Krystina Alabado To Replace Ashley Park In Mean Girls

[MauraLovesMusicals]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 12:44pm

Just announced a half and hour ago, any first thoughts from anyone?

personally, i’m a huge fan of ashley, as you can see by my profile, but i’ve really loved krystina in everything she’s done (girl has a resume miles long!) so i trust her with this. the only thing i’m a little nervous about is how this might affect sales. with a lot of people i’ve talked to, one of their main reasons for going was to see ashley. it’s one of the first major replacement too

Updated On: 2/12/19 at 12:44 PM

[MyLife]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 12:49pm

I love Ashley as much as the next BWW member but I don't think she's a household name for most of America and their teen/tween children who are buying a bulk of the tickets.

 

The names Mean Girls and Tina Fey are enough to sell tickets.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 12:56pm

They are trading up.

Alabado sings like a dream.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 12:57pm

Ashley Park may have contributed to fans excitement in going, but nobody is buying a ticket solely for her.

[stephaniehsueh]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:00pm

Sad to see Ashley go and I loved her portrayal of Gretchen. I guess the upside of the Mean Girls brand (and Tina's following) is that I think the show will uphold itself for quite a while without them having to rely on any single name to lift sales. Looking forward to what Krystina will bring to the table. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:06pm

Interesting choice! I think Alabado is vey good, but she does have very different energy. The times I’ve seen her onstage, she always has a quieter, gentler presence onstage, even when she’s belting her face off. Doesn’t mean she won’t be great, but it’ll be a different take on the role for sure. Hope she has a great run in the show!

You can probably count one hand the number of ticket sales they’ll lose each week because of this, if they lose any at all. Pretty much all of the people who care about seeing her will most likely be getting their tickets through the lottery or rush, and they’ll sell all those tickets regardless.

[hmaybway]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:10pm

Sad to see Ashley go - congrats to her on a great run and a Tony nom! Can't wait to see what she does next. 

I'm very excited to see Krystina in this role!! Congrats to her! 

[MauraLovesMusicals]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:11pm

JBroadway said: "Interesting choice! I think Alabado is vey good, but she does have very different energy. The times I’ve seen her onstage, she always has a quieter, gentler presence onstage, even when she’s belting her face off. Doesn’t mean she won’t be great, but it’ll be a different take on the role for sure. Hope she has a great run in the show!

You can probably count one hand the number of ticket sales they’ll lose each week because of this, if they lose any at all. Pretty much all of the people who care about seeing her will most likely be getting their tickets through the lottery or rush, and they’ll sell all those tickets regardless."

the only thing i’m a little nervous about (and in the grand scheme of my inconsequential opinions, doesn’t mean much) is that alabado, from the work of hers that i’ve been exposed to, reads very angry on stage. because she’s done so much and the fact that most of her work is regional, maybe i’ve missed something but it’ll be interesting how she takes the character of gretchen

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:12pm

Park doesn't mean a thing for ticket sales. And that's not knocking her talents –– she's just not a "star." The property is the star.

There are an extremely limited number of names that really impact box office on Broadway, and it's people like Bette Midler, Amy Schumer, Daniel Radcliffe, and Bryan Cranston. Even "semi-stars" have had flops (Tony Danza, Elisabeth Moss, Jeff Daniels/Michelle Williams, Ethan Hawke, Tony Shalhoub, etc.)

[AntV]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:14pm

Does this mean everyone else has extended? It seems unlikely, no?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:20pm

Why are you "nervous"? Do you have personal stakes in the wellbeing of the show?

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:20pm

MauraLovesMusicals said: "the only thing i’m a little nervous about (and in the grand scheme of my inconsequential opinions, doesn’t mean much) is that alabado, from the work of hers that i’ve been exposed to, reads very angry on stage. because she’s doneso much and the fact thatmost of her work is regional, maybe i’ve missed something but it’ll be interesting how she takes the character of gretchen"

Stop worrying. She's not even in rehearsal yet. This is why the show has a director, and a creative team who signed off on her casting based on an audition. And of course she's going to have a different energy -- she's not going to be replicating Park's performance.

[stephaniehsueh]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:20pm

AntV said: "Does this mean everyone else has extended? It seems unlikely, no?"

No, I think we'll most likely hear more of these types of announcements in the coming weeks.

[Madison7]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:25pm

I'm obviously sad to see Ashley go, as I love what she did with her portrayal of Gretchen. But I always love when new cast members come in and put their spin on a character. As for the rest of the OBC, I'm not sure. I feel like Erika and Kyle may extend their contract though. (but don't quote me on that)

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 1:53pm

MauraLovesMusicals said: "the only thing i’m a little nervous about is how this might affect sales."

If the show isn't nervous about this, not sure why you should be.

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 2:06pm

Madison7 said: "I feel like Erika and Kyle may extend their contract though. (but don't quote me on that)"

Too late.

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 2:15pm

Very happy for Krystina!

Does anyone know what's next for Ashley Park? I thought she was amazing in K-POP as Mwe. Speaking of K-POP, is it going off-bway? I know Jason Tam is now in Be More Chill but was hoping to see K-POP again at some point.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 2:26pm

JBroadway said: "Interesting choice! I think Alabado is vey good, but she does have very different energy. The times I’ve seen her onstage, she always has a quieter, gentler presence onstage, even when she’s belting her face off. Doesn’t mean she won’t be great, but it’ll be a different take on the role for sure. Hope she has a great run in the show!

You can probably count one hand the number of ticket sales they’ll lose each week because of this, if they lose any at all. Pretty much all of the people who care about seeing her will most likely be getting their tickets through the lottery or rush, and they’ll sell all those tickets regardless. "

not even on one hand. You can barely count on one finger! Ashley is not a draw whatsoever... 

 

I love Krystina! Her take on the mistress in Evita is mind blowing! I have to rewind her scene on the naughty version of the Evita tour five times, at least, to be pleased. Her voice is amazing and I’m glad she’s seeing more star role opportunities.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 2:39pm

My first thought was that maybe she's going into My Fair Lady during Benanti's absences...

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 3:49pm

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "My first thought was that maybe she's going into My Fair Lady during Benanti's absences..."

Never trust first thoughts.

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 3:52pm

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "My first thought was that maybe she's going into My Fair Lady during Benanti's absences..."

Benanti doesn't have absences, she has an altered schedule that is posted on the Telecharge site.

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 4:33pm

Ashley Park is doing nothing to increase those sales. The show will be fine.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 4:57pm

Laura has scheduled dates off for concerts, Kerstin will go on during those shows.

Ashley is great in the show, and I look forward to see what she does next.  

[Cady heron]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 5:24pm

What is the reason for her departure?? It seems so sudden.

[getupngo]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 5:24pm

Ashley is great. but I F*****G hate that caw caw caw bird flapping thing she does a few times in the show. curious to see krystinas take on the role