BREAKING: Mandy Patinkin Withdraws from THE GREAT COMET — Page 3

I just hate that this is happening to Great Comet. I love this show so much and all the people involved. This whole situation sucks. The spirit of that show cannot be matched by any other on Broadway right now. My heart breaks for everyone. Dave created something outrageously extraordinary. Why can't more people have seen that?

I was fine with Mandy being the new Pierre. And I totally understood the reasons behind it. I just felt that Oak should have been allowed to finish his original scheduled run (if that was even ever possible) before Mandy came in. I felt Oak was so incredible and I didn't want him to be stripped of anything or given a raw deal. Then Oak said he wouldn't be returning and my mind started to shift to think, "ok now I'm happy with whatever keeps the show afloat." And now Mandy is leaving??

I wish things could have been different. I wish this wonderful show would've gotten some more Tonys because they deserved that. Sad day for me.

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 05:01 PM

I don't even know who Rafael Casal is, but he has to be pretty smug and self-righteous to wedge himself into this in the first place. Seriously, what the hell?

I keep refreshing my Twitter expecting to see the show's closing notice. Heartbroken. This was one of my favorite shows of the season, if not ever, and I was hoping it would be a beautiful long-runner with glorious stunt casting over the years. They collectively really screwed themselves over here.

It's simply disingenuous to blame a potential closure solely on the Twitter crowd. The show would've folded sooner than later in any case due to inept producing. Not finding a famous replacement to Groban right away was its death sentence - then it was only a matter of delaying it.

That said, I respect Mandy a lot more for this decision. He's an artist with true integrity.

BroadwayConcierge said: "I don't even know who Rafael Casal is, but he has to be pretty smug and self-righteous to wedge himself into this in the first place. Seriously, what the hell?

I keep refreshing my Twitter expecting to see the show's closing notice. Heartbroken. This was one of my favorite shows of the season, if not ever, and I was hoping it would be a beautiful long-runner with glorious stunt casting over the years. They collectively really screwed themselves over here.



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Same. I don't want to leave my desk at work because I'm afraid when I get home I'll open Twitter and see the closing notice. What a week.

youwillbefound2 said: "If one has tickets for September, should they be concerned.....



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I'd be shocked if it made it past Oak's last day

Wow. Like I said in the other Mandy thread, I bet the advance was going to fall off a cliff come Labor Day. According to Malloy, it was actually in two weeks. But hey, I hope Cynthia Erivo and that Rafael guy can breathe easy knowing the social media outrage they sparked will definitely close one of the most diverse shows on Broadway in a matter of weeks.

mullein said: "It's simply disingenuous to blame a potential closure solely on the Twitter crowd. The show would've folded sooner than later in any case due to inept producing. Not finding a famous replacement to Groban right away was its death sentence - then it was only a matter of delaying it.

That said, I respect Mandy a lot more for this decision. He's an artist with true integrity.



"

Not the show closing, but Mandy leaving the show is clearly due to the Twitter backlash...

qolbinau said: "This is what the ultra sensitive thoughtless 'offended' at nothing movement of 2017 does. I mean the show was probably doomed after Mandy anyway but for god's sake. People need to calm the **** down and think a little bit before letting their emotions take over.



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Really? What's your point? The producers aren't exactly new to business and social media. The "offended", as you call them, are not theater professionals. The producers are professionals and they completely screwed it up by being secretive and cryptic about all this, while "the offended" had to put one-and-one together by the stories of those involved.

Maybe if they were up front and honest about their actions there would have been more supporters and less of "the offended".

youwillbefound2 said: "If one has tickets for September, should they be concerned.."

Why? I've never had an issue getting a refund from Telecharge.

This is on the producers and it's insane to instead blame those who march toward civil justice. A black actor mere weeks into his run was ousted for a white actor, who is a legend, sure, but with no explanation other than "well, Mandy wanted to do it!" It's short sided to have not anticipated people would be off put. The casting decision was, as we know now, made out of necessity. It's announcement made the decision seem thoughtless. Had the producers been at all adept in public relations, they would have laid out the facts and formed a joint statement that also included Oak and Mandy. They shot themselves in the foot.

It's a really sh*tty situation for a bunch of crazy talented artists. I love this show and it pains me that I may not get to see it for a second time. Best of luck to all involved.

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 05:14 PM

orlikethecolorpurple said: "This is on the producers and it's insane to instead blame those who march toward civil justice. A black actor mere weeks into his run was ousted for a white actor, who is a legend, sure, but with no explanation other than "well, Mandy wanted to do it!" It's short sided to have not anticipated people would be off put.

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Yes! Thank you.

Yup...the fault lies solely with the decisions of the producers.

leighmiserables said: "So, uh, I'm off to go scream into the void for all eternity. Anyone care to join me?



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See ya there