Javier Munoz Will Be Alternate in HAMILTON on Broadway- Page 2

[SantanaLopez]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:38pm

"Hogan, you make many excellent points. But I must disagree with you about the star worship aspect.  I think it is truly a thrill to see the creator in the role. It's not something that we have the opportunity to experience all that often. "

Yeah. That about sums it up for me. Couldn't have said it any better myself!

 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:46pm

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 01:46 PM

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:47pm

I would just like to put it out there that if anyone is interested in selling tickets to Javier's performances, I'd be interested in potentially buying. I've been a huge fan of his since the earliest of Heights, saw him at the Public, and would love to see him again.

[BonnieBanks]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:47pm

With all due respect Hogan, this has nothing to do with "Star worship". I just happen to want to see the original cast with the original Leads. Just as I'm sure many others did not want to see Gypsy without Patti Lupone or The Visit without Chita. At the end of the day, It's our money and our prerogative and for some of us, we can only see the show once. I am flying overseas to see this show, I think I have every right to pick what night I want to go on. 

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 01:47 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:47pm

I don't think anyone is trying to disparage Javier, who I'm sure is fantastic in the role. When you sell out months of tickets for a creator-starring musical, it is extremely disingenuous and sneaky to withhold this information for so long. I've loved all the Hedwigs I've seen, but when I bought tickets for the JohnCameron Mitchell run, I would have been miffed if they later announced that even, say, a Neil Patrick Harris had been scheduled to do the show. It would always be crappy to not announce an alternate for a star-driven show in advance. I think the special issue is how many people want to see the man who wrote the role. The producers know that.

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 01:47 PM

[Kimbo]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:48pm

All good points, HogansHero.

Notwithstanding that, after a Tony-winning Best Musical, which he also starred in, there will be some people who purchased tickets specifically to see Lin-Manuel Miranda.  And there will be people, like us, who ALREADY once before purchased tickets thinking we would see Lin-Manuel, and while not in the least disappointed by the understudy/alternate we saw, ONLY purchased tickets to see it again so that we could finally see Miranda perform the role himself.

In light of all that, and what we're already seeing on this thread, regardless of whether or not he's billed above the title, whether 'the star is the show', 'the show is the ensemble', etc., they'll have to put a policy in place to make allowances or risk some royally pissed-off patrons, whether today or, even worse, when people show up at the door.  (Honestly, if the producers REALLY want to do the right thing, they should contact all ticket holders for those performances by email to inform them of the substitution and let them know how they've decided to handle it.  But I'm probably dreaming there.)

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 1:48pm

Double post

[sorano916]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 2:17pm

Just putting it out there, too: If anyone is selling their ticket because Javier is on, especially during previews, I would gladly buy it from you.

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 2:51pm

I wonder if the prices on StubHub for those performances will take a dive. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 3:20pm

Call it what you will, but when you want the "thrill" of seeing someone, I call that star worship. N.B., this is not an iconic performance that loses something with another actor. In fact many people have said that the think Javi is better, including Lin-Manuel.

[rjm516]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:08pm

This sucks. Should have been released months ago. I don't care that someone may be better than the star. This star is the creator who has devoted years and years of his life to bringing this project to Broadway. This is LMM's baby. I want to see him bringing it to life. It is NOT the same as getting there and having the star be sick or something. 

 

Also if I'm not mistaken that info is not on the website. 

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:08pm

I was holding my breath when I went to that page.  I have tix to a Wednesday matinee.  It looks like I'll get to see LMM.  *crosses fingers*  I keep checking it, because I'm a little obsessive and I can't be this lucky.  It seems too good to be true.  I definitely want to see LMM.  I may only get to see it once, so I want to see it with the original cast.  I definitely want to see the show with its creator.  It's the same as seeing Hedwig with JCM.  Of course LMM is going to say this other fellow is better.  He's a classy guy.  He also has to make sure people see the show without him in it.

 

[BOM]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 5:38pm

I'm glad ill be seeing it on a Wednesday night in august. Not that alternate would be bad but, I'm glad i'll be seeing LMM.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 5:50pm

Javier IS part of the original cast.  And to say they "should" have done this MONTHS ago,the actors didn't have contracts months ago, and they might not have even made the decision to DO an alternate one perf a week.

No matter when this was announced, folks weren't going to be happy.  There is nothing shady here -- but YOUR priorities and their priorities are not in the same stratosphere.

 

Here's the problem with all the people that want to switch their tickets.....if they allow you to do so, you will likely have to either accept horrible seats or wait several more months for comparable seats, they can't give you what they don't have.

 

I have to admit, when I opening the article, I was on the fence as to what I hoped would be there...Javier or LMM.  I DO know, I wouldn't have to consider switching -- I'd be fine either way.

[ZannaDo]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 5:52pm

Sneaky? Really? I would hardly call it sneaky. I'm sure there was plenty of discussion that went into planning his schedule and it may not have been finalized until recently. Javier went on Sundays off-Broadway if I remember correctly and Lin has been very open about the fact that he would be going on regularly on Broadway. They aren't required to put out a schedule for the alternate at all, you should all be thankful they published it in full. 

For the record, I have seen Javier and Lin and thought Javier was wonderful. They both had different strengths and weaknesses, so I wouldn't put one above the other, but the show loses absolutely nothing when Javier is on.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 6:25pm

I'd be happy to see this show at all, to be honest, regardless of who's in the title role.

[MrsMcG]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 7:02pm

No love from TicketMaster... no refunds, no exchanges.

I feel like a hypocrite by not fully and enthusiastically supporting the understudy/standby performance announcement this time around (I've been one myself many times... not on Bway, but still...)

I can really only get to see the show once, and I am a huge LMM fan, so I want to see him in it. Hopefully a friend or FOAF will want to take my tix off my hands!

btw - long time lurker, first time poster. Be kind!

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 07:02 PM

[BonnieBanks]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 7:06pm

I'm sorry but this is just unacceptable. Think what you want but this is underhanded and just plain deceitful and rude.

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 7:41pm

I've never seen Hamilton, but does anyone know why Lin has an alternate? I know this is actually kinda of good news because this means he might stay with the show a little longer and I know the show at the Public was a little under three hours but why an alternate? Is it demanding role?

[jessejaehoon]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 7:54pm

It's a very demanding role. Additionally, since Lin is the composer and it's a sung-through show, he needs to make sure that he's watching (either from the booth, the pit, or the audience) to make sure he can make changes where necessary. After the show opens it's probably to take a rest from this very demanding role, though he did say he'd be in the audience most times he's not playing Hamilton.

I've seen both Javi and Lin, by the way, and they're both great. I suppose that's no consolation for those who wanted to see Lin, but all I can really say is that you're in good hands.

[Sorry-Grateful]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 9:07pm

If anyone wants to sell back their ticket because Javier is performing that date, PM me. I'll buy it :)

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 9:10pm

"Javier went on Sundays off-Broadway if I remember correctly"

I don't think he had a consistent schedule off-Broadway. At least not in the beginning. I saw him on a Saturday.


"Honestly, if the producers REALLY want to do the right thing, they should contact all ticket holders for those performances by email to inform them of the substitution and let them know how they've decided to handle it.  But I'm probably dreaming there"

What about the people who bought tickets in person at the box office? Track them down too? You're suggesting producers should contact tens of thousands of people (literally) and let them reschedule [non-refundable] tickets at their convenience just because you're disappointed in a casting change? Dreaming is an understatement. The producers are not obligated to make sure you see Lin.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 9:23pm

I think it's kind of stretching it to say this is "ahead of time" after tickets have been on sale for so long.

[Pauly3]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 9:44pm

"I'm sorry but this is just unacceptable. Think what you want but this is underhanded and just plain deceitful and rude."

 

Seriously?  You know absolutely nothing about what, when, why or how decisions were made, yet you're convinced what has now been communicated is the result of underhandedness.  It's got to be black or white, doesn't it?  No in-between?  And everyone's out to stick it to ya?  I guess life just kinda sucks, doesn't it?

 

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 7/6/15 at 10:13pm

This is a crock. LMM must be reading his own press. If he can't play all the performances of his own show before it even opens, then someone who could should have been cast. This is not about "star worship," this is about a creative who knows no one would dare complain about his appearing whenever he wants to, in a show that is totally pre sold for months in advance. As several people have pointed out, there are no options, as there are no tickets available for any performances. 

One day LMM will be yesterday's news, and that will be okay too.