Keala Settle leaving Waitress

[JustAFan3]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 11:31pm

So it was Keala Settle's last night at Waitress tonight as well as Jenna Ushkowitz.  Jenna's was announced but Keala's seems to be a surprise to many.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 11:56pm

What? According to who?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 11:57pm

Oh, apparently, Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsryanvasquez/status/788928511381823489

Who's her replacement, then???

Updated On: 10/19/16 at 11:57 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 11:58pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLxHfaHBVdF/?taken-by=egroove

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 12:22am

I hear she's only leaving for a few weeks to work on another project.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 12:34am

"Happy Trails" is generally not used in the instance of a temporary, short-term leave.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 12:55am

Updated On: 10/20/16 at 12:55 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 1:05am

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLxYvq8gklx/

[jo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 1:54am

Check out one of her earlier Instagram messages --

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLjK2Z-AmRO/?taken-by=kealasettle

 

Could she be working on a project connected with Hugh Jackman?  Hugh has a tradition of giving away lottery tickets every Friday when he is filming a movie ( not so sure if he does the same thing with stage runs), which he says gives him a chance to know each cast and crew member better.

 

It's not likely his latest Wolverine movie called LOGAN...but probably THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH??  Keala was part of the Broadway actors who sang songs for the February reading for the FOX film project.  The movie will be filmed in NYC and it looks like they are in rehearsals now - along with a cast that includes Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson ( Mission Impossible), and Zendaya.

 

 

[jo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 2:05am

BWW report and photo on the February reading for the film project.

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Cynthia-Erivo-Keala-Settle-More-Join-Hugh-Jackman-for-THE-GREATEST-SHOWMAN-ON-EARTH-Reading-20160211

 

Filming is taking place in NYC, as later on announced.

Updated On: 10/20/16 at 02:05 AM

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 7:47am

I can't believe she left :/ I planned on seeing the show again with her. Maybe we will get an awesome replacement like Orfeh as Becky?

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 7:53am

So odd that there was no prior announcement of her departure and that her last performance was a Wednesday.

[Bway_Mill_Fan]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 7:54am

the hashtag for the Hugh lotto photo said Muriel...is Muriel's wedding going to be a movie?

[phan24]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:07am

Seems like a very sudden exit from the show, just a couple days ago she had tweeted about not being aware that the producers had changed the performance schedule during the election day week/November 8, so I assume she was staying through that.

 

It is pretty safe to assume though that she is leaving to be part of The Greatest Showman on Earth. Her current twitter profile says "Currently sporting a beard for an awesome film!!!!"

[JustAFan3]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:11am

It does seem so sudden and no announcement, I would have loved to see  her again.  She was amazing as Becky.  Do you think Charity will assume the role? I think she was on for her in Wednesday's matinee. Must be  hard to lose 2 of the 3 Waitresses at the same time.

[jo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:12am

The Bearded Lady! 

 

Does she get to lead the song about the so-called circus freaks --  THIS IS ME ?  Hugh debuted the song in his Australian one-man show, although it was clearly not a song for  the role he will play in the movie, P.T.Barnum. A showstopper song!

[jo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:20am

There is one tweet from Keala with the hashtag GSOE ( Greatest Showman on Earth).

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:22am

Overjoyed for any and all success Keala has (as she deserves plenty of it), but I echo that the no-announcement and Wednesday-night departure is strange.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:36am

jo said: "There is one tweet from Keala with the hashtag GSOE ( Greatest Showman on Earth)."

Here: https://twitter.com/kealasettle/status/788580983402561536

[electrode10]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 9:03am

It seems like Charity will be assuming the role. 

 

https://instagram.com/p/BLxLp-KBvNk/

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 9:29am

It seems especially strange because they didn't include this info in the press release about the new actress playing Dawn/Jenna's departure.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 9:43am

No one is Kaela but Charity is fabulous in the role too (and I will miss her Nurse Norma tremendously)

I would imagine that as long as both she and Jenna were leaving so close together, it made sense for them to leave together. Why would the new Dawn get acclimated to her new show with Kaela and have to adjust again a few weeks down the road. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 9:58am

As of now they haven't updated the website yet.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 10:00am

It's early in the morning. It's not even 10 am yet. 

[LizzieCurry]

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

VintageSnarker said: "As of now they haven't updated the website yet."

What's their track record? Better or worse than Hamilton?