Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
"Barbara Cook in Carrie."
Well, she played the role in Stratford and promptly buggered off when she almost got decapitated by a set piece.
Paula Abdul was going to replace priscilla lopez in In the Heights but that never happened.
Noname3, I was always under the impression it was Edward Villella of the NYC Ballet and not Baryshnikov who left PAL JOEY followed by Parker.
India.Arie in For Colored Girls...
Clive Owen was reported to come in with Stalag 17, which never came.
Alice Ripley, Billy Porter, and Lee Wilkof in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Paula Abdul, Marisa Tomei, and (I think?) Jenna Elfman were announced for revivals of SWEET CHARITY at one point or another. Jane Krakowski did a reading too, but I'm not sure if she was ever announced for a full production.
Mary-Louise Parker was announced for a revival of DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS to be directed by David Leveaux. It was cancelled when she went to Broadway with PROOF instead.
Joe Morton was originally announced as Lord Capulet for the recent Broadway revival of ROMEO AND JULIET, but withdrew for SCANDAL.
Laura Benanti in THE VIOLET HOUR (replaced by Dagmara Dominiczyk).
You're absolutely right, Demitri, it was to have been Villella in Pal Joey, not Baryshnikov.
Updated On: 2/23/14 at 10:46 AM
Mattbrain- Nevertheless Barbara was announced for the broadway run. Flyers and other promotional items featured her as Margaret.
Lea Michele--first Broadway revival of Les Mis (withdrew for Spring Awakening, of course)
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Lainie Kazan was originally cast in SEESAW but was replaced by Michele Lee.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Production that never happened : KISS ME KATE in Central Park, 1994 or 95. Kevin Kline, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Gregg Burge.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"Production that never happened : KISS ME KATE in Central Park, 1994 or 95."
I had forgotten about that. But it had been rumored originally that it was going to be Kevin Kline and Patti LuPone. And everyone wanted to see it because Kline and LuPone had been a couple years ago and everyone thought this reunion was fantastic. But I think LuPone was going through her Sunset Boulevard drama and so she didn't get to do the show.
An Australian production of Jekyll+Hyde was announced and cast, they even did a highlights album. But, for whatever reason, the production never happened.
Wasn't Rebecca the musical supposed to happen twice now? I remember Sierra Boggess was announced for that originally and then it had the investor problem. The marquee was up on the theater and everything. And now if they could get their act together, they can't have the Broadhurst, unless Mamma Mia posts a closing notice by the they decide to open it.
And I know this isn't exactly the same thing, but I know Roger Bart replaced Chris Kattan in The Frogs during previews. Was there ever a reason given for that? All I know is that I was a big fan of Chris Kattan at the time and was upset to hear he got replaced, though I knew I would never have gotten to see it anyway.
Glenn Close and Kevin Spacey were announced to replace Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman in the original Broadway run of LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES but the show ended up posting a closing notice. At the time, both were only semi-well known names -- of course that would all change within a few years and Close would get an Academy Award nomination for the film.
If I remember right didn't Mel Brooks say that he was going to let Cloris Leachman reprise her role in Young Frankenstein but it closed before she could join the cast?
Lee Roy Reams was announced as a replacement Albin/ZaZa in the original production of La Cage aux Folles. He was rehearsed and publicity photos released -- he was quite glamorous as ZaZa -- but the producers had an abrupt change of mind and closed the show before he ever appeared.
Updated On: 12/10/14 at 05:08 PM
Wasn't Laura Bell Bundy announced (or at least strongly rumored) to be the first replacement Glinda in Wicked?
^ She was the original standby but never played the role eight shows a week.
Paula Abdul in Sweet Charity! I remember because i was SOOOOOO excited for this ;o(
Paula Abdul Playbill
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
gleek, I think you have that wrong regarding Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman and "Young Frankenstein". They'd considered casting Cloris, who I believe had done an early workshop, but decided not to due to her being 80 years old and went with Andrea Martin instead. I do not believe there were plans to bring her on as a replacement.
Also, there had been a revival of "Godspell" in the late 80s in New York at the old Lamb's Theatre, so the revival planned with Gavin Creel and company would not have been the first.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"They'd considered casting Cloris"
They used Cloris as a publicity stunt. She pretended that she was mad that they didn't cast her. It was sort of like the Betty White/Saturday Night Live outpouring in reverse. All her fans were mad at Mel Brooks and vowed not to see the show.
"Also, there had been a revival of "Godspell" in the late 80s in New York at the old Lamb's Theatre"
Starring Trini Alvaredo
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Chris Kattan was fired during previews of The Frogs due to "unprofessional behavior", which, rumor has it, was code for drug use.
Fat Pig with Dane Cook, Josh Hamilton and Julia Stiles
What about Lone Star Love?
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