I can't imagine she'll do the West End production. For one thing, among many others, she has concert dates scheduled in New Jersey during the very first month of the run. I can't imagine she's going to fly back to the US for two days and then back to London and hop back into the show before the show even opens. I've also heard she has other theatrical commitments here early next year so I'd be very surprised if she did the West End. 'Course, nothing is totally off the table until the show confirms it, so I suppose we'll see.
As far as the tour, I have yet to see any reliable information that confirms her involvement? I could definitely see her doing the Chicago engagement, return home in her Tony-winning role, but the idea of somebody with the career opportunities she'll have in the near future going on the road for 6 months or more seems kinda silly to me.
I have heard that actors on the road make more money than they do on Broadway...just saying, if Jessie decides to go with the show on the road, I doubt she'll do it for the money!
Updated On: 9/7/14 at 09:09 AM
She's making quite a pretty penny on Broadway, as well as having perks like a car to take her home every night. It's not really like she's lacking for anything. This is all disregarding the fact that life on tour is incredibly grueling and it really isn't for everyone. Some people love it, but it isn't an easy job. And even if it was more money in the immediate future, can you really measure how much income would be lost because of the job opportunities a tour would preclude someone from pursuing? It's certainly not unheard of for a star to tour with their show (Alice Ripley comes to mind) but it's become less and less common of late. I guess there is nothing to do but speculate baselessly until an announcement comes.
For now? I doubt they'd make a press release if this was something that was gonna change. She already had projects in the works for the next year or so that would absolutely interfere with a commitment to tour.
For right now, I will be under the assumption that she won't be touring. But it then again, it wouldn't be the first time someone's denied a rumor which actually turned out true (Idina Menzel playing Rachel's mother on Glee, Ramin Karimloo starring in Les Miz on Broadway, etc.)...
Though then again, I will indeed be very curious to see who will end up playing Carole King on the road (as well as London).
I thought I also heard about Jenn Gambatese (she did just work with director Marc Bruni on The Sound of Music at the Lyric Opera in Chicago).
Updated On: 11/15/14 at 09:41 PM