Kristin Davis, Cybill Shepherd, John Stamos & Elizabeth Ashley to Join THE BEST MAN in July

[Will42]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:12pm

Golden Globe Award winner Cybill Shepherd, Emmy Award nominee John Stamos, Emmy Award nominee Kristin Davis and Tony Award winner Elizabeth Ashley will join the cast of the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Gore Vidal’s THE BEST MAN this July when original cast members Candice Bergen, Eric McCormack, Kerry Butler and Angela Lansbury depart the production.

Shepherd, Stamos and Davis will begin performances on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 7:00pm, while Ashley will begin on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 7:00pm.

Original cast members James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Jefferson Mays, as well as Mark Blum, who replaced the injured Michael McKean, will remain with the production through its final performance on Sunday, September 9, 2012.

Gore Vidal’s THE BEST MAN also features Curtis Billings, Corey Brill, Tony Carlin, Donna Hanover, Sherman Howard, Olja Hrustic, Bill Kux, James Lecesne, Dakin Matthews, Angelica Page, Fred Parker, Jr. and Amy Tribbey.

Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN received 2012 Tony Award nominations for Best Revival of a Play as well as a Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play nomination for James Earl Jones. The critically-acclaimed production of Gore Vidal’s THE BEST MAN, which was originally scheduled to play through July 8, 2012, has been extended twice, now playing through Sunday, September 9, 2012 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at Telecharge.com or by calling [phone].

The production is directed by Drama Desk Award winner MICHAEL WILSON (The Orphans Home Cycle Part I, II and III, Dividing The Estate). The design team includes Tony and Drama Desk Award winning scenic designer DEREK McLANE (33 Variations, Anything Goes), Tony and Drama Desk Award winning lighting designer KENNETH POSNER (The Coast of Utopia, Part 2 – Shipwreck), five-time Tony Award nominated costume designer ANN ROTH (The Book of Mormon), Drama Desk Award winning sound designer JOHN GROMADA (Seminar, The Orphans' Home Cycle) and projection designer PETER NIGRINI (Fela!, 9 to 5: The Musical).

Gore Vidal’s THE BEST MAN is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, INFINITY Stages, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Barbara Manocherian/Michael Palitz, The Broadway Consortium/Ken Mahoney, Kathleen K. Johnson, Fifty Church Street Productions, Larry Hirschhorn/Bennu Productions, Patty Baker, Paul Boskind and Martian Entertainment, Wendy Federman, Mark S. Golub & David S. Golub, Cricket Hooper Jiranek, Stewart F. Lane & Bonnie Comley, Carl Moellenberg, Harold Thau, Will Trice.

Visit www.thebestmanonbroadway.com for information.

Read more: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kristin-Davis-Cybill-Shepherd-John-Stamos-Elizabeth-Ashley-to-Join-GORE-VIDALS-THE-BEST-MAN-in-July-20120612#ixzz1xbzthaax

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:13pm

Open the butcher shop, the hams have arrived.

[random person 112]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:16pm

The only one that worries me is Stamos, the others sound wonderful.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:30pm

wow what a major downgrade on every level, the gross is going to crash and burn.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:31pm

OMG!!!!!!!! CYBIL!!!!!!!!!! SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:32pm

The only one that worries me is Stamos, the others sound wonderful.

Really? I think he's actually perfect for the part. The one that worries me is Elizabeth Ashley who does not know how to NOT ham it up.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:32pm

I wonder why McCormick and Butler are leaving. I know he has a show coming to TNT but I thought it was already filmed. And I figured Butler would want to work especially since she seems to be having a lot of fun. Maybe they just saw the opportunity to stick in a "name" and didn't renew her contract.

[Will42]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:33pm

Elizabeth Ashley already played the part in the 2000 revival. How was she?
Stamos seems like a very predictable choice. I thought of him as possible replacement since Eric McCormack announced that he will be leaving on July 8th.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:37pm

I wonder if Cybill Shepherd will call Christine Baranski to get some tips on how to be funny.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:46pm

OOH! I'll totally go see this again!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:49pm

I'm SO dissapointed. I booked a trip for July 20th just to see this with Angela Lansbury (my favorite actor of all time). I even made sure to get tickets before July 22nd, which was the date of their first extension, assuming that if any cast changes were to happen- they would at least wait till then.

I am going to get a refund on my tickets. I will bitch and moan as much as I need to get a refund. I don't want the producers to have my money with that cast. The only way I excuse any of them not being in it is if they get hit by a car.

Do you think i'll have any problem getting a refund stating major cast changes as my reason? I bought my tickets way before this cast was announced.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 4:58pm

Well personally I think it's rather sad when someone goes to see a person and not to see a great production of a good play. Not seeing it will be much more of a loss to you (assuming you like theatre and not just seeing "celebrities") than it will be to the producers.

But to answer your question, since Ms. Lansbury's name is above the title I believe you can get your money back -- anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Regarding the cast changes -- I think they sound quite good. Even though I'm not a big John Stamos fan, I suspect he will give the role an even more dynamic performnce than Mr. McCormack gave. Frankly I didn't find his performance to nearly as outgoing personality wise as I'd have liked.

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:00pm

@emo_geek... Lansbury is in the show through July 22. Read the articles... they say Ashley starts July 24.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:12pm

Well there is 4 of your presenters for next years TONYS.

[Will42]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:16pm

I think it's totally understandable if a person wants to see the show because his favorite actor is in it (that's why they have all those names above the title - they sell tickets). Especially when it's a 86 years old acting legend and there's not telling if it's her last Broadway show.
Anyway, Emo_geek should be fine since Lansbury is not leaving until July 24.

[Sauja]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:19pm

This makes SO much more sense now that I've stopped confusing Elizabeth Stanley and Elizabeth Ashley. I could NOT wrap my head around how the former was a replacement for Angela Lansbury.

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:20pm

I always thought Cybil Shepherd and Candice Bergen were the same person! lol very interesting Cybil is taking Candice's place.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:27pm

Candice is the one with the puppet brother. (read her bio, for the young posters)

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:30pm

@Patash- I usually agree with you- except when it involves my favorite actress. Not one of my favorites, my actual favorite. This is the lady that pushed me to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Just look at my 16 year old face when meeting her- that's excitement and ambition in my eyes.

@SexyPants88- you saved me a heart attack. My doctor thanks you.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:33pm

No need to get all emo about it.




EDIT: Oh. Sorry.

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 05:33 PM

[Overkill]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 5:51pm

I'd rather see Stamos replacing Ricky Martin in EVITA...

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 05:51 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 6:10pm

I'd rather see Lady Gaga replacing Ricky Martin in EVITA. Just think of it, an Evita look-alike playing Che!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 6:49pm

How strange that Ashley is coming in a 2 weeks later giving me the exact window I needed.

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 06:49 PM

[Will42]

Posted: 6/13/12 at 12:54pm

I wonder why Ms. Lansbury only agreed to extend till July 24?
Is it because she has other engagement coming up or just wants to spend the rest of the summer in Ireland like she usually does?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/13/12 at 3:28pm

I wonder why McCormick and Butler are leaving. I know he has a show coming to TNT but I thought it was already filmed. And I figured Butler would want to work especially since she seems to be having a lot of fun. Maybe they just saw the opportunity to stick in a "name" and didn't renew her contract.

Butler just adopted her second child (she gets the baby this week,) so she's leaving in order to spend time with her family.