For the part of Edie, Edwards said, “We toyed at first with the idea of getting a name singer. But we soon realized it would be impractical to have a name singer cast in what is primarily a straight dramatic role. It wouldn’t be fair, either to the singer or the audience. Once that idea was discarded, my first thought was Lola Albright. Lola had been going along well but not terribly well, if you know what I mean. But I’d always felt she had a potential that had never really been tapped. She’s sort of two beats off center in the way she talks and sings, and that’s what we were looking for.”