Albert Verlinde breathes new life into the Whitney Houston musical The Bodyguard, but who will play the leading role? Will it be the familiar Romy Monteiro? “Or are they going for Glennis Grace?”
Albert Verlinde came this week with great musical news: he brings the Whitney Houston musical The Bodyguard back in 2027 as a traveling performance. “It is ten years since The Bodyguard was the big musical breach for Romy Monteiro,” he says. “The show was sold out every evening for two years.”
Great question
In 2023, The Bodyguard played for a few months with Nyassa Alberta, but that was a less great success. Nevertheless, Albert believes that there is still a big question of the music of Whitney Houston ‘. “We are therefore proud to report that The Bodyguard will be the successor of that other large iconic musical We Will Rock You.”
Where the musical used to be stuck in the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht, it will now be a traveling performance. “We think it is important to go to the people,” says Bram Verhaak, who will take care of the casting with his company. “We are currently busy putting together the creative team.”
Romy back?
Musical connoisseur Eline de Ruig finds it a surprise. “Because two years ago that musical was still here in the Netherlands, so I thought: are they coming again with this musical? But then I read the press release and then I thought: there is only one reason that this musical is coming back and that is that Romy Monteiro said yes to this role.”
She emphasizes the desk of Shownieuws That this is not a news fact, but: “That is my own thought and I also heard in the corridors that Romy would like to play this role again.
Strange requirements
Show expert Bart Ettekoven would find that striking. “What happened then? Because the last time it was in the Netherlands, at one point the rumor that Romy would play the lead again, but then they didn’t get out of it. I heard that Romy set very strange requirements.”
Eline: “Yes, that was in the first contract.”
Bart: “Yes, she seems to be tough in the contract negotiations. That she asks a little too much money or something.”
Any reason
Eline recognizes that. “Yes, and in the earlier shows there were many problems that she did not play as many shows as what was expected of her, but Albert Verlinde then discovered her for that role and the reviews were praising. Her voice is just real …”
She continues: “Yes, Glennis Grace can sing Whitney Houston very well, but Romy Monteiro certainly too. Albert really discovered her then and I think we will get a new press release in a few months and he will announce Romy Monteiro. Otherwise I would hardly know why you bring this musical back.”
Or Glennis?
Presenter Eva Vloon wonders if Romy is really the only option. “Is there no one else good for that role? A Glennis Grace maybe?”
Eline: “Yes, Glennis Grace would also be a good option and Whitney Houston is still very popular, so this musical is always good in that regard, but it’s pretty fast.”
Ronald Molendijk: “Are people so short of memory that you want to go to the same musical every time?”
Eline concludes: “The Bodyguard was really a success. Certainly with Romy Monteiro. That was sold out for two years.”