When I see shows in the theatre, I can’t help imagining certain actors playing some of the roles. That’s not to say that the actors actually playing the roles aren’t doing a good job, of course.
But I do this with everything: the number of times in my life that I’ve said “That person reminds me so much of this person!” is impossible to count.
So, I thought I’d share a few of my dream cast for various roles that I’ve seen (or may not have seen yet, but really want to) in musical theatre shows. Some of them are very niche, but hopefully you’ll know at least a couple of them!
Millie O’Connell as Lauren in Kinky Boots
This one was a no-brainer. In fact, when I saw Kinky Boots in Cardiff, Millie O’Connell—you may recognise her as Anne Boleyn in the West End cast of SIX the Musical—popped into my head instantly. She’d be perfect as Lauren, who is silly, dashes around all over the place, and doesn’t have a serious bone in her body (except when she really needs to). This casting would be amazing! (Someone make me a casting director.)
Jeff Blim as Claude in Hair the Musical
This is one of the niche ones I talked about. If you don’t know, he’s well-known for being part of Team StarKid, a theatre group that was founded by students of the University of Michigan – you may have heard of them from their crazy-popular viral musical sensation, A Very Potter Musical. Jeff Blim is one of my favourite members of the company, and I could 100% imagine him playing Claude in Hair the Musical. It even sounds so much like him singing on the London cast recording, and it isn’t even him. Someone make this happen!
Arron Tveit as Dr Pomatter in Waitress
I’m practically fainting thinking about it. Aaron Tveit has been one of my biggest theatre crushes since he graced the big screen as Enjolras in Les Miserables. That’s when I discovered Next to Normal, and since then I want to see him in anything. But when I watched Waitress in London, I could especially imagine him in Dr Pomatter’s white doctor’s overalls, charming the socks off Jenna. Excuse me while I fan myself.
Mary Kate Wiles as Dawn in Waitress
This is another person you might be wondering, “Who?” Mary Kate Wiles has appeared in several shows by the Tin Can Brothers, which was founded by Joey Richter (also a founding member of Team StarKid, mentioned above. Confused yet?). Mary Kate Wiles is so adorable, and I can definitely imagine her playing Dawn in Waitress! I can picture her bounding around the stage, and I think her voice would match Dawn’s, too.
Nicole Byer as Becky in Waitress (again)
Okay, okay, I know – Waitress again. But as I said at the start of this post, this show just made me imagine so many people playing all the roles, and one of them was Nicole Byer as Becky. Nicole Byer is the dramatic, over-the-top presenter of Nailed It! On Netflix, the crazy cooking show where ameteur bakers try to replicate professional cakes. I don’t know if she’s a singer, but I can fully imagine her as Becky anyway. Don’t you agree?!
Jamie Muscato at Gabe in Next to Normal
I had to include a Next to Normal one in here somewhere because it is, if you didn’t know, my favourite musical. I first discovered Jamie Muscato as JD in Heathers (I didn’t see it in London, sadly, but I’ve seen plenty of clips from it, like this one) and I’d love to see him play Gabe in Next to Normal. It’s a challenging role famously played by none other than Aaron Tveit on Broadway, but with JD’s darkness in Heathers, I think Jamie Muscato would easily be able to pull it off.
Robert Manion and Mariah Rose Faith as JD and Veronica in Heathers
These are two more people that have garnered a lot of attention from being in StarKid productions, and now Mariah Rose Faith is currently playing Regina George in the US tour of Mean Girls. They recently posted a cover of Seventeen from Heathers and oh my god, someone please cast them next time that show comes back (preferably on its UK tour in 2020). They’re perfect!
Joey Richter as Beetlejuice in Beetlejuice
Okay, this is another person from StarKid, and I already mentioned him above. They’re all just such a talented bunch. Joey Richter played Ron in A Very Potter Musical, so you might know him from that. Robert Manion, mentioned above, recently tweeted that Joey would “make a spectacular Beetlejuice, and the tour should straight up just offer the role to him.” I completely agree! Joey often plays bizarre or hyperactive roles in StarKid productions (like when he played practically every single ensemble character in The Trail to Oregon), so his manic energy would be perfect as the title character in Beetlejuice.
That’s all I can think of for now… but I know I’ll probably keep thinking of more as time goes on. There are probably tons I’m already forgetting. If I remember more, or see more shows and fan-cast anyone else, I’ll add them to the list!
Do you agree with any of these or have your own dream cast for shows you’ve seen? Share them in the comments!
