Jeannette I. Bayardelle to replace LaChanze in THE COLOR PURPLE

[Joshua488]

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

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:15am

When does LaChanze leave?

[uncageg]

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.

Updated On: 10/16/06 at 12:19 AM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:20am

Will LaChanze stay through December?

[myManCape]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:23am

Nov 5 was the original rumor

[mikem]

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.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:25am

yeah this board casts all the replacemnents.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:25am

I'm surprised Kenita isn't the replacement as well...I feel bad for her.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:27am

Maybe (and this is just speculation) Kenita is opting to do the tour.

[Joshua488]

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...!

[somethingwicked]

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.

Updated On: 10/19/06 at 06:37 AM

[Joshua488]

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

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:30am

I saw Kenita in the show in May and she was great! I hope she does go on tour with the show.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:57am

Great for Jeannette. I saw her as the SOL#1 soloist in Rent a couple of years ago and she was fantastic!

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:45pm

Does 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]

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]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:04pm

I think she'd perform both shows. It seems logical... at least to me.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 8:24pm

I saw Jeannette as Nettie. Don't intend on seeing the show again, but she should make a fine Celie.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 8:56pm

I saw kenita as Celie. Actually I wasn't that impressed, she was good but i wasn't at all blown away

[bigrab1018]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:13am

It's Official!

http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=538918

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:27am

Eh. I would have thought she would have stayed longer after she won her TONY

[RentBoy86]

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.