Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
I raise my cup to André de Shields. What a perfectly executed final curtain call and song, and kind introductory remarks by Eva. I'm sure lots of tears were shed on that Kerr stage today.
Break all the legs in Death of a Salesman this fall... and keep climbing that mountain!
Featured Actor Joined: 3/2/11
ACL2006 said: "Any getting to see Andre's final show tonight? Has he missed any shows this week?"
Just came back. Such an amazing experience--he got several standing ovations and the audience energy was electric. Perfect ending to my theatre weekend.
Wish I could’ve been there for Andre’s last performance as Hermes last night. Break a leg at Salesman.
Lovely moments:
Keep Climbing
Andre sings Believe in Yourself from The Wiz at last night’s curtain.
I guess we'll find out tomorrow evening who is playing Hermes.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
It's haunting to go to the show's website and there's not even the character's name there, it looks like there's four leads instead of five.
Swing Joined: 10/14/19
I know this is probably impossible but Janelle Monae would be a fantastic Hermes!
I am assuming T. Oliver Reid or Trent Saunders will be taking over Hermes at least temporarily, but it is kind of crazy that there still hasn't been an announcement, and both their website and playbill don't even list anyone playing Hermes a little over 24 hrs before the next performance. Considering this weeks playbills are being printed today, they have to have a new Hermes listed and contracted otherwise it is a union rule violation correct?
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
The next performance is tonight and they can have a printed insert listing T as principal Hermes (as I stated above he will be taking over for a bit) but for all we know, he is being printed in this weeks playbills. It is quite strange that they have just removed all the character of Hermes from the website.
Swing Joined: 10/14/19
I saw someone on Twitter say the replacement is finishing out a show currently.. could this be confirmation that it will be Amber?
"T. Oliver Reid will be temporary replacement Hermes The incoming Hermes has to finish a show... But y’all... I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT!!!!"
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
The Amber rumor is so wild to me bout my god do I hope it is true!!
It’s not wild at all in my mind, it certainly makes sense.
Can’t wait for Gray as Hermes!
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
bdn223 said: "Considering this weeks playbills are being printed today, they have to have a new Hermes listed and contracted otherwise it is a union rule violation correct?"
Incorrect.
Understudy Joined: 1/26/22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
Emmeline Carter said: "Out of curiosity, do you think if the next Hermes is Amber Gray or another actress, they would change the costume? Would they keep the pants and blazer or create an outfit that is more "genderbent"?"
Women can wear a suit and blazer without it being “gender-bent”. Just saying
Understudy Joined: 1/26/22
Fair point. I may have worded that wrong, I was more so curious if the costume would change. "Would they keep the pants and blazer or create an outfit unique to a new Hermes."
Updated On: 5/31/22 at 06:56 PM
As I had said previously, I would be pretty shocked to see Amber go back just based on what I have heard from VERY reliable sources about her relationship with the production and the business of broadway. But, as I also said previously, stranger things have happened. I guess a new contract is an opportunity to forge a new (and hopefully more positive) relationship with the production too. I'm sure Hermes is also a less physically demanding role than Persephone was, which might be very enticing.
bdn223 said: "Considering this weeks playbills are being printed today, they have to have a new Hermes listed and contracted otherwise it is a union rule violation correct?"
Playbill allows changes to the title pages much later than you'd expect; tomorrow June 1 is actually the earliest deadline for the June title pages. And when there's a change post-printing, they just do an insert with the revision.
So was T. just an insert as Hermes tonight? Just very bizarre from the production how quiet they are about Andre's replacement.
veronicamae said: "bdn223 said: "Considering this weeks playbills are being printed today, they have to have a new Hermes listed and contracted otherwise it is a union rule violation correct?"
Playbill allows changes to the title pages much later than you'd expect; tomorrow June 1 is actually the earliest deadline for the June title pages. And when there's a change post-printing, they just do an insert with the revision."
Yes, they can make changes later in the month, and add printed inserts - but the Playbills for June have already been printed. Aside from the fact that they'd have to print them at least the day before anyway, there is also a photo on Instagram showing that the June edition (with the Pride cover) was actually handed out in the theatre tonight, a little early.
I do wonder what was in that Playbill. It's odd to consider that the printed Playbill might not have anyone billed in one of the main roles - even on the cast page, possibly? Or maybe they left de Shield in, and will add the understudy slips.
It's just Reeve, Eva, Patrick, and Jewelle on the main cast headshot page. Hermes was an insert (Trent tonight), along with T on for Hades and Tara for Persephone.
JBroadway said: "veronicamae said: "bdn223 said: "Considering this weeks playbills are being printed today, they have to have a new Hermes listed and contracted otherwise it is a union rule violation correct?"
Playbill allows changes to the title pages much later than you'd expect; tomorrow June 1 is actually the earliest deadline for the June title pages. And when there's a change post-printing, they just do an insert with the revision."
Yes, they can make changes later in the month, and add printed inserts - but the Playbills for June have already been printed. Aside from the fact that they'd have to print them at least the day before anyway, there is also a photo on Instagram showing that the June edition (with the Pride cover) was actually handed out in the theatre tonight, a little early.
I do wonder what was in that Playbill. It's odd to consider that the printed Playbill might not have anyone billed in one of the main roles - even on the cast page, possibly? Or maybe they left de Shield in, and will add the understudy slips."
As I said, they can make changes later than you think, and when it comes to title pages, Playbill themselves are able to make changes "on press." Source: me, who manages getting the ads, title pages, and covers made for Playbills.
"The June Playbills" have not all been printed.
^I believe you! As I said, I don't doubt that they will be able to make the change when they need to. It's just interesting to me that there were Playbills in the house tonight with no one listed as Hermes in the actual printed copies. I don't mean it in a disparaging way, I just think it's an intriguing peculiarity.
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