by Robin Williams and Hugh Jackman
I would like to see a play about Judy Garland with Laura Osnes playing Judy
Erik Idle would star as the Earl of Sandwich
or, on a more serious note
a bunch lesser known actors would have their Broadway debuts in the story of the Stonewall Riots
Paul Giamatti playing Winston Churchill
George Washington played by Kevin Spacey.
Richard Dreyfuss as Theodore Roosevelt
Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian islands. She felt her mission was to preserve the islands for their native residents. In 1898, Hawaii was annexed to the United States and Queen Liliuokalani was forced to give up her throne. Hers is a great story of a woman of power on a tiny island kingdom who really never surrenders her desire to keep Hawaii sovreign unto itself. It would be awesome to get Lea Solanga to play her!
I’d like to see Phillip Seymore Hoffman play the life of Sam Kinison. Sam was a HUGE hearted guy, with maniacal humor, unbridled energy, living it all out on the edge with interesting roots and backstory; it would make a phenominal and surprising turn for Hoffman–a transcendent role, I say. (And, of course, there’s Sam’s material to invoke where appropriate; and I think PSH could deliver it).
I would love to see Phylicia Rashad (my favorite theatre actress) playing Rosa Parks in her old age recounting her life story.
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky played by John Hurt.
Marion Anderson played by Audra McDonald
The Sisterhood of Civil Rights
Coretta Scot King by Phylicia Rashad
Mylie Evers Williams by La Tanya Richardson
and Betty Shabazz by Angela Bassett
I would like to see Florence Nightingale starring Meryl Streep
D. W. GRIFFITH played by Adrien Brody. Griffith’s movies might be hard from some people to watch now. His world of film was perishable—everything goes off fast. He made people sit for three hours, and come back for more.
Even though it’s more folklore than history, I would like to see John Henry, set in a musical, played by Joshua Henry. It’s a pretty powerful story that I would love to see translated onto the stage.
Sojourner Truth played by Audra McDonald. She would kill an “Ain’t I a Woman?” monologue!
Victoria Clark as Susan B. Anthony!
….some of my favorite match-ups…..
Marcel Marceau……..Bill Irwin
Phoebe Snow………..Bette Midler
George Steinbrenner………John Goodman
Robert Kennedy ………James Franco
Paul Newman…………Patrick Wilson
Jacqueline Kennedy ……Felicity Jones (an amazing stage actress that everyone should know!!!!!)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver…….Jane Alexander
The real story of Captain William Bligh (Mutiny on the Bounty) later Vice Admiral who actually used punishment sparingly, cared for the health of his crew, was an affectionate husband, and extraordinary sailor. I’d cast John Lithgow.
Can you have two choices? If so, my second choice would be a play about Charles Manson played by John Malkovich. I know it’s a dark, horrible subject, but I’d focus on the charisma and the power the man had/still has over people.
Malcolm X played by Jeffrey Wright would be engaging for me in any dramatic stage play about the former’s life. Whether it’s a play that has already been presented on stage about Malcolm or a newly conceived work, Jeffrey would do it justice.
Kathleen Turner as Betty Ford
Richard Dreyfuss as Albert Einstein
Cheyenne Jackson as Geronimo
Joy Behar as Emma Goldman
Hannah Senesh played by Lily Rabe
Dear Mr. Davenport, et al:
Call me bias (You’re bias) But immediately the one and only: Mr. Oscar Fingal O’Fahertie Wills Wilde comes to mind. 1st because of the vast volume of his works and 2nd, I spent two years researching him, his life and his lawsuits…
“Dance With The Devil” ©
“Wilde About Me!” ©
The Life, Loves & Lawsuits
of:
Oscar Wilde! ™
© Copyright 2010 Bryan David/Brandon Kress
All Rights Reserved
http://www.myspace.com/wildaboutme05
Babe Ruth played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman
The Michael Jackson Story: starring William Herredia. Kind of a pop culture cliche choosing MJ, but tell me that performance wouldn’t sell, and anyone would say otherwise.
It’s Wilson Heredia. My apologies.
Sandra Day O’Connor, played by Marian Seldes
Anyone who saw the mini series on HBO understands what I mean when I say this:
John Adams played by Paul Giamatti
The story was gripping, the acting was on another level and I felt insanely proud of my country while watching these men create our country from nothing. This particular story just focuses on Adams not well known but MASSIVE role in shaping our country – and how he had to be willing to be despised by his peers for the good of the country
I am surprised that there has not been a musical about Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America. I think that he would be a great historical figure to have a show about and I think that Michael Cerveris would be the best person cast in that role.
Give me a Jackie-O musical, told in flashback, with Laura Osnes playing a young Jackie and Mary Beth Peil playing an old Jackie.
Robert E Lee, played by Bryan Cranston. Told from the post-war Reconstruction period
Hands down, a musical on Harry Belafonte and played by actor Brian White. Harry Belafonte is international in scope.
Rosa Parks played by Viola Davis
The “Abominable Showman” David Merrick Played by Nathan Lane or Lewis J. Stadlen. Controversy, scandal, A character you love to hate. It’s got it all.
“Sting Like a Bee” – the story of Mohammad Ali to be played by Will Smith. (Remember how well “The Great White Hope” ran? Nothing has been done since).
Lady Godiva played by Scarlet Johansen
Actually, Brian, there was a musical back in the late 80s or early 90s called 1492. It was by Meredith Wilson of MUSIC MAN fame, and starred Chita Rivera as Queen Isabella. I don’t remember who played Columbus, but it bombed.
‘Groucho’ played by Robert Downey Jr
Or ‘Harpo’ played by anyone handy on a hooter.
A musical about Julius and Ethel Rosenberg…starring Carolee Carmello and Brent Carver (a little Parade reunion for fun)
“Nurse Flo” the Life and times of Florence Nightingale played by Edie Falco… Understudied by Lisa Emery (underrated theatre actress)
“Caligula” Played by Hugh Jackman…. lets see what he can REALLY do…
Salvador Dali played by Johnny Depp!
The life of Margaret Bourke-White, the first female photo journalist, played by Lily Rabe.
Has there already been a Jackie Robinson bio-musical?
Jane Austen. The popular image of her as a lovelorn spinster who never married, while true, is only half the story. (She rejected at least one marriage proposal.) As played by Amanda Root, who was brilliant in The Norman Conquests.
I’d love to see the love story of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE thinking. But the collection of their letters “I Love You, Ronnie” is AMAZING and would make incredible lyrics for a score.
Did you pick a winner already?
I’d like to see a docu-drama of Steven Russell. There was a movie made already starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGreggor and I feel like it’s perfect for Broadway Audiences. The title role would be played by Jeremy Jordan! duh….
J. Edgar Hoover
Played by Norbert Leo Butz
The film J. Edgar was so dramatic, I really feel the material is there.
O.J. Simpson played by Norm Lewis
- MJD
Barack Obama, perhaps played by Coleman Domingo. President Obama is a passionate leader, his backstory in his book “Dreams From My Father” is compelling, and the ending is yet to be written. But it will make a great show someday.
The author Daphne Du Maurier as a young woman, played by Emma Watson. Two of my favorite inspirations!
I’d love to see a musical about Shirley Chisolm played by Audra McDonald.
!!! HARVEY MILK !!!
Actor Possibilites: Hugh Jackman
James Franco
Joaquin Phoenix (Leaf)
Or, the obvious – Sean Penn
If Musical Production: Chad Kimball
Levi Kreis
*** BONUS POINTS:
Title Possibilities: “Thank You San Francisco!”
“You Gotta Give Them Hope”
“My Name is Harvey Milk…”
Mata Hari
If Nina Arianda passes, then Rachel Weisz
Francis Bacon actor would be Tom Hanks
Nina Arianda as Hedda Hopper!
How about a vaudevillian themed dramatization of the life and political career of Theodore Roosevelt starring Philip Seymour Hoffman entitled “Big Stick”?
Personally, I think it’s a winning idea.
“Alcatraz Al,” a musical, and the story of Al Capone, to be played by Hugh Jackson with the “Al Capone” dancers.
Alfred Hitchcock (focusing on his dark side) played by Josh Gad
Harry S Truman played by Chris Cooper
Bella Abzug played by Kathy Bates
Lenny Bruce starring Bobby Cannavale!
Or
Condaleeza Rice the musical, starting Montego Glover. (c’mon! Her poor rural roots to political power story is perfect for dramatic approach!)
How about: a musical about Madame Marie Curie played by Meryl Streep. She sings beautifully and already knows the Polish accent. It is the story of a young Polish woman who excels at science and discovers the element Radium and how to use it to make X-rays, thus revolutionizing medicine. Featuring her romance with her husband, Pierre (Kevin Kline? Howard McGillin?) and they could sing a love duet, “I See Through You”…They are enjoying their research and fame when suddenly he dies when he gets hit by a horse-n-carriage on a dark, rainy night (I’ve always wondered how you could not see or hear the horse-n-carriage coming, but anything’s possible). She could then sing the tragic dirge, “Hold, Don’t Move, Don’t Breathe”….(which becomes a hit known popularly as “the X-ray song”). It peaks with her getting the Nobel Prize, with a touching reprise to her late husband of “I See Through You” and then she dies of radiation poisoning.
[...] Win 2 tickets to see The Mountaintop! Click here to enter. Be Sociable, Share! Tweet If you enjoyed this article, [...]
hello there and thanks for your info ? I have definitely picked up something new from proper here. I did however expertise a few technical issues the usage of this web site, since I skilled to reload the website lots of times prior to I may just get it to load correctly. I were brooding about in case your hosting is OK? Now not that I am complaining, however slow loading cases times will often have an effect on your placement in google and can injury your high quality rating if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can glance out for much extra of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you replace this again soon..