Pippin cast changes?

Sutton Ross Profile Photo
Sutton Ross
#225Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 2:23pm

He's too old, not an actor, and isn't attractive. Bravo Pippin!!

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theatregeek6
#226Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 2:58pm

Well that makes one decision easier for November. The casting for Pippin could not be more wrong. I can think of at least 10 Broadway leads and another 5 or 10 true stunt casting ideas better than this. He must be really cheap

nasty_khakis
#227Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 3:10pm

Jackie took her vacation to get married/go on a honeymoon. She was only supposed to be gone a week, maybe two, but the producers asked her to take more time off so they could get a name in the show for a bit. While Whoopi was there and for a few weeks after, they were courting people (Rosie, Harvey Firestein, Rosanne, Kathy Lee, Fran Dresher) to do 6 weeks replacing Mary Testa. They also asked Ben Vereen and Huey Lewis to play Tony Robert's role.

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darreyl102
#228Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 3:35pm

No, Just No. Poor Rachel is gonna have to kiss that?!
He looks like an Ewok!


Darreyl with an L!

Brian07663NJ
#229Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:08pm

"Josh Kaufman, who in May of 2014 was announced as the winner of Season 6 of NBC's hit show "The Voice" as a member of Usher's team, will make his Broadway debut playing the title role in the Tony Award winning PIPPIN for a limited engagement beginning Tuesday, November 4 and through Sunday, January 4, 2015."

Congrats to Josh but PLEASE can we just put Erik Altemus in as Pippin every night!!!!

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Sutton Ross
#230Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:19pm

Pippin cast changes

This guy? This Josh Kaufmann? Is there another one and I'm just posting the wrong person?

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ACL2006
#231Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:20pm

Of course there's the age factor, but also I just don't think he's in shape to do this role. At least it's only for 2 months.


A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

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dreaming
#232Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:24pm

The person playing Pippin needs to do heavy dancing and a back flip and all kinds of stuff. This guy doesn't seem quite right.

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theatregeek6
#233Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:53pm

Altemus would have been the superior choice by far. I could also easily see Andrew Keenan-Bolger , Hunter Parrish, Mark Evans , Dave Thomas Brown, or any number of broadway talents. Do they think this guy will draw?



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Sutton Ross
#234Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:56pm

AKB doesn't really have the voice or the height for that role. I am shocked they didn't bump up Erik to the Pippin role full time, he seemed to be a crowd favorite when I was there. I don't know anything about this guy, but maybe if he won The Voice, it could draw people. No clue though.

ultraviolet99
#235Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:03pm

Erik left the show 2 weeks ago......

oncemorewithfeeling2 Profile Photo
oncemorewithfeeling2
#237Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:22pm

I thought Kaufman was a good singer on The Voice, but absolutely nothing about him says Pippin. Like, at all. Pippin is supposed to be young, bright eyed, and uncertain of himself. This takes away from the jokes about Catherine being too old for the part and being older then Pippin. This should make for a stark contrast against Lewis, as well.

Sam Lips would have done well if they moved him up. I can think of so many people who, on the surface at least, seem like they would have been better choices.

(As for this being stunt casting, it's a textbook example for me. The Voice will probably be in a new season and there's tons of potential for promotion. Also...totally serious here, but do people even watch The Voice? I'm young, up to date on pop culture, and can't name a single person who won, unlike the early seasons of American Idol.)

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Sutton Ross
#238Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:24pm

Oh, I had no clue Erik had left Pippin. I hope it wasn't due to him not getting bumped up.

Sutton Ross Profile Photo
Sutton Ross
#239Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:24pm


Updated On: 9/18/14 at 05:24 PM

ACL2006 Profile Photo
ACL2006
#240Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:26pm

Just noticed that only 7 original cast members remain in the show:

Charlotte d'Amboise
Rachel Bay Jones
Colin Cunliffe
Andrew Fitch
Orion Griffiths
Ashton Woerz
Brad Musgrove


A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

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Sutton Ross
#241Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:28pm

I'm so happy I got the opportunity to see the entire original cast. It was unforgettable.

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Sutton Ross
#243Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:56pm

I think he is a lot of wrong things.

RW3
#244Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:58pm

I wonder if the Weisslers are making him lose weight, shave the beard, etc. Maybe then he will look like a fresh-faced graduated college student.

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darreyl102
#245Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 6:04pm

Pippin cast changes

@RW3 ^

It may make him look younger, but still no way right for Pippin. I take back what i said about him looking like an Ewok- He looks like the love child of an Ewok and Zelda Rubinstein (Tangina in "Poltergeist")


Darreyl with an L!

RW3
#246Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 6:26pm

darreyl102, I agree with you. He is not right for Pippin at all. I was only suggesting options that might make him look a little bit more like the others. However, this is a particularly strong move of the Weisslers. They are bringing him during the beginning winter months. Additionally, when Christmas hits, he will bring in a lot of money for the production just because he is a celebrity.

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oncemorewithfeeling2
#247Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 8:33pm

"Additionally, when Christmas hits, he will bring in a lot of money for the production just because he is a celebrity."

Is this guy really a celebrity? I can't believe he'd bring in more people then any other actor.

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Up In One
#248Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 8:37pm

This production never cared about getting an interesting vocalist on stage - they finally do but he's not the right age. I do find it interesting that they have been settling on being so middling with their casting choices and it reflects in their middling grosses. On top of all of it is the fact that the score is not challenging enough for his voice


Up In One

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ethan231h
#249Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 8:52pm

I think he will bring in people only if Pippin can advertise him.

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Sutton Ross
#250Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 9:22pm

I don't think he's a celebrity, people have actually heard of celebrities. If you don't watch that show on tv, you have no clue who that dude is.

Updated On: 9/18/14 at 09:22 PM

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Patti LuPone FANatic
#251Pippin cast changes
Posted: 9/18/14 at 10:45pm

I have a thought. Would Matthew Thomas consider returning to the role on Broadway? Then Erik Altemus could take over as the touring Pippin (in the event that the tour Pippin with vocal problems doesn't work out).


"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)