Who are some actors who returned to the same show only in a different role.
The two I could think of were Louise dearman in wicked( does anyone else think kara Lindsay would make a great elphaba?) and Bebe Newirth in Chicago
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He didn't "return," but Michael Luwoye has played both Hamilton and Burr on Broadway already (granted not as principal for either yet, but it's something...).
Andrea McArdle, the original Annie on Broadway, returned to the show in several different productions many (many) years later as Miss Hannigan, although never on Broadway.
A bit topical - Jennifer Holliday played Sofia in TCP touring production, and is current Shug Avery in the Broadway revival. I'll watch out for Gaten Matarazzo to come back as Marius in the Les Mis 2026 revival :)
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
Rebecca Eichenberger played Carlotta previously, and is now Madame Giry. A few of the previous Christines also occasionally pop in to cover the ensemble (ex. Marni Raab).
Annaleigh Ashford started with "Wicked" on tour as Pfannee, and later ended up playing G(a)linda in Chicago and on Broadway. Also, Laura Benanti starred on Broadway as Maria in "The Sound of Music" and later returned to the show as Elsa in the NBC production.
They/them.
"Get up the nerve to be all you deserve to be."
Chita Rivera played Velma and Roxie, Louise Plowright played Donna and Tanya, Linzy Hateley was the second Eponine in London and then returned as Madame Thenardier
Daisy Egan won the Tony for Best Features Actress in The Secret Garden in 1991 (at 11!) and will play the role of Martha in The 5th Avenue Theatre and DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company production in November.
Christine Ebersole played the title role in Mame at Paper Mill Playhouse, then played Vera Charles in the Hollywood Bowl concert staging a few years later.
Christopher Fitzgerald has played Amos and Billy Flynn in Chicago. Likewise, Bebe Neuwirth has played all three leading female roles in Chicago.
Diane Venora has played Hamlet, Ophelia, and Gertrude in Hamlet in three different productions, all for the Public.
Cynthia Nixon originated the role of Debbie in The Real Thing on Broadway, then played the role of Charlotte in the 2014 revival.
Laura Linney played Grete in the original production of Sight Unseen, then played the leading role of Patricia in the Broadway premiere.
Liev Schreiber played Banquo in Macbeth at the Public (Alec Baldwin/Angela Bassett production), then played the title role in the park.
Lee Wilkof was the original Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, and played Mr. Mushnik in the pre-Broadway production of the 2003 revival. He was supposed to come to Broadway but was fired, along with most of the out-of-town cast.
And, of course: Diane Lane is currently on Broadway in The Cherry Orchard. She made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of the 1977 production of The Cherry Orchard at Lincoln Center.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
My favorite has been Daniel Jenkins - the original Huck in Big River, and then returned to Broadway 18 years later in the Deaf West revival as Mark Twain (and the voice of Huck).
Imelda Staunton played Hattie and now will play Sally in Follies, Glynis Johns played both Desirée and Madame Armfeldt, Denis Quilley played Sweeney Todd and then the Judge in London, Christine Baranski played Carlotta and Phyllis in Follies, Judi Dench played Sally and then Fraulein Schneider on a studio recording of Cabaret, Audra played Carrie and Julie in Carousel.
PThespian said: "Danielle Ferland was the original Little Red in Into the Woods on Broadway.
She played the Baker's Wife at the Westport Country Playhouse in CT not too long ago.
"
Kim Crosby (original Cinderella) has also played The Baker's Wife regionally.
Harvey Evans (original Young Buddy in Follies) has played Buddy is several regional productions.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body