Posted: 1/3/23 at 3:50pm
I don't think they fired Larry Owens. It more seems like he chose to move to LA & focus on TV & film.
Updated On: 1/3/23 at 03:50 PM
Posted: 1/4/23 at 6:28pm
Per Jacquel’s Instagram story, he was pulled out of the show by his doctor tonight because of ongoing lingering effects from a virus he’s been contending with for weeks and “can’t guarantee any dates to be back on stage”.
Kyle Ramar Freeman is on for Usher tonight and, my guess for the foreseeable future, so if you haven’t seen him, I would get thee to the Lyceum.
Posted: 1/4/23 at 6:35pm
That sucks, but at the same time, I don't think Jacquel has the vocal stamina to do 8 shows/week.
Posted: 1/4/23 at 7:28pm
I feel like I remeber the word on the street at the time was that it was an intentional choice by the production to move away from him. I get wanting to pursue TV and film, but passing up a garunteed Tony Nom and very likley win (I still think Jaquel wins if he had better attendence and Owens got similar if not better reviews)
Updated On: 1/4/23 at 07:28 PM
Posted: 1/4/23 at 8:02pm
Kyle Ramar Freeman should have been made Alternate Usher a while ago. He’s really excellent in the role and seems to have gone on for it frequently. Though I understand he’s more valuable to the show covering more roles than just Usher.
Posted: 1/4/23 at 10:21pm
Jon-Michael Reese swung on at the very last second tonight before the show as #6 due to positive COVID in the company.
Hoping everyone else can hang on til the end.
Posted: 1/4/23 at 11:01pm
jkcohen626 said: "inception said: "I don't think they fired Larry Owens. It more seems like he chose to move to LA & focus on TV & film."
I feel like I remeber the word on the street at the time was that it was an intentional choice by the production to move away from him. I get wanting to pursue TV and film, but passing up a garunteed Tony Nom and very likley win (I still think Jaquel wins if he had better attendence and Owens got similar if not better reviews)"
Yes, I remember hearing they found Larry a "diva." Not sure the extent of the issue that's referring to, but have to wonder if the production is regretting the choice in hindsight.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 8:49am
quizking101 said: "Jon-Michael Reese swung on at the very last second tonight before the show as #6 due to positive COVID in the company.
Hoping everyone else can hang on til the end."
Oh, God. Please don’t let this affect the rest of the show’s run. I saw it again last night (Kyle is just so, so good - and should have been the alternate from the beginning) and I want these incredible artists to cross the finish line with no more obstacles.
Somewhat off-topic: I’m looking forward to being in the Lyceum again, hopefully after some renovating…it boggles my mind that the orchestra rows A-H have only two middle aisles (is that not a safety/fire hazard?) while the back half have another aisle on each end. I also wanted to ask if the person up against the far wall could even see the stage, as they are essentially facing the interior wall of the ornate (but unnecessary) build out of the box seats.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 8:54am
I was there last night too! First time seeing it. Kyle was phenomenal and the Thoughts were great, including Jon-Michael Reese!
Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:44am
inception said: "I don't think they fired Larry Owens. It more seems like he chose to move to LA & focus on TV & film."
Well...that was the official line anyway. I would point out that there is a difference between firing someone and making it clear that it is in everyone's best interest for said person to move on from the project. Had Larry stayed I think several others would have left
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:20am
quizking101 said: "Jon-Michael Reese swung on at the very last second tonight before the show as #6 due to positive COVID in the company.
Hoping everyone else can hang on til the end."
How are they finding out about a COVID positive towards the end of the show?
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:23am
ACL2006 said: "quizking101 said: "Jon-Michael Reese swung on at the very last second tonight before the show as #6 due to positive COVID in the company.
Hoping everyone else can hang on til the end."
How are they finding out about a COVID positive towards the end of the show?"
I believe what ACL was saying is that they found out the positive result right before the show started.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:57am
The curtain went up about 8:10, and about 8:04, the God Mic came on and announced JMR stepping in as #6.
Prior to that and Jaquel being pulled by his doctor, the entire company was scheduled to be in tonight with no covers for the first time in a long while.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 11:02am
Posted: 1/5/23 at 12:53pm
Miles2Go2 said: "I was there last night too! First time seeing it. Kyle was phenomenal and the Thoughts were great, includingJon-Michael Reese!"
I feel so silly now - I saw you both before and after the show, and could not for the life of me figure out why you seemed familiar. Now I look at your icon and it all clicks together!
Posted: 1/5/23 at 7:47pm
Tonight’s performance, per my sources, was cancelled due to illness/lack of available U.S.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 8:07pm
quizking101 said: "Tonight’s performance, per my sources, was cancelled due to illness/lack of available U.S."
My fears coming true…Jon-Michael Reese (who was on last night as #6) posted “I’m sick” on his IG story earlier today and I kept checking others’ to see if anyone else would be out. Just a real f*cking bummer.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 8:14pm
One of the cast told me last night that anyone else who tests positive will be out for the rest of the run since the isolation period, per equity, is still 10 days (unless they do a runaround maneuver like when Jason returned last week in a mask)
Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:44pm
Do they even get to close out their run? Who's all out besides Spivey, Hopper & Reese? It appears as though Mars Rucker left the show already?
Updated On: 1/5/23 at 09:44 PM
Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:51pm
I have tickets for this Sunday's matinee. Is it safe to assume it's not going to happen?
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:20pm
If Mars has indeed left already and Reese is out with COVID, it leaves them with just 2 u/s if Kyle is closing the show as Usher. This means they have no u/s for Thoughts 4-6 until closing(unless Bates goes on as Usher and Kyle plays Thought 6).
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:32pm
To my understanding, Mars didn’t leave the show. They are on a scheduled vacation right now and had some bad COVID in December.
Its not known if Reese actually has COVID - could just be an off day.
I’m not sure if Bates would be able to go on as Usher, the last 2-3 times resulted in some exacerbation of a respiratory issue that required a stopdown and/or switch out
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:38pm
tomwsjr said: "What the hell is going on with this show? The cancellations and constant absences is all so unprofessional! "
People are actually ill, sir, so this talk of “professional” is frankly a pile of dog mess.
COVID rules within Equity have made it nearly impossible for even asymptomatic performers (as Jason was) to come back before their time is up - and getting them back on stage required some creative thinking and performing in a mask to prevent a cancellation one night. This is in addition to the physical/mental exhaustion that came with performing an exceedingly heavy holiday schedule.
This is only a cast of 12 people with 7 on stage at any given point. This isn’t WICKED or LION KING where they have a large pool of swings and understudies in house or national tours they can borrow from if there is a casting shortage.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:59pm
Yeah, agree that calling it unprofessional is dumb, but it's true that this show has had quite the bad luck spell regarding cast illnesses. I think they've canceled more performances than anyone else at this point. It's been rough for them for sure.
Posted: 1/5/23 at 11:24pm
"People are actually ill, sir, so this talk of “professional” is frankly a pile of dog mess."
It's unprofessional of the producers to not have enough coverage. To not have hired an official alternate by this point. To cancel so often very close to curtain.
Additionally, there are lots of issue going on back stage that have nothing to do with illness.
