If that was the case then why would they hold the cast together that long and then say the day before opening night "Hey, we're replacing you guys." If you ask me they made that show what it was.
This could be the worst show I've ever seen - should have kept the cast and fired the writer, composer, producer and director. A complete waste of time.
It's certainly unusual. I mean, I've heard of people being replaced during rehearsals, out-of-town and previews, but never of an entire cast let go just prior to opening.
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
You're right on the nose, Elphie3. This was planned from Day One. Two casts were hired. One would play out the first three weeks of previews, then the second cast would come in to finish out previews and open the show.
I met two of the (first) cast members at the stage door of 110 IN THE SHADE, and they were telling Steve Kazee to come see them soon because they were only in it for the first few weeks after which a second cast came in.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
I thought it was pretty common knowledge that this had been planned form the get go.
From what ive heard the cast that started the show wasnt a professional cast (the actors themselves weren't professionals) and that a professional cast was coming in to do the actual run of the show.