Celie Replacements

[BroadwayNYC25]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 6:28pm

Does anyone have any idea of who could fill the shoes of Cynthia Erivo? My only thought would be her understudy Bre Jackson who I've heard is spectacular.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 6:31pm

I wonder if the show will even attempt to go beyond Ms. Erivo's contract. Just a thought.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 6:39pm

I've thought about this, too, and wondered if they'll continue running the show without her. They'd need a name to keep the show going for either Celie or Shug.

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 6:39pm

Having won Best Revival, I feel like that gave it life at least until the new year. There are many talented African-American women who could take the role over. Maybe Saycon Sengbloh, Sasha Allen, or Jeanette Bayardelle. (Spitballing here)

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 6:52pm

I hope the new norm following the Audra/Shuffle situation doesn't become "the show can't go on without its star." 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 6:53pm

Bring Fantasia back.

[BroadwayNYC25]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 7:10pm

Jeanette and Saycon did it in the original run I highly doubt they would return. I love Fantasia but I don't think she could handle the sophistication of this new direction.

[@z5]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 7:13pm

Fantasia's voice is a downgrade from Cynthia's. I really don't enjoy her, also acting isn't up to par either.

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 7:48pm

BroadwayNYC25 said: "Jeanette and Saycon did it in the original run I highly doubt they would return. I love Fantasia but I don't think she could handle the sophistication of this new direction.

 

"

 

Ah. I did not know that

 

[elpielovesblackfish2]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 8:54pm

Does anyone have any idea how much longer she'll be in the show?

[yinyang1195]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 11:06pm

It's a stretch but I'd kill to see Uzo Aduba play Celie

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/17/16 at 11:54pm

Anika Noni Rose would be my top choice. But she is probably going to be occupied with her TV show and other work. I could see Uzo Aduba beeing incredible,

Updated On: 7/17/16 at 11:54 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/18/16 at 12:02am

Uzo would really bring some of that Whoopi Goldberg joyful goofiness buried under the pain of Celie's experience. That scene in the Color Purple film where Celie really grins for the first time--that seems like Uzo's wheelhouse. 

 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 7/18/16 at 12:06am

I love Uzo but she does not have the range or the voice for this score. She struggled so much in The Wiz 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/18/16 at 12:11am

I'm truly hard-pressed to think of anybody who could come even close to Ms. Erivo in this role in this production. She's truly giving one of those performances I'll still be thinking about decades from now.

Updated On: 7/18/16 at 12:11 AM

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 7/18/16 at 11:46am

I wouldn't judge Aduba's voice based on The Wiz. I've seen her in numerous musicals in the Boston area before making it big and she always sounded incredible. The shaky ending of her song in the Wiz was the weakest Ive ever heard her voice. And she was still good. 

She was astounding in a production of Dessa Rose. She also sang the crap out of this show Prometheus Bound (a rock musical based on the myth, helmed by Diane Paulus w/ Gavin Creel and Lea Delaria also starring). It was a mostly terrible musical, but Aduba blew me away with her vocal range. Perhaps her voice is not as robust as Erivo's (whose is?) but I think she would be fascinating in the role. And she would provide the show with a name and selling power.

Updated On: 7/18/16 at 11:46 AM