Book of Mormon - Understudies for all 3 leads on this weekend?

[willep]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 12:44am

So am I correct in understanding that the understudies for all three leads have been on this weekend? I know Josh Gad has started his break to film his pilot, and I think I saw the Andrew Rannells was out for the weekend as well, and Nikki M. James too? Has anyone seen the show with all three out?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 12:53am

As in this past weekend? I was going to go later this week. Who will be out?

[Elder Katt]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 1:41am

Updated On: 11/26/13 at 01:41 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 8:17am

Nic Rouleau is on all this week, but it makes me wonder if Kevin Duda will be on at least once to give him a break (again).

https://twitter.com/#!/nicrolo54/status/187040297136570368

Guess I'm going back! :)

I'm guessing Andrew's been shooting The New Normal, though he hasn't said so specifically and has only been providing his usual deadpan commentary on LA culture.

Updated On: 4/3/12 at 08:17 AM

[shrekster224]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 1:26pm

I was lucky enough to see the Sunday night show. After getting shut out of the matinee, having understudy craziness for the night show was actually awesome. I'll post more thoughts in a little bit, for sure.

[THDavis]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 1:50pm

Nic and Jared are an awesome pair. I like Rannells and Gad on the recording, but I'd almost prefer hearing the standbys. Maybe it's because I saw them instead.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 1:56pm

I've preferred Gertner's take ever since I saw him a few weeks ago.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 2:01pm

Has Nick Spangler ever gone on for Rannells?

[Elder Katt]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 2:04pm

Updated On: 11/26/13 at 02:04 PM

[shrekster224]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 2:52pm

So, here's my review.

I tried lotto and SRO for both shows on Sunday. Shut out of the matinee completely and ended up making other plans, but I came back for SRO at about 3:40 to secure tickets. I knew Jared and Nic had been on for the matinee, as well as John Eric Parker for the General as well as various swings, but to our surprise they updated the board at around 5:30 to say that Asmeret Ghebermichel would be on for Nabulungi.

The. Show. Was. Awesome. It started off okay, seemed like weaker vocals during Hello than the previous times I have seem the show, but the cast amped it up pretty fast. (I have seem one full cast minus Rema Webb and then another full cast minus Jared for Josh and Brian Sears for Rory). Nic sounded quiet, could have just needed to turn the mic up a bit, but he was great! Different from Rannells, but really good. Jared was fantastic from start to finish. The best thing about it, though, was Jared and Nic's "Room 601" chemistry/bromance. They really had better chemistry than even Gad and Rannells do. Seeing them so comfortable with each other was great and added so much to the story. I am a Nikki James fan, but let me tell you, Asmeret carried the role just as much. Her vocals were slightly less than Nikki's, but it didn't matter. Her acting was very strong and she was funny, and heart breaking on the *spoiler* "You have crushed my soul" line. Her Sal Tlay Ka Siti was amazing and the audience was rooting for her the whole way. Valisia was fine in her usual "what the f..." track.

My favorite Nic moments were You and Me But Mostly Me, Spooky Mormon Hell Dream, the eureka moments near the end after Joseph Smith All American Moses, and his I Believe was "something increadible! He has a great voice. He carried the show with Jared so well. Nic didn't have quite as much star power as Rannells, noticeably during All American Prophet, but I really liked him. His portrayal had different depths to it and he had great moments. Jared is a star. The national tour would be lucky to have him as full-time Cunningham. He sings the role beautifully, he's hysterical, and really just a goof ball. He brings a lot to the role, and I can't decide if I like him or Gad better. I think there's something more polished about Gertner's Cunningham, but its good to see the role in a different light.

Tamika Sonja Lawrence rocks! She nailed the Mrs. Brown bits and the "metaphor" part at the end. Congrats to her for making it through her first week and giving a great last show of the week. Nick Spangler didn't quite fill Jason Michael Snow's shoes as Elder Cross, but the part is very tailored to JMS. He didn't get laughs, but got better as the show went on. Matthew Marks was great in Justin Bohon's track! Justin is a strong dancer as was Matthew. (Sidenote: when Matt Marks was a swing in WSS, did he never go on? His bio said he was "kind of" last seen on Broadway...) Doug Lyons also was great as the doctor, even though Michael James Scott is a usual favorite. The ensemble really did shine. Everyone did a great job.

It was quite the experience and I'm so glad I went. I'd love to see Kevin Duda/Nick Spangler take on Price and Ben Schrader/Will Blum(who was in the audience) as Cunningham. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Updated On: 4/3/12 at 02:52 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 10:21am

I've seen Nic Rouleau twice now in the past three months and he's gotten a lot better -- but I still liked him the first time as well. He's REALLY young and doesn't have the same narcissism that Andrew Rannells or Kevin Duda do as Price, but I think he'll get there.

Did the Nabulungi/Cunningham chemistry change any since Asmeret seems to read as older than Jared?

(Sidenote: when Matt Marks was a swing in WSS, did he never go on? His bio said he was "kind of" last seen on Broadway...)

I've often been wondering that about Marks myself!

Thanks for posting. :)

Updated On: 4/4/12 at 10:21 AM

[shrekster224]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 4:08pm

Jared tweeted something alongs of having a huge understudy rehearsal with an audience. I'm sure they have a ton of fun in those rehearsals, but he and Asmeret interacted so well! Baptize Me is usually not a favorite, just because its a little slow for the moment, but I paid attention to every nuance that Asmeret and Jared threw in there. Her facial expressions to every name he called her were also funny.

Specifically on the line in Baptize Me, "And it will set us free." It was so funny, does anyone know how they say the line is a reference to?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 7:07pm

I know Valisia LeKea has gone on as Nabalungi a lot, but anyone know if this was Asmeret's first time as Nabalungi??

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 7:10pm

She has? And no, Asmeret's been on before.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 7:14pm

I believe LeKea covered James' entire two week vacation a while back.

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 9:34pm

So this was last weekend? What about this Sunday the 8th? Anyone know who will be on?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 11:14pm

It seems Andrew Rannells is still out, and will be back next week:
https://twitter.com/#!/nicrolo54/status/187256392338518017

[willep]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:10am

I actually really wish I could see Jared and Asmeret in the roles. I didn't know anything about Jared until I started watching Submissions Only a couple weeks ago, and I think he is hilarious. And I remember watching Asmeret in the ensemble both times I saw the show last year and loving her.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:25am

Jared is GREAT -- a far more adorable take on the role and his Cunningham is less broad, obnoxious and cartoony than Josh's. (That said, I still like Josh.)

[hermajesty]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:15pm

This is one fab production, don't miss it, it is hilarious. best thing so I've heard

Updated On: 4/7/12 at 09:15 PM