Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#0Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:01am
This came straight from LaChanze herself at the stage door.
Has this been announced/speculated? I did a search, yet found nothing.
Also, has anyone seen Jeannette as Celie? (Jeannette is a swing in the company and is also one of two understudies for Celie and Nettie; Kenita R. Miller being the other.)
Updated On: 10/16/06 at 12:01 AM
#1re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:15amWhen does LaChanze leave?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#2re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:19am
I saw the show last year on the 16th of November and Jeannette was in for Renee Elise Goldsberry as Nettie.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
Updated On: 10/16/06 at 12:19 AM
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#3re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:20amWill LaChanze stay through December?
myManCape
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/26/05
#4re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:23amNov 5 was the original rumor
"Have they come yet?"
#5re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:23am
LaChanze said at the stage door about a month ago that her last day will be November 5 -- not sure if there's any more recent update.
I'm a little surprised that Kenita Miller isn't the new Celie if they're giving the part to a current standby, given that she's gotten really excellent reviews on this board for her performance.
"What was the name of that cheese that I like?"
"you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start"
"well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#6re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:25am
yeah this board casts all the replacemnents.
#7re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:25amI'm surprised Kenita isn't the replacement as well...I feel bad for her.
#8re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:27amMaybe (and this is just speculation) Kenita is opting to do the tour.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#9re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:47am
LaChanze does leave November 5.
Good speculation, DottieD'Luscia. I believe LaChanze said that Kenita is leaving as well, so it makes sense...!
#10re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 6:37am
Good for Jeannette!!
I don't think she has gone on as Celie, but she has been on quite a bit for Nettie. When I saw the show, she was on for Virgina Woodruff as the lead Church Lady, and she was great in that role as well. I was also able to see her as the SOL soloist in a RENT tour a few years back, and she was fantastic in that too.
I am sure she'll make an incredible Celie.
Joshua488, Jeanette isn't a standby for Celie. She is a Swing who also covers the roles of Celie and Nettie. Kenita is the only standby in the company.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 10/19/06 at 06:37 AM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#11re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 6:52am
Pardon me... I just wrote what LaChanze said without double-checking the particulars. She said, "My standby is taking over" and my friends said, "Ooh, Kenita!" and she corrected them with, "No, Jeannette."
Also, just as in some other shows such as Hairspray, Kenita R. Miller is not credited as a standby; just an understudy... though, I suppose TECHNICALLY she is a standby. Jeannette is one of two swings who are also credited as understudies.
Updated On: 10/16/06 at 06:52 AM
#12re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:30amI saw Kenita in the show in May and she was great! I hope she does go on tour with the show.
#13re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:57amGreat for Jeannette. I saw her as the SOL#1 soloist in Rent a couple of years ago and she was fantastic!
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe
#14re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:45pmDoes anyone know how early one should be if they wanted to do student rush that day (With the show at 3 and the box office opening at noon)?
jess20882
Broadway Star Joined: 9/21/06
#15re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 2:52pm
just to make sure people know - november 5th (sunday) has a 2pm matinee and a 7:30pm evening performance...a lot of broadway shows change their schedules this time of year.
and on that note - does anyone know if lachanze will be performing both shows or will she end with one or the other?
she'll be missed...
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#16re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:04pmI think she'd perform both shows. It seems logical... at least to me.
#17re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 8:24pmI saw Jeannette as Nettie. Don't intend on seeing the show again, but she should make a fine Celie.
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
#18re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/16/06 at 8:56pmI saw kenita as Celie. Actually I wasn't that impressed, she was good but i wasn't at all blown away
bigrab1018
Leading Actor Joined: 10/9/05
#19re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:13am
It's Official!
http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=538918
"Billy, put down that phylactery...we're Episcopalian." - Spelling Bee
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#20re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:27amEh. I would have thought she would have stayed longer after she won her TONY
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#21re: Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE
Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:09am
Me too. But she's been having vocal problems because the score is so vocally demanding, so maybe she just opted to go and save her voice while she could.
She said she wants to return to the show eventually, so that's always a good sign. At least she didn't leave cursing the show like some other people.
Videos