Abby Mueller to Star in Beautiful National Tour

[mattmarkowski99]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:11pm

Keeping it in the family I guess.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:18pm

This is hilarious and kind of weird. But I LOVE it. Has something like this ever happen before?

[team elphie]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:20pm

Oh my gosh this is so weird. But it's also really cute! Very excited for this

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:23pm

I think that Jill O'Hara's sister either did the tour or replaced her in PROMISES PROMISES.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:24pm

Anyone else get a weird creep vibe?

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:24pm

This is fascinating and I love it. 

[gstrus2]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:26pm

Is Ben Fankhauser in this too or is that a rumor?

[Tag]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:26pm

This is pretty strange.  I mean to take on your sister's Tony winning role in her shadow...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:28pm

How fun! Most of the examples of similar casting that I can think of are Gavroches or Tams.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:31pm

Does Jessie even know her sister auditioned?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:32pm

I bet they planned this

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:33pm

"Is Ben Fankhauser in this too or is that a rumor?"

It was tweeted and deleted by Cynthia Weil, so it's probably still true.

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:34pm

I find this very unique and cool. I'm just excited to see the show live after hearing the cast recording since it came out. I've never hear any of those songs.. but now I know them all.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:35pm

"I bet they planned this"

I bet the Muellers totally planned it. We'll have four kids, two girls ... one will win a Tony for playing Carole King and the other will take it on the road!

Sorry if that's too snarky I couldn't resist. 

In reality, I'm sure the producers knew Abby and thought perhaps she would possess some of the same vocal qualities, looks, and acting style that made Jessie so successful. So I'm sure that played a part in her auditioning for the role. But I doubt there was a master plan. 

[Replacement Cast]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:37pm

"I bet they planned this" - Neophyte!

"Stick around.  You'll see a lot in your lifetime." - Veteran!

In all seriousness, if she didn't have the goods chances are high that she wouldn't be cast.  All the best, Abby!  Enjoy the road; it will love you back.

 

[Kylechristopherwest]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:48pm

Mara Davi's younger sister, Melody, replaced her as Peggy Sawyer in the 42nd Street tour a few years ago.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:48pm

""I bet they planned this" - Neophyte!
"Stick around.  You'll see a lot in your lifetime." - Veteran!
In all seriousness, if she didn't have the goods chances are high that she wouldn't be cast.  All the best, Abby!  Enjoy the road; it will love you back.
 "

 

Exactly. 

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:49pm

This is so cool!

I'm glad she's breaking out of swing/ensemble roles and getting her chance as a leading actress! So excited!

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:56pm

"Does Jessie even know her sister auditioned?"

 

This is really bugging you, isn't it? 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 2:57pm

Wait this reminds me of Alison luff, because before Alison went out on tour with wicked she was only in the ensemble and now she's a leading actress. Now we have another best sibling pair. The bolgers and fosters have to move aside!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 3:03pm

It happens a lot where someone moves from the ensemble to a lead on tour (even in a different show). Siblings playing the same role is much rarer!

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 3:10pm

Good for her. The talent in that family is astounding. A few years ago, I saw Abby and Jessie lead a production if Guys and Dolls in Chicago. Talk about a knockout!

I don't think it's that weird. Jessie established what they wanted in the role and clearly, Abby has similar attributes.

@call_me_jorge, Alison Luff was not in the ensemble on the Wicked tour. She was an Elphaba.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 3:18pm

Does anyone know if Becky Gulsvig is still attached as Cynthia Weill?  She was also mentioned in the tweet that named Fankhauser as Barry Mann.  She was in Disenchanted recently, which conveniently closed this past weekend.

Hmmm...

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 3:41pm

I don't see what the big deal is.

This has been done before. Jenny O'Hara replaced her sister Jill O'Hara when Jill left her Tony-nominated role of "Fran Kubelik" in the 1968 Broadway production of PROMISES, PROMISES.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 3:48pm

Put away your smugness for a minute. Just because it's been done before doesn't mean people can't find delight in it. There's always going to be a couple MLB no-hitters every season, but just because someone's not the first doesn't mean it's not special.