JBroadway said: "^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."
Oh, gotcha! Yeah, I would be surprised if there wasn't a slip for someone who was on as an understudy for Hermes? Surely THAT would be some type of requirement? Or if there is no full-time actor...does that negate that announcement requirement?
Understudy Joined: 1/26/22
Well apparently they have cast Hermes; as Eva Noblezada said that "the person taking over is phenomenal!!" as a response on Instagram.
jkcohen626 said: "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."
Gray has been with the show since it’s workshop days, and playing Persephone was easily the highlight of her career so far. I imagine that any gripes she has with the production are relatively minor. All employees complain about their bosses at least now and then. Besides, with all due respect to Gray, once Macbeth closes, does she really have anything major going on? Actors return to long-running shows for short stints all the time while they wait for something better to come along. And she’d have the fun of playing a different role, and probably for a pretty good chunk of change. At this point the rumors seem consistent enough to make me think she’ll be doing it, probably for a limited engagement of two months or so.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
If Amber was truly that sour on Hadestown would she have saved them and went back to play Persephone during the height of Omicron?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
“Consistent enough”? Are the rumors anywhere hit this thread? Didn’t they start on this thread and everyone jumped on it? I’d love for it to happen as much as anyone, but as far as I recall people have just heard that it’s someone who is currently in another show and people decided it was Amber and ran with it.
Isn't that the basis of a rumor? Nothing but speculation, an unverified event?
dramamama611 said: "Isn't that the basis of a rumor? Nothing but speculation, an unverified event?"
Yes, but if can be unclear where the rumors are coming from, and they can be self-enforcing. A single post in this thread might inspire 100 people to Tweet that they “heard it was Amber Grey,” which might cause people on this thread to say “oh wow, 100 people on Twitter are all saying it’s Amber Grey! Sounds like the rumors are pretty consistent!”
…which is very different from, let’s say, 100 people across Twitter and BWW all saying the same thing, each with claims to have heard it from inside sources.
Both are rumors, but one scenario is comparatively more credible than the other. And it’s unclear which one this is, but like willep, I kinda get the sense it’s the former.
Hope I’m wrong though! Amber Grey as Hermes would get me to buy a ticket to see the show again, and I’m very picky about seeing shows more than once!
I posted the rumor about Amber a couple of weeks ago, based on random chatter among people working at the Walter Kerr. That’s the extent of it.
Updated On: 6/1/22 at 09:07 AMBroadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
Thanks, Taffy! I didn’t want to go digging back to figure it out.
Someone on Twitter said Trent will be Hermes this week and T. will play him next week because Patrick Page has a few scheduled absences this week.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/28/15
Can confirm Trent was on last night and T is on for Hades. The Playbill now lists… no one for Hermes. I’m surprised Equity is allowing that tbh, shouldn’t be allowed to not have a full-time person in the role. Especially since I would imagine understudies are paid considerably less than the main actors?
Anyone know the official rules on this?
Hamilfan2 said: "Can confirm Trent was on last night and T is on for Hades. The Playbill now lists… no one for Hermes. I’m surprised Equity is allowing that tbh, shouldn’t be allowed to not have a full-time person in the role. Especially since I would imagine understudies are paid considerably less than the main actors?
Anyone know the official rules on this?"
I believe the rule is that it IS allowed, but only for a limited amount of time, after which they're required to give the understudy a principle contract (or hire another full-time replacement). Don't remember how much time its s.
Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong about any of that.
IF I remember, it can be no longer than 2 weeks.
dramamama611 said: "IF I remember, it can be no longer than 2 weeks."
Something about this seems familiar. I'm trying to think about what happened with Beetlejuice when Sophia left.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/24/16
Alexander Lamar said: "If Amber was truly that sour on Hadestown would she have saved them and went back to play Persephone during the height of Omicron?"
I think it's more fatigue from playing one character every week for years on end (with all the workshops). She clearly loves the character/story, she chose Hadestown over the Oklahoma! revival. She chose to work with Rachel again. But some actors enjoy creating characters more than they enjoy playing them week after week in a frozen show, and that's okay. I imagine for many there is relief in finally getting to explore something new. ...but you'd still be willing to do them a solid and pick up the role once or twice. Taylor Louderman gave a great interview about hating that feeling of stagnation with a frozen show.
Stuff can be complicated. You can not want to come back to a show, or be happy about leaving, without there being bad blood or wishing them ill.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
Rainah said: "Alexander Lamar said: "If Amber was truly that sour on Hadestown would she have saved them and went back to play Persephone during the height of Omicron?"
I think it's more fatigue from playing one character every week for years on end (with all the workshops). She clearly loves the character/story, she chose Hadestown over the Oklahoma! revival. She chose to work with Rachel again. But some actors enjoy creating characters more than they enjoy playing them week after week in a frozen show, and that's okay. I imagine for many there is relief in finally getting to explore something new. ...but you'd still be willing to do them a solid and pick up the role once or twice. Taylor Louderman gave a great interview about hating that feeling of stagnation with a frozen show.
Stuff can be complicated. You can not want to come back to a show, or be happy about leaving, without there being bad blood or wishing them ill."
Exactly. Sometimes it’s just time to move on. There’s no drama, nothing between anyone. They just might want to explore new opportunities, take a break, etc.
Alex Puette (Worker, making his Broadway debut) had his first Hades performance in today’s matinee and will be on again this evening.
Featured Actor Joined: 1/1/22
I saw Trent as Hermes tonight and Alex as Hades (2nd performance). They were both really wonderful.
fashionguru_23 said: "dramamama611 said: "IF I remember, it can be no longer than 2 weeks."
Something about this seems familiar. I'm trying to think about what happened with Beetlejuice when Sophia left."
But that was a different situation since Sophia left abruptly without giving any notice... they had to scramble
I also remember it being a two week limit, or a certain number of consecutive performances.
There is also a rule - I think a rather unofficial one - that says an actor no longer has to put “understudy” or “understudied, performed” on their resume or in their bio if they went in for the role a certain number of times.
Swing Joined: 6/4/22
I bought a ticket back in April to try to see the original cast before they all left. Andre de shields has his last show the week before and I have an understudy for Patrick Page tonight which is so disappointing. Please let there be a good Hermes replacement so I can come back and hopefully get a good full cast
It may be a bit on the nose, but I would love to see Ben Vereen's take on the role!!!
KoreanKoi said: "I bought a ticket back in April to try to see the original cast before they all left. Andre de shields has his last show the week before and I have an understudy for Patrick Page tonight which is so disappointing. Please let there be a good Hermes replacement so I can come back and hopefully get a good full cast"
Why “so disappointing”? All the covers are great at their jobs. An understudy doesn’t mean it isn’t a “good full cast”.
KoreanKoi said: "I bought a ticket back in April to try to see the original cast before they all left. Andre de shields has his last show the week before and I have an understudy for Patrick Page tonight which is so disappointing. Please let there be a good Hermes replacement so I can come back and hopefully get a good full cast"
I saw Alex Puette as Hades on Wednesday and he was fantastic. Plus he’s wicked hot.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
There won’t be a new Hermes until at least September
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