Announced replacements that never happened

The premature closing of CHESS will close on Broadway got me thinking about replacements who were announced but never actually began performances due to the show folding before their start dates. A few I could think of off the top of my head:

Judy Kuhn in THE WOMAN IN WHITE

Rhiannon Giddens in SHUFFLE ALONG

Robert Stack in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (original production)

Lucie Arnaz in WONDERFUL TOWN

Jenna Elfman in NINE -- sort of...

any others that people can think of?

Question related to this kind of thing: Would someone like JoJo be eligible for any kind of compensation in a circumstance like this? They may have declined other work due to a commitment that is now void.

carolinaguy said: "Question related to this kind of thing: Would someone like JoJo be eligible for any kind of compensation in a circumstance like this? They may have declined other work due to a commitment that is now void."

When I heard about the closing, that was the thought that immediately came to mind - and especially as they'd reneged on the day she was to start rehearsals.

I don't know who's responsibility it might be (ER, EE or both), but I would hope contracts could/would be negotiated re: compensation applicable to this situation (if that isn't already the case).

Who knows? Maybe JoJo's contract includes equitable financial compensation.

Slightly different scenario because if I remember correctly he announced he was pulling out before the closing notice was actually posted, but Mandy Patinkin in Great Comet comes to mind

Both Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole were announced for AFTER MIDNIGHT, but the show closed before their scheduled debuts.

Somewhat different sort of show/ “event”, but half the announced cast/ replacements for that Love Letters revival 10+ years ago never went on because it closed early…

Patty3 said: "The most infamous is Mandy Patinkin in Great Comet."

Yea, but the show didn't fold before he could perform, he just dropped out over the optics.

Not a replacement but Donna McKechnie never got to go on in "The Visit" since it closed before she could.

She was in attendance the evening I saw it and I walked out with her. (She looped her arm around mine as we walked up the aisle and I thought I was gonna die!). I think she was to do two shows a week as Chita's standby. She said she was a bit nervous but excited. Sadly we never got to see her in the role. I had planned to go back to see her.

Updated On: 5/28/26 at 01:53 PM

JSquared2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "The 2014 Broadway production of “Love Letters” closed before Anjelica Houston, Martin Sheen, Diana Rigg and Stacy Keach could all go on. I was especially gutted about not getting to see Houston."



Apparently so "gutted" that you forgot that her name is Anjelica HUSTON!

"

Ok. I’ll be sure to proof read all your posts diligently from now on as well for some kind of “gotcha” moment.

ACL2006 said: "seaweedjstubbs said: "Both Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole were announced for AFTER MIDNIGHT, but the show closed before their scheduled debuts."

All due to the show wanting to be shutdown for July 4 week and the unions wouldn't allow it. So it closed instead."

Oh my God, is that what happened? I had no idea. That show was wonderful.

Kind of off-topic but I loved AFTER MIDNIGHT. I wish Jazz at Lincoln Center or City Center could just remount it every few years with a different group of talent.

Wasn’t there some singer who got involved and started to fund the show to try and rescue it? And why did they want to be closed July 4th week?