Laura Osnes Weighs In on Broadway.com’s Fantasy Casting and Talks Slipping into Cinderella’s Ball Gown

After witnessing Laura Osnes’ sparkling performance as Maria in Carnegie Hall’s The Sound of Music concert on April 24, Broadway.com dreamed up a list of other delightful classic musical roles we’d love to see her tackle. Among our picks: Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls' Sarah Brown and Marian Paroo from The Music Man. We hoped the actress agreed, so at the opening night red carpet of Don’t Dress For Dinner, we caught up with Osnes to hear her thoughts on our fantasy casting.

“Many of those ladies are actually dream roles of mine, so I’m honored,” Osnes told Broadway.com. “I would love to play all five of them!” The actress, who is gearing up to star in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, has her eye on one leading lady in particular. “Marian Paroo is actually the next one on my list,” Osnes confided. “I love [‘Till There Was You’]—it’s one of my audition songs.” According to Osnes, she scored the role of Hope Harcourt in Broadway's Anything Goes after using the signature Music Man ballad in her audition.

Until her moment as Marion arrives, Osnes is perfectly content to star in an upcoming July workshop of Cinderella opposite her new Prince Charming, Santino Fontana. “Santino and I did the reading together in January,” said the actress. “I’m such a big fan of his, and to get to work alongside him will be a joy.” Although no dates have been set for the Broadway-bound production, Osnes is already dreaming about her princess attire. “I get to wear glass slippers and a ball gown,” the actress gushed. “I can’t wait!”