Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

It Takes A Woman: Four Times Non-Traditional Casting Made Us See The Role In A Whole New Light

It Takes A Woman: Four Times Non-Traditional Casting Made Us See The Role In A Whole New Light
Rosalie Craig as Bobbie in Stephen Sondheim's "Company" at the Gielgud Theatre on October 15, 2018 in London, England. (Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images)

Nothing can refresh a canonical work of theatre like an inventive and unexpected casting choice. When directors purposely color outside the lines in the actors they employ, interactions between characters and the overall implication of the piece can infuse it with brand new immediacy while giving actors the thrilling challenge of embodying a character that audiences wouldn't normally associate with them. These are some of our favorite casting choices of females in male roles that defied convention and added another layer of storytelling.

Now, without further ado...


Rosalie Craig as Bobbie in Company

Though Company's protagonist Bobby is usually played by a male actor, one production at the Gielgud Theatre in London has cast a woman, Rosalie Craig, as the leading character—now named Bobbie. Also starring Patti LuPone, the production has been receiving rave reviews, and even got the stamp of approval from the show's composer, musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim. In addition to making Bobbie a woman, the genders of Bobbie's lovers are switched as well, giving this 1970 musical a whole new interpretation.

Patina Miller as Leading Player in Pippin

Though the leading player in Broadway's Pippin was originally played by Broadway star Ben Vereen—and subsequently almost only played by men—Patina Miller took on the role for the 2013 Broadway revival. Not only were Miler's vocals thrilling, but her acrobatic skills were on full display as well for the circus-themed take on the show. Miller's hard work paid off when her performance won her the Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.

Maxine Peake as Hamlet in Hamlet

The title role of Hamlet is arguably one of the most nuanced and challenging roles in all of theatre, but that didn't stop English actress Maxine Peake from rising to the task for Royal Exchange Manchester's production. What's more, audiences adored the longtime stage denizen for her interpretation, with The Guardian referring to her as a "delicately ferocious Prince of Denmark."

Vicky Vox as Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London put a whole new spin on its production of the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors. The show's antagonist—the bloodthirsty alien plant Audrey II—is normally achieved with a male baritone providing the voice for an elaborate plant puppet. The Regent's Park production, however, used the talents of Drag Queen and Singer Vicky Vox who brought Audrey II to life with her voice and a series of sickening floral themed looks.

Glenda Jackson as King Lear in King Lear

After her Tony-winning performance in the Broadway revival of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, Glenda Jackson will return to New York to take on the leading role in one of Shakespeare's most legendary tragedies, King Lear. The 80-year-old Jackson earned rave reviews during the London run of the gender blind production. She's set to take the stage in America this Spring.

Did we miss any? Comment below and let us know!

More from News

Elon Musk and Grimes
Kevin Tachman/Getty Images for Vogue

Elon Musk's Ex Grimes Calls X Platform A 'Poison' And 'Theatre' After Social Media Hiatus

Claire Boucher—who performs and creates under her stage name Grimes, but prefers her birth name or just "C" offstage—recently returned to her musical persona's social media accounts after taking a hiatus for her own well-being.

Once extremely active, she noted on X in April:

Keep ReadingShow less
Mark Ruffalo; Screenshot of Joe Rogan
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival; The Joe Rogan Experience

Mark Ruffalo Blasts Joe Rogan For Being Shocked By ICE Raids On Non-Criminal Immigrants

Actor Mark Ruffalo took podcaster Joe Rogan to task, saying he is being either "not that smart or not that dumb" for thinking that the Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown would only target criminals.

News outlets have reported numerous examples of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting individuals, including U.S. citizens, who have no criminal record, or whose criminal record is limited to minor offenses.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Peter Doocy and Karoline Leavitt
Fox News

Peter Doocy Brings The Receipts After Leavitt Tries To Deflect Away From His Question About 'Epstein List'

Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy was not buying what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was selling when she did her best to gaslight him over Attorney General Pam Bondi's claim that the so-called Epstein files do not exist.

Given the fascination surrounding documents related to late financier, pedophile, and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein—rumored to contain the names of Epstein's most high-profile enablers—Bondi's remarks stunned critics and supporters of the Trump administration alike.

Keep ReadingShow less
Australian conservationist Robert Irwin accidentally dined and dashed at The Jetty Pavilion, as shown on the right.
@robertirwinphotography/Instagram; @jettypavilioncoffs/Instagram

Robert Irwin's Sweet Dine and Dash Apology

Conservationist and all-around good guy Robert Irwin apologized for an unintentional dine-and-dash after grabbing a salad at The Jetty Pavilion in Coffs Harbour, Australia. In an Instagram post, Irwin explained that he was traveling along the east coast of New South Wales and stopped for dinner.

Irwin shared the funny story with his 7.6 million followers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from Department of Homeland Security's video
@DHSgov/X

Pastor Gives Homeland Security An Epic Bible Lesson After Video Misuses Well-Known Bible Verse

After the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared a video on X featuring the “send me” phrasing of the Bible verse Isaiah 6:8 while showing border patrol searching for migrants, Pastor Zach W. Lambert called out the agency's hypocrisy, noting how it is twisting Scripture to suit the Trump administration's ends.

The agency shared the video that includes the following narration:

Keep ReadingShow less