Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
rorschach37
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/10
#1Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 10:53amAccording to his facebook, Michael is doing another show at the Public and will be departing the same night as Billie Joe Armstrong.
#2Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:00am
He's in AN INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE... It was announced last Friday: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/147351-Cast-Complete-for-Kushners-Intelligent-Homosexuals-Guide-at-the-Public
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
#2Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:03amOh, sorry, I was wrong. That announcement came last Friday, but Esper was announced in December.
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:03amI would suspect that as they near their one year mark (I know I didn't think it would last this long!) I'm sure we'll be hearing of more and more departures.
billyboyA
Stand-by Joined: 12/29/10
#4Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:04amI saw the show a couple of weeks ago, and saw his understudy, Van Hughes, who BLEW ME AWAY!! I didn't even realize it WAS an understudy, because I wasn't clear on the character names until mid-way through the show. So I REALLY hope the producers put Van into the role full time, because I felt he was one of the STRONGEST parts of the show for me - and that's saying a LOT, because the rest of the cast is incredible... and that role is maybe the least interesting of the three guys. But there was something very very special about Van. He deserves to take on the role full time, if you ask me.
ahhrealmonsters
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
#5Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:11amI hope they close the show.
#6Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:14amI doubt Van Hughes will get bumped up to the role full time. He's the standby for the three male leads (Johnny, Will and Tunny), so it would be easier to hire someone to play Will rather than hire someone to learn all three roles. Also, I've heard amazing things about Van in the other roles (especially Johnny), so I would imagine the producers will want to keep him where he is.
#7Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:15am
Van covers all three leads, so if more actors are leaving the show soon, he may end up in one of the other roles.
On the other hand, it is much more expensive to cast and rehearse a new understudy who covers multiple roles than a new lead actor, so it happens a lot that when an actor leaves, they cast someone new instead of bumping up the understudy. It's just a reality, and it depends on what they can afford to do and if they think the cost will be worth the reward.
EDIT: BroadwayGuy12 beat me to it. :)
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
#8Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:20am
Van is fantastic in all three roles that he covers. And as BroadwaGuy and Yero said I would imagine that it would be easier to keep him where he is than having someone new come in to cover those roles.
Updated On: 2/7/11 at 11:20 AM
#9Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 11:22amEDIT: Sorry nothing to see here Updated On: 2/7/11 at 11:22 AM
RemarkableTimes
Understudy Joined: 1/16/09
#10Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 12:30pmVan won't be taking over the role of Will, the new actor coming in has already been hired, but not announced.
rorschach37
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/10
#11Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 1:03pm
@Remarkabletimes:
Is said actor a "name" or an unknown?
billyboyA
Stand-by Joined: 12/29/10
#12Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 7:09pm
That's really a shame for Van - he's FAR too interesting and talented an actor to be stuck as a standby...
But that's Bway business, right? Ask Julie Reiber fans - why she stayed as just the standby for Elphaba for SO long is beyond anyone's comprehension who had the joy to watch her play the role...
So, here's my vote that some producer will see Van's talent and give him his own leading role to create in something upcoming.
musicalman2
Featured Actor Joined: 5/7/08
#13Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/7/11 at 8:24pmI think Van will be taking over the role of Johnny when John Gallagher leaves. Van is great.
RazzleDazzle3
Swing Joined: 5/6/09
#14Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:29am
Updated On: 2/8/11 at 02:29 AM
#15Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:05amJustin Guarini is joining the cast in March. As Will?
RemarkableTimes
Understudy Joined: 1/16/09
#16Michael Esper to leave American Idiot Feb. 27.
Posted: 2/8/11 at 11:15amEither as Will or St. Jimmy. Either way, I'm giving that decision the side-eye.
Videos