Entire Broadway company of HAIR to star in London production

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 10:08am

Beginning April 1 at the Gielgud in advance of an April 14 opening.

http://www.theatermania.com/london/news/11-2009/broadway-company-of-hair-to-transfer-to-londons-gi_22851.html

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 10:24am

Wow. Has this ever happened before?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 10:48am

So are they going to close the Broadway one or just completely re-cast it? I am leaning towards the former.

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 10:49am

Isn't there a thread already covering this topic?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 11:17am

Wow. Has this ever happened before?

Yes. Both The History Boys and Hamlet transferred here with their full cast intact.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:27pm

They're completely recasting the Bway production. Should be interesting.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:30pm

The Hamlet cast, while all British, isn't the same cast from The West End. Geraldine James replaced Penelope Wilton as Gertrude, and there might have been a few other changes, as well.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:33pm

I wonder if they'll snag Eden Espinosa the second time around.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:33pm

That seems expensive.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:38pm

Mmm, I could do without Espinosa as Sheila.
I think it's insane that they are re-casting the whole Broadway company and I really do wonder who they are going to get. Was Hanke a good Claude at the park? I'd love to see him in the role.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:41pm

MAYBE they'll be able to get Groff now? Just a random thought.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:44pm

They didn't want him the first time around. Why would that change now?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:56pm

AC, I know they also replaced the Laertes...I'm not sure who played the part before Gwilym Lee but it wasn't him.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 12:58pm

"They didn't want him the first time around. Why would that change now?"

I thought he didn't want it so he could do other projects.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 1:00pm

Boo for us, yay for them.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 1:02pm

I was told (by someone who is usually very reliable) that Groff wasn't offered the role, and the whole scheduling conflicts line was a patent courtesy. This could, of course, be inaccurate, but this friend has never been wrong in the past.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 1:12pm

I have heard, from very, very reliable sources, the complete opposite. The "conflicting schedule" story was true. The producers were waiting on Groff and wanted, very much, for him to be a part of the Broadway production.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 1:37pm

new cast coming to broadway

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/completely-new-cast-join-hair-broadway-march-2010/

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 1:47pm

I thought Groff declined to be part of the Broadway production due to the poor salary they were being offered given the financial issues the production encountered when they were trying to transfer.
Either way, I wonder who will be playing Claude. Also, I can't imagine this production of HAIR without Will Swenson's Berger...any ideas for his replacement?

[sgv123]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 2:11pm

I am sad they they are all leaving (and in 1 performance at that). I cannot imagine what the show will be like come March 9th.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 2:12pm

I agree. I'd love to fly to NY just to see them perform on Broadway one last time. I'm sure that final performance will be even more electric.

[sgv123]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 2:17pm

Does anyone have any guesses on when the final performance might be? March 8th or will there be a small gap until the new cast starts?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 2:23pm

If they're recasting the ENTIRE show and if the ENTIRE cast is leaving on the same day, then I don't think they'll be a pause in between unless they cancel the performances.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 2:27pm

March 8th is a Monday, unless they are planning a special finale for the Original Cast. Wonder if there will be any preview shows with the new cast before the March 9th debut. Going to be interesting.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 11/16/09 at 2:28pm

givesmevoice - I know things have transferred HERE before with the full cast in tact, but have things from Broadway ever transferred THERE before with the full cast in tact?