New Hedwig after JCM?- Page 6

[VotePeron]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 11:43am

Hedwig is one of my favorite shows on Broadway right now, and I've seen it countless times. Darren Criss is one of my least favorite TV personalities, and is completely wrong for this role. I can not fathom this casting. HE'S 28!

[little_sally]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 11:55am

If that's true, bad choice. He's too young. Not to mention, I've never understood his appeal.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:01pm

This article I found on Tumblr seems to be pretty conformational. Even includes a quote from JCM himself on the casting, as well as more details.

http://www.4ye.co.uk/darren-criss-to-play-lead-in-hedwig-and-the-angry-inch-on-broadway/

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:06pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdIDkQocKsY

Didn't his last Broadway outing show everyone how he sounds without auto tune?

[SDV]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:08pm

I'm going to blame JCM's effusiveness on his painkillers.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:21pm

I'm sure I'll be in the minority on this, but I actually don't think it's such a terrible choice. Yes, he's way too young, but he's not without talent and thus far the creative team have made some good casting decisions. It might not work, but I could see him turning in a respectable performance.

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:52pm

So they finally succumbed to stunt casting. I guess it was an inevitability. But I was holding out hope since they'd managed to maintain the integrity of the show thus far. Sigh.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:02pm

I don't know who Darren Criss is but if he's as bad a choice as it seems, maybe it's because no onevbetter wanted to follow JCM. I can't blame them.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:07pm

Here at Broadwayworld, the phrase "stunt casting" means "as soon as they put in a performer I don't like."

[Kad]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:08pm

I like Criss, generally, but he is totally wrong for this. In pretty much every way.

[skylight2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:17pm

so this is the news he's going to announce according to his twitter.

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:44pm

Actually, that's not true at all. There have been plenty examples of what I would call "stunt casting" that included performers I really enjoy who have ended up being great in the role. Hell, I'd say NPH was stunt casting and I worshiped his Hedwig. Conversely, there have been plenty of performers I don't like cast in roles - Kerry Butler as Audrey comes to mind - that I wouldn't classify as "stunt" but rather just "bad" casting. Actually, Darren Criss reeks of both.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:53pm

WTF- Criss proved he doesn't belong on Broadway with How To Succeed- So what the hell!!! Not to mention he is completely wrong for the part

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 1:57pm

Man, this came out of nowhere


It's official Updated On: 2/17/15 at 01:57 PM

[RW3]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:05pm

His last performance is on my birthday.

[rjm516]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:05pm

Oh man I just don't see it. What a strange choice. Appearing too young doesn't matter for a lot of roles but it matters for this one. Just...weird. I can't believe I'm going to miss JCM and get to NYC when Darren Criss is replacing him. Now that is bad luck!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:07pm

I thought he was o.k. in "How To Succeed". I saw his YouTube videos only. He seemed to have a certain appeal and charm. He has been quoted as saying that his voice doesn't really translate all that well to Broadway...or something to that effect. At best, Criss has a slender voice (like a young Matthew Broderick, perhaps). His vocals, I think, will be stretched to the limit in Hedwig. Who knows? He may well surprise people who are skeptical of his casting.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:08pm

I don't think any of us who are "Skeptical" are planning on seeing him, so I guess we'll never know.

[Claudia Draper]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:09pm

From Darren--

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152641304679147

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:12pm

He just seems too young. Maybe he's amazin, but on the surface, it doesn't seem like the best casting.

He has 10.5 weeks to prepare. Get started now. It'll be a rough ride.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:14pm

I have no desire to see him- I had planned on seeing all the Hedwigs because i have been given the opportunity by friends but I don't think even a free ticket will get me to see him, but maybe...

[JamesBroadwayWiner]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:15pm

I definitely do not think Darren Criss is stunt casting. Yes, he's a big name, but he is also really talented and I can certainly see him in the part.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:15pm

One day in the late mid-eighties, I was in my mother's womb.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:17pm

"WTF- Criss proved he doesn't belong on Broadway with How To Succeed- So what the hell!!!"

This from Wikipedia:

In January 2012, Criss made his Broadway debut, starring as J. Pierrepont Finch in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His stint there proved to be a success: apart from Daniel Radcliffe's final week, the musical had the three most lucrative weeks of its 11-month run with Criss in the lead role, grossing more than four million dollars.

If that's true, well...
Though I don't know if they're trying to get Glee fans, because that thing is dying or essentially dead now.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 2:18pm

I can not for the life of me picture him in this role. But I actually do like his voice and I will be in NYC at that time. Might have to see him!