Lena Hall replacement - Little Shop?- Page 2

[mufish]

Posted: 12/31/22 at 9:07pm

I had forgotten Lena Hall originally was going to be leaving 1/8 - I'd hoped to see her and Matt Doyle in the show. This discussion plus my plans to go down to NYC MLK Day Weekend drove me to just go to the source. I mentioned in a tweet my hopes that she might extend by at least a week, and she replied in a way that made pretty clear she'll remain at least an additional week, without explicitly saying so. Perhaps they have a replacement lined up and are just waiting until after New Year's Day to make an announcement, which will be paired with a revised departure date for Lena?

For what it's worth, I followed up asking whether, if she were with the show for the additional week, there would be any planned absences the holiday weekend - she suggested to not count on her being on that Sunday.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/1/23 at 2:27pm

They should try and bring in Greene, even just for a few weeks. What a gift that would be. 

[multimattvids]

Posted: 1/1/23 at 3:06pm

Lena just announced on her Instagram live that she will now be in the show until "the beginning of February"

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/1/23 at 5:51pm

Tag said: "Can't they just bring in Ellen?"

 

DeGeneres?  Or Burstyn?? Or maybe Barkin???    All interesting choices!  

[ijest22]

Posted: 1/1/23 at 6:07pm

JSquared2 said: "Tag said: "Can't they just bring in Ellen?"



DeGeneres? Or Burstyn?? Or maybe Barkin??? All interesting choices!"

I know, I wanted to make the same response, but there’s only one Ellen in this context. 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 1/2/23 at 9:04am

Megan Hilty played Audrey at the Kennedy Center in 2018 -- in addition to the story about her being originally cast in the 2004 tour, which is true. She knows the role. But at this point in her career, she might not want to be the third replacement in a production that's been running for over 3 years.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/2/23 at 12:10pm

LarryD2 said: "Megan Hilty played Audrey at the Kennedy Center in 2018 -- in addition to the story about her being originally cast in the 2004 tour, which is true. She knows the role. But at this point in her career, she might not want to be the third replacement in a production that's been running for over 3 years."

 

Why not?  The current Seymour (6th replacement??) and the current Audrey are both recent Tony Award winners.

[BOAssistant711]

Posted: 1/3/23 at 10:54am

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm9WtTurXc8/?igshid=MWI4MTIyMDE=

Lena just announced she’s in Little Shop until February 5th! 

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 11:06am

Any rumblings on the next Seymour? I believe that Matt Doyle is only scheduled through the end of the month.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 11:17am

They should close up shop and send this out on a tour!

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 11:23am

Call_me_jorge said: "They should close up shop and send this out on a tour!"

The beauty of the production is the small intimate space it is in. Im afraid that would get lost in even some of the smallest touring houses.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 11:25am

I'm with Alex M. 

The point of this production is the tiny theater. And there's been no shortage of Little Shop productions throughout the country in the last 5 or 6 years. I think the Chicago area has had, like, 7 in the last 5 years? 

[Observation]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 11:33am

Alex M said: "Call_me_jorge said: "They should close up shop and send this out on a tour!"

The beauty of the production is the small intimate space it is in. Im afraid that would get lost in even some of the smallest touring houses."

Totally agree, I hope this thing runs forever and becomes a staple or almost right of passage for performers. The new "The Fantasticks" :) 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 4:39pm

I'm also hoping Megan Hilty steps into this production. I saw her Audrey in DC a few years back and it was unforgettable. Hand meets glove type of performance.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 4:45pm

The sweaty oracle crazy guy on Tik Tok says that HBO is looking to film Hedwig with Neil Patrick Harris. Is it at all possible that that project may be materializing at the moment and Lena may be leaving to reprise her Yitzhak...?

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 5:53pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "The sweaty oracle crazy guy on Tik Tok says that HBO is looking to film Hedwigwith Neil Patrick Harris. Is it at all possible that that project may be materializing at the moment and Lena may be leaving to reprise her Yitzhak...?"

Beetlejuice didn't get filmed and it was actually produced by Warner Brothers.....from a basic business perspective why would they not invest an additional $1-2M in filming a property they already own and have already invested $15-$20M in and knowing it will pay dividends in the long run in both licensing, merchandizing, and brand maintenance, to instead drop $10M-$15M on a wildcard that will be a flash in the pan on HBO or HBO Max? Let alone the fact that if Hedwig gets a new film adaptation or filmed performance trans activists will push for an actual trans performer to play the role and not just be a man in drag. Add to that while this might of been something the old HBO/WB leadership might of been interested in, its definitely the type of high budget prestige product that would be the first thing on the more budget conscious near leadership team at WarnerBros Discovery's chopping block. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 6:23pm

bdn223 said: "ElephantLoveMedley said: "The sweaty oracle crazy guy on Tik Tok says that HBO is looking to film Hedwigwith Neil Patrick Harris. Is it at all possible that that project may be materializing at the moment and Lena may be leaving to reprise her Yitzhak...?"

Beetlejuice didn't get filmed and it was actually produced by Warner Brothers.....from a basic business perspective why would they not invest an additional $1-2M in filming a property they already own and have already invested $15-$20M in and knowing it will pay dividends in the long run in both licensing, merchandizing, and brand maintenance, to instead drop $10M-$15M on a wildcard that will be a flash in the pan on HBO or HBO Max? Let alone the fact that if Hedwig gets a new film adaptation or filmed performance trans activists will push for an actual trans performer to play the role and not just be a man in drag. Add to that while this might of been something the old HBO/WB leadership might of been interested in, its definitely the type of high budget prestige product that would be the first thing on the more budget conscious near leadership team at WarnerBros Discovery's chopping block."

Hedwig is not trans. JCM has made that clear.

[7thbighero]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 7:17pm

Matt Doyle is with the show until March 3rd

[barcelona20]

Posted: 1/4/23 at 8:00pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "The sweaty oracle crazy guy on Tik Tok says that HBO is looking to film Hedwigwith Neil Patrick Harris. Is it at all possible that that project may be materializing at the moment and Lena may be leaving to reprise her Yitzhak...?"

I'm all for pretty much anything Hedwig related but this just seems like strange timing.

[Jesse St. James]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:51pm

Evan Alexander Smith is returning to understudy Seymour next month after Matt Doyle leaves. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 12:11am

LuPita2 said: "
Megan Hilty is mourning the devastating loss of 4 of her family members. Her focus wont be entertaining anyone for a very long time. The mere suggestion is insensitive and distasteful.

"

Did i miss the "sorry, i was clearly out of line" apology for this unhinged post or nah

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 1:11am

I saw Lena tonight and just adored her. Might need to go back once more before she leaves. 

[tthomas76]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 3:58am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "LuPita2 said: "
Megan Hilty is mourning the devastating loss of 4 of her family members. Her focus wont be entertaining anyone for a very long time. The mere suggestion is insensitive and distasteful.

"

Did i miss the "sorry, i was clearly out of line" apology for this unhinged post or nah"

I never saw one... lol

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/1/23 at 11:20pm

Saw Lena tonight, and she was LEAGUES better than Tammy was if you can see her this week you absolutely should

the whole show has such a weird great energy now, Bryce as Orin makes ALOT of bold choices and Brad Oscar is super fun as Mushnik

Matt Doyle is out with Covid so Evan Alexander Smith was on as Seymour, he was so charming and the audience really cheered when he finally kissed Audrey (he even did a little fist pump) 

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 2/1/23 at 11:47pm

pmensky said: "Hedwig is not trans. JCM has made that clear."
 

Hedwig isn't a trans woman, but in the article you're referring to JCM specifically says that Hedwig's discovery is, "No, I'm myself. I'm a gender of one. I'm nonbinary."
So, I think people's discomfort with a cis actor playing the role is understandable. You can't really label Hedwig, but they absolutely are not within the gender binary.

Anyways, sorry, back to the topic of the thread.