DRS REPLACEMENT FOR NLBUTZ

[RentHead2]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:05am

After seeing this show three times, once with Norbert (who was nothing short of amazing) and twice with his understudy Jason Gillman - it stuns me that his understudy did not get the role when Norbert left. I may be alone on this but I was very very impressed by his understudy, so much that when I found out the 2nd time that Norbert wasn't in, I wasn't completely destroyed. So does anyone know if Gillman was even offered the role?

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:39am

Jason was fantastic, and I was kind of surprised that they didn't choose him for Norbert's replacement. I still think Brian d'Arcy James will be just as fantastic.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:47am

I'm surprised his understudy isn't doing it---he was fantastic!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:08pm

Jason is very good in the role but the producers wanted a well known Broadway person to take over the role. I am sure Jason realized that and is confortable with the decision. Good luck Brian.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:11pm

Brian has just as much talent and experience as Norbert.

He has a killer voice, and in ways I find his voice better than Noberts.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:18pm

I'm not saying anything against Brian, just expressing my surprise...

[RentHead2]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:46pm

my main point was I went to go see Norbert my 2nd and 3rd time, and this replacement was really witty and was very good in the role. I was surprised that he did not get picked up for the role on a full time basis, its a shame that just because he was not known that he was not considered for the role. Everyone has got to start somewhere. Although, my only comment with him was he needs to gain some weight for the role, just a little and maybe a midnight shadow to look the role. But I agree with all of you that Brian is very very talented.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:48pm

I also have heard that the understudy is great...any news if he's staying on after Brian leaves?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:17pm

I doubt DRS is going to last past d'Arcy James. It played to 90% for Norbert's last week, but the numbers would significantly drop out when he was out for pre-planned amounts of time. I can only imagine what they'll be without him. And even with Norbert, post-Lithgow it averaged in the high 70's, low 80's and even ocasionally dipped into the 60's.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 01:17 PM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:40pm

I, too, am wondering what's up with not letting Jason take over full time. I saw him and enjoyed his take on Freddy as much as Norbert's- in a different way, of course

That said, I think Brian will be great in the role.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:51pm

I don't think it's so much that Brian is "known"--a bit more to the Broadway community than Jason, but his name wouldn't affect sales, but he did the very first workshop as Freddy. Apparently he was very good, so it makes sense that they would bring him in to replace Norbert.

Jason was great, but if you really want to talk about an understudy who should have taken over...Joe Cassidy! He was so great, had the little tummy(I agree about Jason needing to gain a bit of a tummy), and like was said about Brian, I think he had a better voice than Norbert. An excellent high range--I loved the high note he reached in DRN.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:23pm

SomethingWicked, If you really think Norbert was the only one selling the show, there is a problem.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:26pm

No where did I say Norbert was the only person selling tickets. I did say he was the main draw after John left, and I stand by that.

You can't honestly say the general public was going to see anyone other than Butz. With the OBC, the draw was obviously Lithgow (hence the HUGE drop offs when he would be out,) but after him, Norbert was most deffinetly the person people were coming to see.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 02:26 PM

[RentHead2]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:28pm

As for me, I went to see the show because I really loved both Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz in The Last 5 Years. Thats why I bought my tickets during the Previews. I personally was eager to see SHERIE RENE SCOTT. I mean the show was insane when I first saw it, Lithgow was awesome, and Sara G was amazing in Oklahoma.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:29pm

does Sherie bring people in? Probably not more than Norbert but you would think some...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:30pm

I mean people that are not "musical theater people." Most of the people in the show aren't known for much outside of Broadway, but since Butz was the Tony-winner, he was drawing people in post-Lithgow.

Obviously fans of musical theater knew alot of the performers, and different fans went to see different people. I am not saying performers like Sherie and Jonathan and Sara weren't box office draws. What I'm saying is that Norbert was by far the biggest attraction to see the show after John had left.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 02:30 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:38pm

Gotta disagree somethingwicked. In another thread, many of us have agreed that currently the biggest and probably only "name draw" in DRS is Lucie Arnaz. Non-theatre fans know her; not Norbert.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:10pm

Butz definitely wasn't a draw for the show...

[SirLiir]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:12pm

Yes, I agree. Luci Arnaz really is the main ticket draw at the moment, even when Norbert was still there. Thank goodness she does such a great job!

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:13pm

I love D'Arcy James.

I'd still like to see Wayne Brady or Dan Fogler in the role, however slim those chances may be.