Mandy Patinkin to join THE GREAT COMET as Pierre for 3 week run! — Page 14

It's a real shame for Oak and the show's reputation/cast/crew. I'm a POC and would be quite sad to have a very diverse cast pay the price. I was at the matinee the day this was announced and at the stage door, he got a big cheer when he came out (though I don't know how many people there had heard the news).

As a casual theatre-goer who knows nothing of how shows are produced and financed, this is probably a stupid question...but would Oak's remaining three weeks really have put the show into that big of a financial hole?

As a casual theatre-goer who knows nothing of how shows are produced and financed, this is probably a stupid question...but would Oak's remaining three weeks really have put the show into that big of a financial hole?

No, and keep in mind that the producers are also responsible for paying out the remainder of his contract. They're just making a gamble that they'll do better with Mandy, and that the switch-up will pay dividends in the end. But that remains to be seen.

All of this is bringing me back to the Conan O'Brien-Jay Leno debacle.

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 12:07 PM

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Jarethan said: "froote said: "

Per some other posts, but adapting them, this is nothing new. Even with two much more well known Tony winning actors actors still in the cast, i.e., Brian Stokers Mitchell and Billy Porter, Scott Rudin closed Shuffle Along because he discovered that Shuffle Along had somehow become solely the Audra MacDonald show and people weren't going to buy tickets without her. And he is a pretty smart guy (although I do think he needs to start focusing the marketing more on Hello Dolly and less on Bette Midler or he is going to end up with a show that will run shorter than it should.





"

Rudin didn't "discover" that Shuffle Along was the Audra McDonald show. He practically marketed it AS one even knowing that Audra would be gone for a lengthy period of time before her pregnancy.



"

Shuffle Along was massive show for the Music Box. It should be noted that only 9 musicals (2 of which were revues) have ever played at the Music Box. Of those 9 arguable only 4 were "hits"; Of Thee I Sing (1931), Lost in the Stars (1949), Blood Brothers (1993), Pippin (2013), and now Dear Evan Hansen (2016). Just from a financial standpoint, its extremely difficult to make a musical financially viable in a house with barely 1,000 seats, let alone a show with a cast of 34, and not to mention a Broadway legend, and 2 Broadway A-Listers. Thus the show was one a financial tightrope to begin with.

On top of that it must not only mentioned, but emphasized that Rudin took out 2 "key man" insurance policies on Audra McDonald. This implies that he and the rest of his producing team were aware that the show was overly reliant on Ms McDonald to sell tickets.

Shuffle Along Timeline

September 2015 -Producers announced exactly 6 months before the show started previews that Audra would miss 3 months of performances (June 21-September 27)(https://www.playbill.com/article/audra-mcdonald-will-miss-three-months-of-shuffle-along-performances-com-362398).

March 2016- Shuffle Along begins Previews playing to SRO, but discounted crowds

April 28, 2016-Shuffle Along Opens to glowing reviews making some think it could actually take the Tony from Hamilton, continues to sell out, but with discounts

May 3, 2016- Shuffle Along gets 10 Tony Nominations second to Hamilton- continues to sell out, but with discounts

May 10, 2016- Audra supersizes everyone and announces shes pregnant, but also announces she will stay with Shuffle Along for an Additional Month through July 24th instead of June 21st

https://www.playbill.com/article/london-production-of-lady-day-at-emersons-bar-amp-grill-starring-audra-mcdonald-postponed

May 11th- Shuffle ALong producers announce grammy award winner Rhiannon Giddens, will fill in for Audra while she in on Maternity leave

https://www.playbill.com/article/grammy-winner-will-succeed-audra-mcdonald-in-shuffle-along-savion-glover-joining-the-cast

June 1st - Producers announce Tony Award winning choreographer and world renown tap dance Savion Glover. will shoe horn himself into the production while Audra is on Maternity leave

https://www.playbill.com/article/savion-glover-sets-the-date-to-join-cast-of-shuffle-along

June 12th- Shuffle Along goes 0 for 10 at the Tony Awards

June 23rd- Rudin announces Shuffle Along to Close when Audra was set to go on maternity leave

https://www.broadwayworld.com//article/SHUFFLE-ALONG-Sets-Sudden-Broadway-Closing-After-Audra-McDonald-Departs-20160623

Rudin gave the Shuffle Along 9 months to sell tickets to performances during Audra's initial leave, and still saw a massive drop off during that 3 month period. Then when Audra announces her pregnancy she extends for a month, and Rudin announce 2 attempts to "stunt cast" to keep the show afloat while she is out. The show doesn't see a post Tony bump in sails, especially once Audra's scheduled departure. Since Rudin continued to see the show's advance plummet once Audra left, and he could argue that Audra's unexpected pregnancy at 42 would then producers to file a claim against the key man insurance policies they took out on Audra. Thus Rudin could risk keeping the show open and risk likely having to close it before Audra was able to return due to poor ticket sales, or make all of his money back by cashing in the key man insurance policies he and his fellow producers took out on Audra.

Based on :https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2016/11/14/audra-mcdonald-stars-in-new-lawsuit/#5c133abe54c2 it seems like there might have been some disagreement whether or not to due this, but clearly in the end a majority of producers would rather get their $14 million back, then likely loose it all when they looked at their advance once Audra left.

So anyone complaining that the producers didn't give Shuffle Along time to sell tickets without Audra, Rudin gave the show over 7.5 months to sell the show on the concept alone without her, then 1.5 months to have Rhiannon Giddens build an advance, then Savion Glover a month to build up some sort of advance before finally admitting the show just wouldn't sell without Audra. By doing so the producers could arguably (Its still in court) get their entire investment back. It was a purely business decision, but one still cannot argue that Rudin didn't attempt to let the show live on its own artist merits.

Whenever Mandy Patinkin found out about how the Kagans got rid of Oak to make room for him to be in the show, the honorable thing for him to do would have been to immediately bow out and let Oak finish his run. This has been embarrassing for Oak, but it is even more embarrassing for Mandy Patinkin, It makes him look like an entiltled, spoiled brat - perhaps at no fault of his own. If I were him, I would have called Kagan and told him to honor his commitments, like a man.



And this is most embarrassing for the Kagans, who after their bullying of Ars Nova, have followed that up with another classless act.

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 12:29 PM

I think it's utterly ridiculous to place any blame on Mandy. All he did was accept work.

Trying to decipher Oak's hashtags in his farewell message on IG that he would be leaving August 13th after all. I can't decide if "upwords" is an intentional misspelling. But also, why #KatyPerry? Is this like a "swish swish bish" thing?

I always try to speak from my heart with love after listening. I have listened. I'm more than grateful for all the love and support the community and fans have shown me. It makes what we do and deal with as artists easier when you know many people do indeed have your back and that you are valued for your work. In spite of everything, I am grateful to have had the time to bring this character to life with a remarkable cast that truly make the Imperial Theater a sacred place every night. My pops would always tell me to be aware of the company you keep. I'm fully aware of the remarkable talents this cast holds, with Denee at the helm. My work is just a reflection of what they bring, have brought and will continue to bring, be it me, Mandy, whomever is co-pilot to Denee. AUGUST 13th WILL BE MY LAST SHOW! I will not be returning. So make room in your schedule between now and Aug 13th. Come through, have a drink, and let's celebrate the time we have because as always, that's all we are guaranteed. We make the most of the gifts we are given and I'm driven to deliver a defining moment in time, with every line I let loose on stage. #MynameisOak #TheHomiesRollDEEP #TheFansMadeRoom#WeAreTheChange #IPierredAndProspered #MyPierreWillPerish #August13th#OnwardsAndUpwords #KatyPerry #SkateyPierre?

We are talking about a role orginated by Josh Groban , a white guy, where the third actor will also be a white guy but the second is black. It's a bit over the top that a POC has a role stolen since it wasn't POC to begin with.

JSquared2 said: "JPeterman said: "Whenever Mandy Patinkin found out about how the Kagans got rid of Oak to make room for him to be in the show, the honorable thing for him to do would have been to immediately bow out and let Oak finish his run. This has been embarrassing for Oak, but it is even more embarrassing for Mandy Patinkin, It makes him look like an entiltled, spoiled brat - perhaps at no fault of his own. If I were him, I would have called Kagan and told him to honor his commitments, like a man.

You're being RIDICULOUS! Think of it this way --- by your own reasoning, anyone who goes on any job interview (whether it be at Starbucks or Google or starring on Broadway) should ask their prospective employer if someone else is being fired in order for them to be hired for this position --- and if the answer is yes, then they should withdraw their name from consideration?? Wouldn't you be EMBARRASSED to start a new job knowing someone else used to sit at that desk?



"

Haha, that is perfectly put and I 100% agree.

If Oak were terminated- which can only happen, per union contract, with just cause- this would be an issue.

But an employer has a right to give their employee the work directive to not come in.

I understand the reaction from other POC on Broadway, racism is everywhere, but I don't see the argument in this case (as many other posters have stated).

Also, once COMET has Mandy other Stars may more easily check out this show for a part time gig. This casting is opening the door for others, including POC Actors.

I was personally shocked at the time that he didn't feel they could figure out a way to minimize losses in a small theatre like the Music Box while she was gone

The smaller the theatre, the smaller the potential gross. As a result, even if the running costs are a bit lower than something like Lion King or Wicked, even if you sold out every night, it would take much much longer to ever recoup, much less turn a profit. Therefore, advance has to be pretty big if you need to hit 70% of the potential gross (or more) just to hit your weekly nut.

"Nobody should have to step aside for someone more famous"

Okay, that is just HILARIOUSLY naive.

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 02:55 PM