New Jemima for Chitty?

[billyrubin]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:00pm

I heard where Ellen Marlow's last day as Jemima is November 6th. Does anyone know who the replacement will be? Are any other cast members being replaced?

Going back to see the show in early Dec.

Thanks!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:09pm

They're casting the role now. Ellen had a growth spurt.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:12pm

I noticed she was quite a bit taller than Henry Hodges when I first saw the show, so I can only imagine the difference now!

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:17pm

She must be really disappointed about that! How sad to have to leave because you've grown taller.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:21pm

Poor thing, that's got to suck! Hopefully she'll move on to even better things.

I also feel sorry for the casting directors. Sitting through hundreds of auditions is one thing. Sitting through hundreds of auditions with kids would make me want to shoot myself.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:37pm

I'm sorry, but she's looked way too old to play that part for MONTHS.

Maybe they'll just give the part to one of the understudies.

[greenifyed]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:46pm

*waves little Janelle flag*

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:48pm

She must be heartbroken! Ellen has stated how much she loves Chitty many times.

I'm hoping for Gabriella Mallek to go on. She's a Jemima u.s., right?

[JKM2159]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:49pm

Updated On: 10/10/09 at 10:49 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:53pm

aw, Janelle is cute.

[Doogie]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:55pm

ummm..why feel bad for her? preteens grow.... it happens. she did the show for several months, and she, being a minor, presumably doesn't have any financial responsibilities.
She should be happy she got the opportunity.

I'm currently doing charity work through my school for St. Jude's. Gotta tell ya,it could get worse. Not to say I hate her or she did something wrong, but this is not an earth shattering thing guys...

sorry just had to get that off my chest!

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:56pm

"She is going on to do great things..."

Do know what's next for her?

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:10pm

I have to side with Doogie on this one.

I saw Ellen a few months ago and she was great but this is what happens with child actors (especially on the stage).

She should be, and from what I have heard is, glad that she got to have this experience that many people OF ALL AGES dream of.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:29pm

All the kids had "outs" built into their contracts that if they experience certain changes- height, voice, skin color (i.e. they get tan in the summer), etc. the producers could get rid of them, for lack of a nicer term. The two children in Les Miz always had the same outs in their contract.

As a general rule, kids don't usually stay in a role like that for any terribly long period of time.

If the three understudies are going to alternate the role (and I haven't heard that yet from anyone I know at the show), then that seems to lend more credence to the theory the show is closing soon. If they were planning on running, they'd recast the role with one permanent Jemima. I hope it's not true...

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:56pm

Just wondering, but why would a few inches of height make that much of a difference in the role? She still looks like a kid, it's not like her growth spurt has made her taller than Raúl or something.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:05am

She's now significantly taller than Henry Hodges. Her character is supposed to be young (I always imagine Jemima to be about 10), and she no longer looks ten.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:05am

If she keeps growing at this rate, it might. One of the girls in the chorus is at least up to Raul's shoulder, and it looks ridiculous. He's not as tall as people think.

On a serious note, because they're supposed to be twins. I don't think it's entirely height, but that she just doesn't look young. She looks about thirteen, IMO.

Updated On: 10/28/05 at 12:05 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:12am

Ugh, even kids on Broadway have to put up with that middle school awkwardness where all the girls suddenly have boobs and the boys still have the same high and squeaky voices they've always had! Ellen, I feel for you!

I guess I never thought it was too serious that they be seen as twins. Maybe because I just saw it and Ellen was about 3 inches taller than Henry anyway.

[my2cents]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:26am

Broadway boys have a harder time, then getting boobs over night. A change in the vocals and they are gone. Most recently seussical, and big had leads leave for that, and i bet a whole lot more. IF a girl doesn't have a huge growth spurt(wich boys can have too), her front can easily be hidden by a baggy shirt or some tape (ouch), a boy cant hide his peter brady voice. ANd besides girls already play a lot of the young boy roles too, so i have no sympathy for what poor little theater girls have to go through. Only thing the boys have going for them is when they get to HS the competiton for the drama club is a little weaker haha.

side note: i enjoyed her in chitty, best of luck to her.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:28pm

Awwwwww. Poor Ellen. If only I could have a growth spurt in her place. That would be better for both of us.

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:38pm

Thats what happened with Annie and Les Miz.. once kids grow over like 4'10 they have to be replaced. That totally sucks but, it's the business and they go in to auditions knowing that.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:55pm

"Thats what happened with Annie and Les Miz.. once kids grow over like 4'10 they have to be replaced. That totally sucks but, it's the business and they go in to auditions knowing that. "

Well, they may know that, but that doesn't quite mean they understand it. After all, children often don't have the capacity of understanding things like contracts, which is why a minor can't be legally held to one. It's the PARENTS responsibility to make the child understand the consequences of being a kid actor.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 3:44pm

my2cents, I was talking about girls' maturing years ahead of boys. I don't care if your voice cracks overnight, but when an 11 year old girl is considered too old, while the 11 year old boy still has 4+ years before he has to worry about that, girls definitely get the shaft.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 4:00pm

But boys, generally, mature later than girls. It's a fact of life. That's the way it works. it's unfair to the boy if his voice cracks yet he still looks the part. Why should a girl, who no longer looks the part, continue to stay in the role? No one said life, let alone theatre, was fair.

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 4:04pm

I want Janelle to get the role. She's my favorite ensemble member.