"Into the Woods" Casting Question

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:39pm

Why was Bernadette replaced before the Tonys?

[wiggum2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:45pm

She wasn't replaced, IIRC she only had a 6 month contract so she left the production before the tony awards

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:07pm

OK. I was looking at the Tony video on bluegobo and wondering why I saw Phylicia Rashad. (Sorry if I spelled that incorrectly)

Thank you.

[flamingo]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:21pm

Just a few details: Bernadette left "Into the Woods" on March 30, 1988. She started shooting "Slaves of New York" on April 4, 1988. (She had the committment to Slaves and so couldn't stay in ITW longer.)

[philcrosby]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 12:53pm

Exactly right. Bernadette was not originally to be the Witch in the original Broadway production (was it Buckley supposed to do it?). When someone was needed to come into the production fairly quickly, Lapine and Sondheim went to Peters, who agreed as long as they were OK with the fact she could only stay in six months.

I saw Bernadette do it, she really mined the comedy out of it. Also Saw Cleo Laine on tour and Julia Mackenzie in London.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 12:55pm

I think Buckley was supposed to do it, but why didn't she?

[Jon]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 1:54pm

Buckley was the first choice and did the workshops. Then they asked Patti Lupone, and she chose Anything Goes instead. Ellen Foley played the role in the San Diego tryout, and BP came in for Broadway.

Ellen Foley eventually played the role on Broadway. She was he last witch.

[Action2]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 4:35pm

I think she was "exhausted"...or that is what I heard (note...this is an Alter Boyz reference).