Deadline says Jeremy Jordan gone…. — Page 3

Oh, I'm sure Harvey is loving the whole thing.
Love love love that some people on this board think THE LAST 5 YEARS will turn Jordan into a massive star, bless your hearts. I don't think Jordan is any more interesting than Morrison (though perhaps his performance in THE LAST 5 YEARS will change my mind), whom I adore on THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA cast recording, but who doesn't do much for me otherwise. It'd be pretty funny if it ended up being someone random like Jason Danieley.

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Those of you who proclaimed Matthew Morrison a "major television star" and "internationally known" had me laughing out loud. Having seen the show, I can tell you that Jeremy Jordan was superb as Barrie in a highly physical role that I cannot see Matthew Morrison performing as well. That said, I do believe that Jeremy will be replaced for the Broadway production, which will be a shame. Michael McGrath was also excellent as Hook and he was fired prior to the ART production closing last Sunday, with Kelsey Grammer rumored to replace him on Broadway.

But for anyone to know that Matt is from Glee, they'll have to have a poster of him dressed as Will with the billing "With the star of Glee!". Like when Jane Lynch was in Annie billed as Sue (wearing a gym suit and all).

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nsguy45, I thought Michael McGrath was fantastic as Frohman/Hook. Where did you find out that they let him go? I didn't know that any casting -- or letting people go -- had been officially announced yet.

Jennifer Hudson Will be playing J.M Barrie on Broadway.

Considering that on Glee Matthew performed Donald o Connors Make em Laugh ( including back flip off a wall) and Fred Astaire's You are all the world to me ( in a rotating room) I am more than sure that he will be able to handle the physical demands of Barrie. He was Hairsprays Link Larkin too which was a dance heavy energetic role.

Updated On: 10/2/14 at 01:57 AM

Kind of funny, because Kelsey Grammar was actually my first choice to play Captain Hook for NBC.

Finding Neverland closed at the ART in Cambridge on Sunday, September 28th. For the last week of the run, Michael McGrath was replaced in his dual role by Thayne Jasperson, who had been playing Barrie's dog. At an evening performance during the final week, a friend of mine sat two rows away from Kelsey Grammer, who had flown in to see the show and has been rumored to play Hook once the show reaches Broadway. Just for the record, Laura Osnes and her husband sat in front of me at the September 11th performance, but I'm sure she was only there as a friend of Jeremy. The role of Barrie in the show is quite physical. Jeremy was running up and down/jumping from a ladder in one dance number, as well as being tossed around the stage from one group of dancers to another in a different dance number, sweating profusely after each. As for whether or not Matthew Morrison is considered an international star, how many of his international fans do you suppose will hop a plane for NYC and purchase tickets?

While I like both Jeremy Jordan and Matthew Morrison and think they both have great voices, I prefer to see Jeremy Jordan back on Broadway. I saw him in West Side Story and Newsies, and loved his stage presence. He is a great actor, and quite the singer. I never saw Matthew Morrison perform live, but from what I've heard on cast recordings and what I've seen, I think he will do a great job as well.

As far as The Last 5 Years goes, I hope it will be a success and that Jeremy Jordan will have some recognition. But I doubt it would be a hit because of Valentine's Day - it's not exactly what I'd imagine lovers would want to see on Valentine's Day, if you know what I mean...

Harvey will do anything he has to to sell that show, we all know that, but I don't know if Morrison is the way to do it so I wouldn't be surprised if he's got some bigger name female lead up his sleeve.
Incidentally, if the Last Five Years if released around Valentine's Day it's going to be competing with 50 Shades of Grey so even getting publicity in all the crap that's going to surround that will be a nightmare.

nsguy45, I saw the matinee show on Sept 20, and Michael McGrath was in; my friend saw the evening show that same day (Sept 20, the Saturday beforre closing weekend), and McGrath did the first half (up to intermission), after which he was replaced by Paul Slade Smith, the tall skinny guy from the ensemble who usually plays Mr Henshaw. Doesn't stopping at at intermission imply lost voice / injury / illness more than anything else? My friend says that at the end of Act 1 on Sept 20, McGrath was carely audible during "Hook" and "Stronger," as if his voice had gone out.

I also saw the show Tuesday the 23rd, and Paul Slade Smith again played Frohman/Hook. So if Thayne Jasperson played that role, he didn't do it the whole week McGrath was out; he shared it with Paul Slade Smith.

And McGrath did the closing show, Sunday Sept 28.

Exactly. Paul Slade Smith and Rory Donovan were the understudies for Frohman/Hook. It's very hard for me to believe that Thayne Jasperson played Frohman/Hook at all.

It's also very hard for me to believe that Michael McGrath would sing at a barely audible level for two songs at the end of Act 1 (Sept 20 evening) -- and then remove himself from that performance -- unless he had absolutely no choice. His voice went out.