Darren Criss to replace Daniel Radcliffe in HOW TO SUCCEED for 3 weeks?

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 6:56pm

"I hear that Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox's hit dramedy Glee, is poised to make his Broadway debut, succeeding Daniel Radcliffe as the lead in the Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Negotiations between Criss and the musical's producers, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron and Broadway Across America, are expected to begin shortly after Glee co-creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy and the series' producing studio 20th Century Fox TV gave Criss their blessing for the stint. (I hear Murphy even encouraged the actor, who made his processional stage debut at age 10, to fulfill his Broadway dream).

If a deal is made, Criss will replace Radcliffe when the Harry Potter star finishes his run in early January to return to movies. Criss will do a 3-week stint in addition to 2 weeks of rehearsals in December, missing a total of an episode and a half of Glee."


What if this is legit?
Thoughts?


Source

Updated On: 7/21/11 at 06:56 PM

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 6:57pm

I don't see how long the show can coast on a TV star, but hey, Chicago's done that with worse talent since the dawn of time.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 7:05pm

>>>"(I hear Murphy even encouraged the actor, who made his processional stage debut at age 10, to fulfill his Broadway dream).
"<<<

"Processional stage debut"????

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 7:11pm

I see how this could work in a you better jump on it, only 26 performances to see him, sell well for 3 weeks, but I SERIOUSLY don't see this being worth the cost of rehearsal, salary, and advertising for just three weeks. A 6-10 week stint would be more believable.

Why not just got for a less "hot right now" name that can stay for a longer run? If this is true then I really don't understand the lead producers' thought process.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 7:18pm

I would totally be all over this. I think Criss is amazingly talented. His voice could use a bit of strengthening, but its improved loads since 'A Very Potter Musical' days, so I have no doubt with more rehearsal, he could easily surpass Radcliffe's vocal ability.

I WOULD SO SEE HIM!

Also, he's beyond adorable. And plays guitar. Which they should work into the show somehow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DZVOR4K93k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7IwAErGJQ8

[snl89]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 7:26pm

Darren on Broadway? Yes please!!

Also, I enjoy this Dan/Darren connection that keeps popping up- first Harry Potter/A Very Potter Musical, now this (if it's true) hehe

[strummergirl]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 7:50pm

I would love for this to happen. As snl89 mentioned, it would be pretty awesome and somewhat appropriate. The publicity would be huge on Criss' work on Glee alone, but the Harry Potter connection? Wow.

Posted: 7/21/11 at 8:33pm

All that for a THREE WEEK RUN? Why bother?

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 8:37pm

He'd be terrific in the show. His presence on stage doesn't come around very often.

[willep]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 8:37pm

Yeah the three week part is very strange to me. But I guess this supports the theory that Dan is ending at the end of this year...

[beach2732]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 8:38pm

"All that for a THREE WEEK RUN? Why bother?"

My thought exactly. If you're only going to continue on for 3 weeks, taking on a new star doesn't make much sense. It would be better to go out with a bang on Daniel's last performance.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 8:42pm

Doesnt sound logical....and January is not really a time to grab audiences -- not too many fans but the locals will be making into the city to see him. (or any other show, sadly.)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 9:24pm

Criss gives me the creeps, I'd rather see the kid in the wheelchair as Finch. Maybe they are giving him three weeks to kick off a tour or something and they will bring in someone really good after that. If the show recoups in Jan and closes, no one except Dan, will make any money.

[rjm516]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 9:42pm

I would love to see him as Finch. However, I totally agree with the above posters that he should either be taking over for a longer run - or at least the show should have an 'indefinite' run - or it should end with Radcliffe's final performance. If the show itself wouldn't stay open past Criss's 3 week mark, then it makes absolutely no sense not to end with Radcliffe. If it would go on for a while, then yeah why not. But that would mean the show would be dealing with two new different stars in the span of one month, which doesn't seem like the best idea.

[Overkill]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 11:28pm

I have nothing against Criss, really but, like Radcliffe, he is all kinds of WRONG for Finch. They haven't been able to find a worthy succesor of Robert Morse on Broadway.

And his voice is not that great. Definitely not great enough to handle this score. Daniel can barely handle it himself.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 11:47pm

I've said it in other threads, but if anyone is going to fill in or replace Radcliffe, it should be Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:09am

Among the teenage-girl demographic that keeps Wicked running, Darren Criss is the biggest thing to come out of Glee yet.

He is the ultimate straight-girl fantasy of an adorable gay boy (who is really a straight boy) so she doesn't have to feel creepy about wanting him because he's actually available.

This is brilliant casting, and, in the end, Criss will probably turn out to be better cast in the part than Radcliffe was anyway.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:29am

I would like to point out that on May 12, I stated that I thought Darren Criss should be the one to play Finch.

https://longisland.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?page=1&thread=1031814&boardid=0

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:43am

Of COURSE you did. Who is more Wicked Girl than you?

Updated On: 7/22/11 at 12:43 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:52am

^ I didn't really think of myself as being a WICKED girl, just that I thought he would be a good idea.

Honestly, I don't watch Glee anymore, and I quit before he joined. I liked him in the Potter thing, and from the clip I saw of him doing "Teenage Dream."

[Idiot]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:53am

This kid is very talented -- I have a feeling it could work well.

Posted: 7/22/11 at 1:17am

"Criss gives me the creeps, I'd rather see the kid in the wheelchair as Finch."

Agreed. I feel mean saying this, as I know it's a pesonal reaction, but the more I see him, the creepier I find him. It's not just that I hate how every TV interview I've seen him in he always makes a point that being gay is "cool", but he's straight. Good to know. But he also performs EVERY song I've seen with the same odd expressiona nd performance style. Maybe a good cdirector can get him to change that for the musical? he's definitely not without talent.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 2:29am

so i went to the Harry Potter Fandom panel today at Comic Con and the guy who plays Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter musicals talked about this! I couldn't quite tell if he said it was a rumor or if it was true... but I think he made it seem like it was the real thing... the way it come up is that someone asked if there was going to be a third Harry Potter musical and he said that it really all depends on Darren who is busy (which btw they have a story in place) and that's when he mentioned How to Succeed

[PopAria]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 2:33am

I love Darren Criss. I seriously think he could sell out that theatre for those 3 weeks.

As far as his talents and his abilities, I don't think they're much different than those of Adam Chandler-Berat, or Chad Kimball.

[gcal]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 2:40am