Have any lead performers ever pulled out a play during previews

[beacon1]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 1:37pm

Sorry if this has been covered before but I was just curious about any major players who might have pulled out before a play opens? Does the understudy/stand-in usually get the first offer to fill-in?

And, if an actor "expects" to be a production...is that to be construed as he expects to be doing it because he signed the paperwork OR he expects to do it unless something better comes along...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 1:46pm

In Moose Murders, Eve Arden was replaced by Holland Taylor in previews for the role of Hedda Holloway. I'm not sure why...but I guess it didn't matter, since Moose Murders only played 13 previews and 1 performance!

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 1:50pm

I'm not sure if this counts, but...

Did Henry Goodman actually make it to the critics before he got bounced after replacing Nathan Lane in The Producers? I was one of the lucky few to get to see Goodman muddle through the end of "The King of Broadway" and "Betrayed."

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 1:55pm

Arden knew the show was a turkey and asked to be let out of her contract.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:00pm

Margo: Do you know how many previews Eve Arden was in? Did you see her in it?

[Barihunk]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:11pm

Mary Tyler Moore was replaced by Patricia Hodges in Neil Simon's "Roses Dilemma".

Recently Dallas Roberts was replaced by Christian Slater in "Glass Menagerie".

It happens fairly infrequently, but it does happen. Sometimes a stand-by or understudy is used, but if time permits before opening, most producers will seek a suitable replacement "star".

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:11pm

Not sure how many previews Arden played, but it wasn't many. I think she left after the first week or so. And no, to my eternal regret, I never saw the show.

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:12pm

Chris Kattan pulled out of "The Frogs" very last-minute to be replaced by Roger Bart. I'm not sure whether the show was in previews yet or not.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:14pm

Wasn't Kattan fired?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:14pm

The Frogs was still in previews when Kattan was "replaced" (to put it kindly). The show opened with Bart.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:16pm

I was lucky enough to see Moose Murders (with Ms. Arden). Its the most famous flop I've seen, along with the play version of Harold and Maude.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:19pm

In 1944 Ethel Merman pulled out of 'Sadie Thompson' and was replaced by June Havoc. In 1959 Merman starred in 'Gypsy', a musical adapted from the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, playing the part of Madam Rose...June Havoc's mother.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:24pm

Dorothy Loudon left the role of Carlotta Vance in the 2002 Lincoln Center revival of Dinner at Eight after two weeks of performances (she was very ill at the time, and died a year later). Marian Seldes replaced and received a Tony nomination.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:26pm

My mom's friend Walter saw Moose Murders after Eve Arden was replaced. He was kind of upset that he didn't get to see her in the role, but so happy he was able to witness such a huge flop.

I'm glad I got to witness The Blonde in the Thunderbird and am excited as hell to witness In My Life! September 27th!

SouthFlMarc: Could you provide us with any details of Ms. Arden's performance and the show itself...if you remember how awful it was...thanks!
Updated On: 8/1/05 at 02:26 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:30pm

Steve Barton replaced Roger Rees in previews of The Red Shoes. The show itself was a flop that closed after five performances.
Updated On: 8/1/05 at 02:30 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:52pm

Barbara Barrie was fired from the current production of Fiddler on the Roof in previews for not seeming Jewish enough. Nancy Opel replaced.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:52pm

Pal Joey, circa 1976
Edward Villela (as Joey) played the first preview, a Friday, and said "No more". He was gone. Eleanor Parker (as Vera) played through Sunday afternoon, 4 performances, and also 'ankled' as Variety used to put it.

The understudies, Christopher Chadman and Joan Copeland, played the run which got lethal reviews.

More Joan Copeland: about the same time as Pal Joey, say a year either way, there was a disaster called Dr. Jazz at the Winter Garden that played about 6 weeks of previews and 5 performances. Joan Copeland had a featured above-the-title-billed role. Sometime about 3-4 weeks into the preview period, Ms. Copeland said to the effect, "This is ridiculous. The show is a mess and they keep cutting my role", so she 'ankled'.

I forget who took over, but I remember that the show had so little money in the till that they splashed paint that didn't match at all quite unartistically over Copeland's name on the front-of-the-house posters and never repainted the new actress's name in.

PS - Joan Copeland was Arthur Miller's sister.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:59pm

Did Betty Buckley make it to previews of 'Into The Woods'?

[Demitri2]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:00pm

We are talking about "pulling out" of a role as opposed to being fired, right? There's a big difference there. As far as the original question in regards to dibs on a role. I had a friend who was an understudy as Raul in "POTP" and would also fill in during vacations. When he asked if the role would eventually be his when the star left, he was told upfront that the role would never be his. Not wanting to be an understudy any longer and feeling a bit hurt, he left. So it seems there is no senority when it comes to Broadway.

[pab]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:01pm

Joel Grey replaced Robert Morse, who played the role of The Wizard in the San Francisco production of "Wicked", in the original Broadway cast.

Updated On: 8/1/05 at 03:01 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:04pm

Glebb-Buckley left Into the Woods in the very early stages of the show.

Ron Rifkin was the only member of the LA cast of The Paris Letter that was asked back for the New York production.

[logan30]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 9:34pm

During previews of MARILYN: THE MUSICAL (1983), the actress playing Monroe was fired and replaced by Allyson Reed.

LEGS DIAMOND: Christine Andreas' part was written out of the script during previews and she was let go.

I OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES (1980): Tony Curtis walked out of the show at intermission during the Los Angeles tryout. He was eventually replaced by Ron Leibman.

[CostumeGirl2]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 10:55pm

Chris Kattan was asked to "pull out" from the shows during previews. I know someone who worked at Lincoln Center last year and told me this. Apparently Kattan and Lane didn't see eye to eye and so he was asked to leave. And when Bart came in, he already knew the role, so from my understanding they had Bart in the wings for sometime.
Updated On: 8/2/05 at 10:55 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 11:10pm

Wicked wasn't in previews when Robert left the show. Joel Grey was hired between the San Fran porduciton and the Broadway one.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 11:15pm

Amanda Plummer left BUG at the Barrow Street Theatre right before it opened, leaving her understudy, Shannon Cochran, to deliver a tour-de-force that left me reeling.

Plus, Shannon has really nice abs.

P.S., BUG was the best show I've ever seen besides Wooster Group stuff. Maybe I should start a thread for it.

But anyway, yeah, Amanda Plummer.