Casting Coup: Anything Goes

*This was only the third one within a four-month span, so I don't know why I call it a monthly or bi-weekly feature. I guess by this time, I knew what was going to happen. This is also the first musical to be cast. New pics have been used, since the hot-linking habit did not serve me well. Also, I did this play the summer before this post, so there's a lot of references to people involved in that production.*

So, now we come to my monthly casting session. Maybe it's bi-weekly. I really don't know. Today, we have a look at the Cole Porter classic, Anything Goes.

First is the cameo role, Reverend Henry Dobson.



Played here by Richard Briers. Briers has played a priest seventy-five times, and is a regular in Branagh's Shakespeare films. When not doing supporting roles for Branagh, he does cameos in other films.

Then, of course, there's the purser, originally played by Jason Haft.



Now played by Seth Meyers (American Dreamz, Saturday Night Live). He's tall, skinny, wiry, great at physical humor and facial expressions. In fact, he's the perfect complement to the captain:



That's right. Jon "not the one we know" Lovitz! A short, tubby guy with fantastic comic timing would work great with a tall, skinny guy with fantastic comic timing.
Songs for these two include: Group numbers.

THE SUPPORTING CAST

IRMA
Sings: Buddie Beware, Group Numbers



My choice: Amy Spanger (Reefer Madnes: The Movie Musical, The Wedding Singer: Original Broadway cast). This may be typecasting, but we know she can play the part. And also, she's got the voice. And also, she's hot. So there.

ELISHA WHITNEY
Sings: The Crew Song, Group Numbers



My choice: Academy Award Nominee Elliott Gould (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, The Ocean Movies). This kind of role is a walk in the park for Gould. Can he sing? Probably not, but if you know the show, you know this doesn't require much.

EVANGELINE HARCOURT
Sings: Group Numbers



My choice: Duh. Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls, Out to Sea)! Even the costume notes say "Golden Girls". So there.

THE LEADS

LORD EVELYN OAKLEIGH
Sings: The Gypsy in Me, Finale, Group Numbers



My choice: Ewan McGregor (Down with Love, Trainspotting). Oh my God, think about Ewan singing about how can't wait to get the stage all set so he can let the gypsy in him yet. Cue swoons.

MOONFACE MARTIN
Sings: Be Like the Bluebird, Friendship, Group Numbers



My choice: Academy Award Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, Boogie Nights). Of course he can sing. Haven't you seen his Jesus Christ Superstar in Along Came Polly?

HOPE HARCOURT
Sings: Goodbye Little Dream Goodbye, It's De-Lovely, Finale, Group Numbers



My choice: Academy Award Winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, Rendition). She has a beautiful voice, and she shits doves. Besides, if Raye can't play it, Reese would be second-best.

BILLY CROCKER
Sings: You're the Top, All Through the Night, It's De-Lovely, Finale, Group Numbers



My choice: Christian Campbell (Reefer Madness). Yeah, he's got that charming, boy-next-door quality that's perfect. Yeah, he's got the voice for it. Yeah, he's perfect.

And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for.......

RENO SWEENEY
Sings: I Get a Kick Out of You, You're the Top, Friendship, Anything Goes, Blow Gabriel Blow, Finale, evry other song in the show



My choice: Academy Award Nominee Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine). She's hot, she's brassy, she's ballsy, she's that perfect combination of tough-as-nails and sex kitten that Reno needs. And she has a beautiful voice.

Comments? Disagreements? Satisfaction?

Casting Coup: Archie!

*Haha! This was only the second Casting Coup ever, way before it got its name. Of course, this was before Gossip Girl became a popular television program, but it's interesting to see how my Betty Cooper is best-known for playing a rich girl while my Veronica Lodge is best-known for playing the girl next door. Funny. Brand-spankin' new pics, though, since my original hot-links (de rigeur in the LJ days) no longer work. (Now that I think about it, this would make a better series than it would a movie. Damn those teen actors for aging!)*

Ahoy. Walter here, to inform you of his new dream project: Archie. Yes, that's right. I feel it's high time the Archie Universe get the big-screen treatment, properly. Josie made it, as did her Pussycats. The fact that Archie has never been seen on the big screen is a crime.

What I need is a plot. But until that comes along, what about a dream cast? Like always?



Michael Angarano (Sky High) as Archie Andrews. We'll need to dye his hair red, of course, but he'd be great for it. Look at him: dorky, yet attractive. Looks a little like Antoine Doinel from The 400 Blows.




Blake Lively (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) as Betty Cooper. I've never seen her in a movie before, but come on. Look at her. She's Betty.




Margo Harshman (Even Stevens) as Veronica Lodge. Hot. But has she done anything since Tawny?




Anton Yelchin (Alpha Dog) as Jughead Jones. Again, haven't really seen him in much, but he seems like he could play Forsythe P. Jones himself. See him in the upcoming Charlie Bartlett.




Ricky Ullman (Phil of the Future) as Reggie Mantle. Good-looking, and can probably pull off the smarmy cockiness (or cocky smarminess). I've seen Phil let his ego get the best of him.




Donald Sutherland (M*A*S*H*) as Burton/Hiram K. Lodge. A sophisticated elderly man with a distinctive voice playing a sophisticated elderly man with a distinctive scream? Yes, please.




J.K. Simmons (Thank You for Smoking) as Fred Andrews. Mustache? Add it. A couple pounds? Sure. But as far as character and hairline go, he could nail it.





Miranda Richardson (Sleepy Hollow) as Mary Andrews, Bonnie Hunt (Return to Me) as Alice Cooper, and Beth Grant (Donnie Darko) as Hermione Lodge. Three bad-ass chicks playing the awesomest mums the comics have ever had.




Will Harris (also, Sky High) as Moose Mason. Now, I hate to typecast someone, because he's played the bug, dumb jock before. However, he's tremendous at it, so he's Moose. So there.




Olesya Rulin (High School Musical) as Midge Klump. First, what kind of surname is Klump? Secondly, yeah, she's pretty hot. Like, unconventionally, but still, hot is hot. I could see Reggie and Moose going for that. I mean, I wouldn't, but I could see them going for it.




Eva Amurri (Saved!) as Ethel Muggs. Awkward-looking, like Ethel. Ballsy, like Ethel. And Susan Sarandon's daughter...probably like Ethel, too.




Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad) as Dilton Doiley. "Hey, Walter, isn't that the same role he already played?" "Yep."




Chris Warren, Junior (High Schol Musical) as Chuck Clayton. Lord, I love this guy. He's charismatic, good-looking, athletic, but also plays that funny, artistic side. In HSM, he was a cook; in Archie, he's a cartoonist.




Jessica Lucas (She's the Man) as Nancy Woods. She's hot. And black. And age-appropriate.




John Aylward (Down with Love) as Waldo Weatherbee. A pro at playing "the guy with the suit that's in charge of something", Aylward has the build, the presence, and the spare spectacles to play "the Bee".




Jane Alexander (She has done much) as Geraldine Grundy. I always thought Miss Grundy was a classy old broad with a groovy side to her. Jane Alexander is groovy, and classy. Could she be bringing us a sexier of Miss Grundy?




Henry Gibson (Nashville) as Professor Flutesnoot. Admit it, he's perfect, despite the lack of lack of hair. I also just want to say, Flutesnoot is apparently drunk.




Ian Gomez (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as Coach Kleats. It's my attempt to keep with the miage of a goofy-looking bald fat man teaching gym.




Harry Lennix (Titus) as Coach Clayton. Dear God, he looks like the comic! What the fuck???




Ellen Albertini Dow (The Wedding Singer) as Miss Beazly. Of course she's going to be in the movie. Not only was she an awesome school cook, but it's Elen Dow.




Paul Dooley (Sixteen Candles) as Pop Tate. "But, Walter, he's so old! He's close to death!" Yeah, but I'd trust Paul Dooley with my malts any day.




Emma Stone (Superbad) as Cheryl Blossom. Emma Stone is hot. Cheryl Blossom is hot. Emma Stone as Cheryl Blossom is hot.


With special guest stars:
Jon Lovitz (Rat Race) as Mr. Cooper.
David Moreland (Donnie Darko) as Mr. Jones.
Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) as Mrs. Jones.
Denis O'Hare (A Mighty Heart) as Mr. Mantle.
Fionnula Flanagan (Four Brothers) as Miss Haggly.
Mina E. Mina (Eastern Promises) as Svenson.
and
Bob Hoskins (Awesome shit) as Smithers the Butler.


That's Archie: The Movie. Now, I just need to think of a plot.