Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
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Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
nycdncr
Leading Actor Joined: 7/25/04
#2re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 8:36amI've had the pleasure of working with Kate twice on White Christmas. In fact, we're braving the Minnesota cold together right now. She is AMAZING!!!!!
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 9:32am
June? JUNE?? Gee, talk about being prepared!!!
I have to admit, my first thought was REPLACEMENT? Already? I heard she was amazing! But...June. You'd think they'd have left a little room for mind changing, yes?
#3re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 9:47amWell, Gwynne is a British actress working here on an exchange with Actor's Equity. Presumably, her visa is going to expire, and she would not be able to extend even if she wanted to.
#4re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 9:54am
Haydn Gwynne's husband is in England, she has said that she only committed to BILLY ELLIOT for a very specific amount of time and that after her original contract expired she would go back home.
I'm sure the replacement is great, but I was hoping they'd go for a Broadway name to replace Gwynne.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#5re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 9:59amWasn't even thinking about the Equity exchange!
#6re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 3:38pmI am surprised Leah Hocking (who plays Billy's Mum and covers Mrs. Wilkinson) isn't being bumped up, since she was one of the final actresses in contention for the role when they didn't think they would be able to bring Haydn Gwynne here to open the show.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#7re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 4:02pm
Can we say now who the "big stars" were that they were considering to play Mrs. Wilkinson?
I remember someone on here constantly hinting that they were getting some big Broadway name to play the role. Maybe they were lying..
#8re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 4:07pmI don't know if I'd consider her a really big Broadway name, but weren't people mentioning Beth Leavel? I personally think she'd be wonderful, now having seen the show.
#9re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 4:14pmWiCkEDrOcKS, Toni Collette was in the mix for the role before her television pilot got picked up.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#10re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/25/08 at 4:34pmBecky Ann Baker.
Theatrelover3
Swing Joined: 11/26/08
#11re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/26/08 at 4:59amMake the most of seeing the brilliant Haydn Gwynne while she's on Broadway, you won't find a better actress for the role.
#12re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/26/08 at 9:14amToni Collette??!! I was hoping she would originate the role in Sydney last year, but that never eventuated either. Would it've been her Broadway debut?
#13re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/26/08 at 9:30am
boyfromoz2, no.
Collette previously appeared on Broadway in a Tony-nominated performance as Queenie in Michael John LaChiusa's THE WILD PARTY (and was supposed to come over to replace Natasha Richardson in the Sam Mendes revival of CABARET before Equity killed the deal.)
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#14re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/26/08 at 9:37am
Wow, never knew that. In Australia, she's not really seen as a musical theatre person. But now relistening to the Wild Part cast recording, I totally recognise her voice, and can imagine her as a really sassy Queenie (not so much as Sally Bowles though).
As they say, you learn something new every day :)
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#15re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/26/08 at 12:10pmIt's funny but I thought of Karen Ziemba while watching Haydn.
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
Theatrelover3
Swing Joined: 11/26/08
#16re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/27/08 at 8:38amApparently this news article isn't true, Haydn Gwynne's contract isn't up until mid July.
sgv123
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/06
nycdncr
Leading Actor Joined: 7/25/04
#18re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 11/27/08 at 12:33pmIt is indeed true. I'm working with Kate Hennig at the moment. She is taking over mid-July. She begins rehearsals sometime in June.
theatrefan44
Swing Joined: 4/7/09
#19re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 5/15/09 at 11:18am
Reading this article Haydn Gwynne is now staying on longer so Kate Hennig isn't obviously starting in July.
It's great she is staying longer, gives us all more time to see her in the role she created for the stage.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129248-DIVA_TALK_Chatting_with_Tony_Nominees_Shelley_Plimpton_Olivo_Gwynne_and_Damiano/pg2
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#20re: Haydn Gwynne's Replacement (Billy Elliot)
Posted: 5/15/09 at 11:26am
^^^
I was just about to mention that. She's here till September :]
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