If it's true, I think it might be dicey this early in the run to muck up the formula that has proven box office success so far with "Finding Neverland". Kelsey Grammar is a "name" and somehow the mix with him, Matt Morrison, the story, etc has worked. Wonder if Kelsey has some TV project he's working because 3 months seems more than a normal break.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/6/11
Yeah,, I mean personally I'm not an Anthony Warlow fan and I want to see this show and love Kelsey Grammer so now I want to see it before his absence because you never know what could change in those 3 months either, for the show and him. :)
Grammar seemed completely bored during their number on the Tony Awards. I think he's experiencing something completely different than what he did with LA CAGE. No Tony nomination plus poor reviews. I wonder if he's trying to get out of the production completely and move on to another [TV] project.
Very good observation. How much of a draw he actually is really debatable.
He tires of things, much like his last ex wife, & just moves on. It would be a plus if Warlow stays on permanently. He probably has a better voice than most in the cast.
Wouldn't it be nice if Warlow did a cabaret engagement at 54 Below while he's in town?
I remember thinking that when he was in Annie. It never happened. I think he only ever showed up at one thing outside of Annie and it was Broadway Backwards. I hope he does 54 Below or Joe's Pub or SOMETHING like that this time around!
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
Kelsey is in Miami today according to the UKs daily mail
So i guess he's out of FN tonight but his usual understudy will probably go on not Anthony Warlow.
Updated On: 6/25/15 at 04:04 PMBroadway Star Joined: 7/12/07
Someone told me a few weeks ago Bryan Cranston had been discussing stepping in for Grammer at some point. Given him being a producer I guess it isn't a weird thought. Wonder if this could happen post Warlow depending if Kelsey really comes back?
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/6/11
"Very good observation. How much of a draw he actually is really debatable.
He tires of things, much like his last ex wife, & just moves on. It would be a plus if Warlow stays on permanently. He probably has a better voice than most in the cast."
One thing he didn't tire of was a hefty television paycheck for twenty years, lol!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/6/11
I hope they give at least a few weeks notice before Kelsey leaves so I could have a chance to see him in it.
Which explains why he could walk away from it. He does not need the money.
Well we know he has experience in playing piratical characters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2j90qg_5_w.
"Very good observation. How much of a draw he actually is really debatable.
He tires of things, much like his last ex wife, & just moves on. It would be a plus if Warlow stays on permanently. He probably has a better voice than most in the cast."
Like I said earlier, Kelsey was probaby one of several factors that have shaped FINDING NEVERLAND's robust box office so far. Not saying he's the main draw, but he certainly didn't hurt and IIRC, he actually got overall better reviews than Matt with many of the critics.
I do think it's a LOW blow to invoke his marital history as "evidence" of his not being able to stay on FN.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/6/11
I agree. I was joking when I made the comment about how long he was on tv, but still his personal life has nothing to do with whether he wants a break from his tiring show for a little while. People do it all the time, but when a big actor does it he gets some backlash. Why? I don't know, but still.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
I guess they will have to drop the Cheers line from the show.
He was out of Finding Neverland last night and his understudy Paul Slade Smith went on in his place (I actually prefer him in his original role as Mr. Henshaw than Charles Frohman). A lot of performers were out last night. There were 5 different inserts in the playbill last night announcing the replacements.
Maybe I'm hallucinating but I swear I remember reading somewhere back when Grammer was announced for Broadway that he had a pre-existing commitment that would require him to take a three month leave in the summer or fall, after which he return to the show. I can't remember now where I heard it -- here? Datalounge? Reidel's column? It's understandable that the producers would avoid mentioning a star's planned absence while trying to build advance sales. (And it would also be understandable, the way things have played out, that Grammer might not be overly anxious to return if that was the original plan).
I have no desire to see this show, but if I were going to, I'd much rather see it with Warlow.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
I am going to have to see it again now..love Anthony. And I would love to see him in the part.
Grammer and Morrison must be dying to get out of this turkey.
If he is taking a few months off....but will return in the fall, he surely must be leaving soon. That will annoy all the people who booked to see him over the summer. When I saw it it was clear many were there for him
A lot of performers were out last night. There were 5 different inserts in the playbill last night announcing the replacements.
Who's playing Mr Cromer and Michael-inside-the-play while Josh Lamon is doing A New Brain?
@rcwr Robert Anthony Jones is playing Mr. Cromer
@atuomala Thank you!
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