Posted: 2/22/16 at 5:56pm
Has there been any word on who replaces Audra when she's overseas in the summer? Doe she have an alternate or do you think they'll bring in someone with a bigger draw? I can't make it to NY in time to see her before she exits in June, but I'll be back in November. Wondering if I should wait.
Posted: 2/22/16 at 6:15pm
I thought I read somewhere that Lachanze was going to be temp replacement
Posted: 2/22/16 at 6:47pm
Call_me_jorge said: "I thought I read somewhere that Lachanze was going to be temp replacement"
I know people have listed on the board their picks for her replacement (LaChanze being one of them...) but I haven't read anywhere about her fill-in being cast.
Posted: 2/22/16 at 7:28pm
Just curious, who would be considered a "bigger draw" than Audra? Oprah? Queen Latifah?
EDIT: My apologies, I misread the question.
Updated On: 4/8/16 at 07:28 PM
Posted: 2/22/16 at 7:53pm
I think they meant a bigger draw than "just" her understudy.
Posted: 2/22/16 at 7:59pm
Uno Abuba would be optimal.
Posted: 2/22/16 at 8:03pm
Do we even know enough about the role to suggest people who might replace Audra? I guess some video has been released, but very limited. I'm having trouble getting a handle on this show. I did buy tickets, though!
Posted: 2/22/16 at 8:09pm
Patina Miller?
Anika Noni Rose?
Vanessa Williams?
Tonya Pinkins?
Kerry Washington sings.
We can guess but since we haven't seen the show, the role's requirements are unknown.
Posted: 2/22/16 at 9:23pm
dramamama611 said: "I think they meant a bigger draw than "just" her understudy.
Yes that is what I meant. I would think it would be a crucial decision seeing as the summer brings in the crowds. I can't wait to see it for the music alone! I wonder if Rebecca Naomi Jones is a consideration?
"
Posted: 2/22/16 at 9:57pm
Sondheimite said: "Uno Abuba would be optimal. "
Her name is Uzo Aduba.
I've been wondering this the last few days. I unfortunately planned my trip to NYC for June and totally forgot that Audra will be leaving the show starting June 21st, and I of course arrive in the city that day. Why did I do that.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 8:48am
Separate question, but this might be a good place to ask it.
Yesterday I bought a discount ticket -- front row mezzanine -- for the matinee on Wednesday, April 13. Afterwards I realized there were a ton of available tickets for that performance, not for other Wednesday matinees. It's made me wonder -- what's going on on that day? Is Audra out that day perhaps?
Posted: 4/8/16 at 12:16pm
Bump.
Heather Headley is out. And God please don't let it be Kerry Washington. I'd pay boatloads to see Aduba do it, but I think she might stick with original material (The Maids, la West End) written for her at the moment.
CYNTHIA ERIVO (I know I know, whatever).
Posted: 4/8/16 at 12:18pm
The Maids is a 70-year-old play...
Posted: 4/8/16 at 12:19pm
Patash said: "Separate question, but this might be a good place to ask it.
Yesterday I bought a discount ticket -- front row mezzanine -- for the matinee on Wednesday, April 13. Afterwards I realized there were a ton of available tickets for that performance, not for other Wednesday matinees. It's made me wonder -- what's going on on that day? Is Audra out that day perhaps? "
Not according to Telecharge. Maybe that matinee was a recent addition.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 1:09pm
AC126748 said: "The Maids is a 70-year-old play..."
I thought they had heavily revised it to be contemporary? Regardless - the show is on until 21st May.
Looks like Uzo has enough time to rehearse and join the cast since Audra's outage starts 21st June, if she wants to take it on and producers have approached her. I'm personally still rooting for Patina.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 1:16pm
Valentina3 said: "AC126748 said: "The Maids is a 70-year-old play..."
I thought they had heavily revised it to be contemporary? Regardless - the show is on until 21st May.
I haven't seen the London production, but I believe it uses the same translation as the Cate Blanchett/Isabelle Huppert production that played in Sydney and New York. If so, the language is a bit more contemporary than a translation prepared 30 years ago would have been, but it doesn't change the structure or the tenor of the play.
Having not seen Shuffle Along yet, I can't really say how well Aduba would fit into McDonald's role, but it's doubtful that she would want to jump immediately from performing in one play to rehearsing the next. Miller, too, seems unlikely since Madam Secretary starts shooting again in July.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 1:18pm
I love Uzo, but I definitely don't see her in this role. I like the idea of Patina a bit better, but even stillI don't think she quite fits. The unfortunate fact is that there is simply nobody else like Audra, and given that this role was written with her in mind (I'm assuming, since she signed on pretty early), it's tough to think of someone who could replace her. There is also the question of voice type; it seemed to be that Audra was really flexing her soprano muscles in this show, so the replacement would most likely have to be a soprano as well, unless they want to change the keys.
I know she's not a name actress, but I could see Alicia Moran Hall doing it. She was great as Bess in Porgy and Bess, and she could definitely step into Audra's shoes again.
Updated On: 4/8/16 at 01:18 PM
Posted: 4/8/16 at 3:39pm
Uzo Aduba is ten years too young for the role and the counter opposite of what it requires vocally. She'll also be back shooting ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK by this time.
Similarly, Vanessa Williams is unavailable as she'll be shooting a new television series for VH1 in Atlanta all summer.
To me, Anika Noni Rose remains the optimal candidate.
Updated On: 4/8/16 at 03:39 PM
Posted: 4/8/16 at 7:05pm
I'd love to see Anika Noni Rose back on Broadway! Uzo and Vanessa Williams would be great as well! I'd love to see Kerry Washington in a musical, but I'm not familiar enough with the material to know if she's a good fit.
What about Janelle Monae? She's got the talent, credibility, and a decent-sized fan base. Critics love her. Plus, it would be her Broadway debut.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 7:07pm
Janelle Monae is way to young for anything that Audra would play right now.
Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:11pm
I have a good feeling that they might be getting r&b/jazz singer Ledisi to replace Audra this summer
Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:14pm
cuz-i-can said: "I have a good feeling that they might be getting r&b/jazz singer Ledisi to replace Audra this summer"
That could definitely be it, though I'm just speculating at this point. I saw Ledisi and Audra snapped a picture together (on Audra's twitter) so it's definitely a possibility!
Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:17pm
I hope Anika comes back in a musical soon, whether it's this or something else.
Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:31pm
Jshan05 said: "cuz-i-can said: "I have a good feeling that they might be getting r&b/jazz singer Ledisi to replace Audra this summer"
That could definitely be it, though I'm just speculating at this point. I saw Ledisi and Audra snapped a picture together (on Audra's twitter) so it's definitely a possibility!
"
Also on Ledisi's instagram she posted a pic of her reading a script and she just posted a pic of her in heels with the caption "audition time". I know she has broadway roots, she was a swing in Caroline or Change and I believe she was in the original workshop of the color purple
