Broadway Cast Replacements

[thez914]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 6:00pm

Something just occured to me while reading a review of the new cast members in Broadway's "Doubt": Who directs and prepares these replacements in the weeks leading up to their stage debut in the roles? Surely someone guides them to achieving an essence and mood that is coherent with the work in progress, and it would seem to me that the original director is the one to do this. But is this always the case? I know that many directors shift immediately from one project to the next, and often shuffle multiple productions at once. So in this respect, who is available or eligable to provide replacements with guidance? Just curious.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 6:38pm

Sometimes the original director rehearses new cast members, but far more often, it is either a team of artistic assistants (i.e. Assoc Dir, Assoc Chor) or the Production Stage Manager and Dance Captain.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:04pm

In the case of Doubt (an entirely new company), Doug Hughes directed them, as he did with the original cast.

When Diana DeGarmo went into Hairspray, according to Broadway.com's piece, the stage manager and dance captain (Michelle Kittrell) rehearsed her.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:25pm

Have their been any reviews of Jonathan Pryce in DRS?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:27pm

I wonder if they'll invite the critics. They were pretty mixed when DRS opened, so i doubt they'll want to risk similar reviews. With York and Pryce, I'd assume so, but who knows...

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:34pm

You're right - I'd forgotten that. The people loved it while the non-people (critics) didn't.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:58pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is reinviting critics, with an opening during the second week of March.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:15pm

Thank you!