Kelsey Grammer NOT going to play Albin after 6 months!

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:43pm

Because of his Tony nomination.


Playbill

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 1:14pm

Maybe he changed his mind since he's the new spokesperson for that RightNetwork? I can't imagine pictures and clips of him in drag floating around would be a good thing.
Updated On: 5/6/10 at 01:14 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 1:53pm

I think his was a reasoned and sensible decision. He hasn't totally denied ever playing Albin, just under the current circumstances. And, frankly, I don't know that he would be all that great an Albin to start with. But he's not closing out his options, either.

[Brick]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 2:06pm

Seems wise to me.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 3:40pm

I think it's a very wise decision. after seeing the show, I just couldn't picture him playing Albin. smart decision!!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 4:20pm

I kinda figured he wouldn't switch roles if he was nominated for a Tony. Tourists are going to want to see his Tony nominated performance. Not him in the role his previous costar won a Tony for.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 4:59pm

Maybe this is my cynicism showing, but I have to disagree.

Tourists are going to want to see Frasier on stage. They won't care which part he's playing. I can't imagine the average midwestern tourist saying, "Oh, wait, Frasier isn't playing the role he was nominated for. Let's see something else instead."

Heck, most tourists sitting near me can't seem to figure out which character is which most of the time. I bet they'd have no idea whether he's playing Georges or Albin and be perfectly happy either way.

[justafan2]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 7:09pm

How long is Kelsey's contract?

[binau]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 7:15pm

Maybe I'm reading it too quickly, but where in the article does it imply that Grammer won't play Albin because of his nomination?

The only hint is the "Following his recent Tony nomination", but this was just to gauge the time of the interview, not that the nomination caused him to change his mind.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 7:45pm

Okay, everybody ... reread his answer.

All he is saying is that he is rethinking playing the roles back to back. He says he would play out his contract, then leave, then he'd like to come back in 6 months or so as Albin (for a 3-month stint). He doesn't want to be playing Georges at night and rehearsing to take over Albin at the same time, during the day.

I do think he's more than likely "bowing out gracefully" here, but that's not at all what he is saying. He's implying that IF the show runs with replacement casts, he would like to come back as Albin later in the run.

His reasoning is a little weak, however, since actors in rep companies and summer stock rehearse one show while doing another at night. It happens all the time. Maybe he thinks he isn't up to that challenge, something so many stage actors have done (myself included, years ago).

But I doubt that.

Sounds like he's now decided to throw a bunch of "ifs" up as hurdles. Makes it easier to shrug and say, "Oh, well, it just didn't work out."

It's a smarter move than facing the scrutiny of why he suddenly changed his mind about taking over the "drag queen role" without a PC answer.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 7:48pm

It would make more sense (except it isn't an "above the title" role) for him to play the conservative politician.