How Much Did the Recasting Affect "Death Becomes Her"?- Page 2

[OhHiii]

How Much Did the Recasting Affect "Death Becomes Her"?#25

Posted: 6/15/26 at 3:54pm

Not for nothing, Megan and Jen missed A LOT of performances early in the run, which also made a dent in an audience base that would have further fanned word of mouth. It was the running narrative of the show for months. So it's clear that the show's popularity was built around them and their performances both individually, but their chemistry as a pair more importantly. I agree with others that had they had a full new crop of leads start at the same time, that could have been made into a moment of some kind, even if the names weren't crazy exciting. Not every Broadway leading woman can sing those roles, that's for sure, so it would've been a casting challenge regardless.

[singer234]

How Much Did the Recasting Affect "Death Becomes Her"?#26

Posted: 6/15/26 at 4:08pm

I'd also say that, while of course casting is not the be all end all in terms of a show's path to success, there were opportunities outside the two ladies and even Viola to explore. Ernest and Stefan are two roles that could easily be filled with a rotating door of TV and stage actors. Smart of Wicked to never let a cast member overstay their welcome-at least in consecutive principal contracts.

[EDSOSLO858]

How Much Did the Recasting Affect "Death Becomes Her"?#27

Posted: 6/15/26 at 5:00pm

I don’t think recasting affected this show at all.

DEATH BECOMES HER was, as other people have already said, a niche show based on a niche property for niche audiences. That crowd saw it when it was still the hot, new spectacle with a capital “S”, and rightfully so. It didn’t have a super long lifespan. 

Also, the show is heavily demanding and super physical, so it doesn’t lend itself that well to consistent stunt casting. 

I’m expecting the same spectacular drop-off to happen to THE LOST BOYS around early to mid-2027. 

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Updated On: 6/15/26 at 05:00 PM

[JMH27]

How Much Did the Recasting Affect "Death Becomes Her"?#28

Posted: 6/15/26 at 5:02pm

The argument of recasting has been made in the weekly grosses threads for months. One thing that hasn’t been said though, is I don’t blame Jen Simard at all for staying/extending. Acting is a very unpredictable profession and even though we can all be “sure” she’d be cast in all kinds of future roles, we, and she, don’t really know that for certain. I also understand the producers for not kicking her to the curb.