Jordan Fisher—DEH

http://www.playbill.com/article/jordan-fisher-will-play-title-role-in-broadways-dear-evan-hansen

While its super exciting that a person of color will be in the title role, I cant help but think...is this the beginning of stunt casting for the show?

Yeah, the vast majority of people will hear his name and say “who?”

This is not stunt casting. It is, however, a terrific casting choice. I think he’ll be great in the role.

SouthernCakes said: "I can’t help but laugh at that picture!! He looks way too old for the role! And he’s just way too “cool” for that outfit. None of that rings true.

And this is def stunt casting. He’s been on Dancing With The Stars, Rent Live. He’s not a nobody. Just because he’s not Bette Midler doesn’t mean it’s not stunt casting."

OMG. Someone being on television before (or being famous) doesn't make it stunt casting! If that were the case, 95% of principal roles on Broadway right now would be considered stunt casting.

Updated On: 12/3/19 at 11:01 AM

Stunt casting, to me, means hiring someone famous to sell tickets even if they are lacking in talent. Melanie B in RENT comes to mind. Adam Driver or Bryan Cranston are famous but I would hardly consider their work last season as stunt casting.

Jordan Fisher is incredibly talented and sings like a dream. Yeah hes too old for the role (isnt he replacing a 14 year old?) but I would love to see him tackle this. Great casting.

JDonaghy4 said: "Stunt casting, to me, means hiring someone famous to sell tickets even if they are lacking in talent. Melanie B in RENT comes to mind. Adam Driver or Bryan Cranston are famous but I would hardly consider their work last season as stunt casting.

Jordan Fisher is incredibly talented and sings like a dream. Yeah hes too old for the role (isnt he replacing a 14 year old?) but I would love to see him tackle this. Great casting."

Andrew Barth Feldman is 17 -- the actual age of the character. But he is the only person to play the role who has been the character's age. Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, Taylor Trensch, et al. were all in their 20s (Taylor nearly 30) when they played the role. Fisher is 25.

I’m personally not a Jordan Fisher fan, but I’m intrigued as to what he’s going to bring to the role. Most things I’ve seen with him seems like he tends to oversing (unnecessary vocal runs, etc), so I wonder if he’s going to rein it in a little bit.

Jordan is a very popular Gamer and he is good friends with some of the top Gamers in the world, e.g., Ninja. Gamers promoting a Broadway show is a young untapped market which could be great for Broadway and its future. Besides, Jordan has the talent and personality to make this a win for both sides.

I would say Jordan Fisher is just as big a “name” as Taylor Trench or Noah Galvin. I’d hardly call it stunt casting, although he will definitely bring in some new fans to the show. In my opinion stunt casting is bringing someone in with no stage credits just for their name. After all “stunt” implies some level or danger or risk, casting a trained theater performer with Broadway credits is hardly a risk. Even Bette Middler wasn’t stunt casting, we all knew she would be wonderful. I would consider her star casting, which I think it notably different. Stunt casting is when Chicago brings in Cuba Gooding Jr, a person with no theater credits who was cast purely to generate buzz and sell tickets. It is that element of “I wonder if he will be good” that makes it a stunt casting.

Brooks0214 said: "Can he sing these songs 8 times a week though? And is he THAT good on an actor for this role?"

I certainly see no reason to believe he cant handle the vocals- at least as well as previous actors have-- and he did 8 shows a week in Hamilton. This seems to me to be a solid choice, and if he also happens to bring in gamers or disney fans or whoever, so be it.

Wick3 said: "I know it doesn't matter but are they casting a POC for the role of Heidi Hansen too?"

Since Jessica Phillips only recently joined the cast (November 26), I'd say it's unlikely but not impossible.

InTheBathroom1 said: "I like Jordan but he feels too old and too cool for the role. Or is that just me?"

Not just you. I’ve seen a lot of people saying that, and I also felt like he was too “cool” for Mark in Rent Live. But Rent Live is a whole other story. Lol

RWPrincess said: "I'm kind of surprised that Andrew didn't sign for another year given how young he is. I hope he lands somewhere else great quickly. Now I need to make sure to see him in this role before he leaves.

I do think Jordan will be great at this role. I don't consider him a stunt cast since he has theater experience already but certainly one of the bigger names they've had in the cast. He will probably only do 6 shows a week like the other main Evans."

Anyone think it’s possible that it’s not Andrew’s decision to leave the show? I originally interpreted the tweet as him being told that he has to leave the show. I could’ve just been reading it wrong; Not trying to stir up rumors or anything.

TobiasRagg said: "RWPrincess said: "I'm kind of surprised that Andrew didn't sign for another year given how young he is. I hope he lands somewhere else great quickly. Now I need to make sure to see him in this role before he leaves.

I do think Jordan will be great at this role. I don't consider him a stunt cast since he has theater experience already but certainly one of the bigger names they've had in the cast. He will probably only do 6 shows a week like the other main Evans."

Anyone think it’s possible that it’s not Andrew’s decision to leave the show? I originally interpreted the tweet as him beingtold that he has to leave the show. I could’ve just been reading it wrong;Not trying to stir up rumors or anything."

I just went and checked his twitter timeline. It definitely sounds like it wasn't his choice. Again, I wish him well and will definitely grab a ticket now to see him before Jan 26.