Genevieve Lemon--Mrs. Wilkinson: Oz and London

[ERinVA]

How cool is this????!!! Genevieve Lemon is Chicago's Mrs. Wilkinson!!

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/enterta ... -kouu.html

[James.R]

Interesting....... and fantastic news!

Sounds like NY and Chicago might actually be running concurrently with two very different versions of Born to Boogie!

[andrewcraig]

Fantastic that Geneveive is being recognized both by Stephen Daldry and others and her selection for Chicago is a blast.

Little did I realize years ago when I saw the stage version of Priscilla The Queen of the Desert, [now wowing audiences in London]her small almost cameo appearance as the very butch country pub owner that joined the "girls" rollicking in "I like the nightlife" that she would dominate my favourite musical BETM for 18 months and now will get deserved International recognition.

Now if only they could Mr Brathwaite and Tony, both of which I think were underplayed in the NY version, it would be fantastic.

Here is Genevieve performing with the cast at the Helpman Awards in 2008, the OZ version of the Tonys.
She comes in with the ballet girls to perform Shine around 2 minute mark, and again in the finale at 4.20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjJ1ow3XJl4

There are several videos on youtube,some with better vision but poorer sound.

[nickodemus]

Gen is brilliant
THE USA IS IN FOR A REAL TREAT
WELL DONE GEN!

[ERinVA]

As we now know, Genevieve Lemon has been replaced by Emily Skinner in the Chicago production. It appears that she was blocked by Actors Equity from coming to Chicago, but will take over the role in London in June instead. http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainmen ... 58336.html

The show's co-producer, Jon Finn, said that Lemon would instead take over the part in the West End of London from June.

"It's unfortunate that we couldn't overcome the complicated approval process required by the US trade union, American Equity, to enable Genevieve to open the Chicago production," he said yesterday.

However, Equity's decision will not affect the Australian boys, who are starring in the acclaimed New York production, including Dayton Tavares from Penrith. He made his Broadway debut in the title role of Billy Elliot last month. Michael (Mickey) Dameski, of Kogarah, follows suit next month.

[StevenKing]

GRRRRRR...but at least the Emily Skinner looks good.

Steven

[phoebe]

Maybe this should be in a new Emily Skinner thread, but here's a factoid that links her to BETM in a fun way:

Skinner's role as one half of a pair of Siamese twins in Side Show (1997) earned her critical acclaim and a Tony Award nomination shared with co-star Alice Ripley. It was the first time in Tony history that two performers were co-nominated as a team for the Best Actress award.

Guess who was the next set of multiples to be nominated for a Tony Award for sharing a role?

[StevenKing]

Sorry drawing a blank.

Steven

[ERinVA]

There already is an Emily Skinner thread here: http://www.billyelliottheforum.me.uk/fo ... =61&t=1317

I believe the next set was the three Billys.

[nickodemus]

poor gen
she must be really dissapointed. I really feel for her in all this because shes just brilliant. London is in for a real REAL treat!