New Lydia Deetz ( who do you think should replace Sophia Anne Caruso ) - Page 4

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 1:14pm

Heather4 said: "saxpower said: "They may also simply giving themselves a little time to consider options."

This is the feeling I get, where they were blindsided with Sophia leaving and didn't have a long term plan in place. I do think they may be using March as a test run for Presley to see how the grosses are, what impact on social media her taking over could have (which is most likely going to be a very positive impact in my opinion) and just seeing what all of their options are."

My feeling is they are either going to stunt cast , and bring in a celebrity. Or - they are going to just give it to Presley . I don’t think they would be using this month as a test. I think they are pretty positive she can handle it. She hasn’t missed 1 performance. And always delivers the many many times she went on for Sophia. The whole not announcing her as a full time replacement is just odd to me. ... I feel that they would have just announced her as the new lydia and that’s it ( if they were going to keep her on until the end of the run ) .. they wouldn’t add... “  The announcement of an actress to play Lydia after March 29 will be announced at a later date. “ if they planned on having her continue on  it doesn’t really make any sense. I’m happy she will be getting a lead credit though !!

 

Updated On: 2/26/20 at 01:14 PM

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 1:21pm

"Wow that’s cool. Didanyone happen to be there for her final Wednesday performance last week? Was there anythingsignificant about it?"

My sisters did for the second time (they couldn't get tickets for the night I went) while I went to ripleys (I'm a local, but was bored) and they said they would've had no idea. No special speech or bow, or difference from when they went in December.

 

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 3:37pm

I just think it’s so shady that besides the one sentence press statement. the production hasn’t even mentioned a word about Sophia. No posts on Instagram saying “ farewell. Thank you “ nothing. Just right into “
Pressley is our lydia “ I find it very cold and hurtful towards Sophia. It’s as if Alex Brightman left and they didn’t even mention a word about him. Then go “ MEET OUR NEW BEETLEJUICE!” ... it’s kind of a deliberate slap in her face. All the hard work and YEARS she spent with that production.

[Elegance101]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 3:45pm

Tommymac 2 said: "I just think it’s so shady that besides the one sentence press statement. the production hasn’t even mentioned a word about Sophia. No posts on Instagram saying “ farewell. Thank you “ nothing. Just right into “
Pressley is our lydia “ I find it very cold and hurtful towards Sophia. It’s as if Alex Brightman left and they didn’t even mention a word about him. Then go “ MEET OUR NEW BEETLEJUICE!” ... it’s kind of a deliberate slap in her face. All the hard work and YEARS she spent with that production."

Seems like more evidence that she was fired...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 3:46pm

You are quite emotionally invested in something you're (presumably) not involved in.

It's weird, it sucks, life moves on, and maybe we'll find out more info in someone's memoir or talkback in 5-20 years.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 3:53pm

LizzieCurry said: "You are quite emotionally invested in something you're (presumably) not involved in.

It's weird, it sucks, life moves on, and maybe we'll find out more info in someone's memoir or talkback in 5-20 years."

It's also an odd coincidence that Tommymac2 joined this board the same day the news broke... 

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 4:01pm

LizzieCurry said: "You are quite emotionally invested in something you're (presumably) not involved in.

It's weird, it sucks, life moves on, and maybe we'll find out more info in someone's memoir or talkback in 5-20 years."

I think anyone who has seen the show multiple times from the previews in dc to the final production in NY would have some sort of emotional investment in the production. And feel some kind of way about this. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 4:17pm

You don't usually celebrate people that leave because they were fired.  And if she wasn't, and the abruptness of her leaving was her choice (it wasn't) then they aren't going to be too pleased to have been put in this predicament.

These are professionals at work, not girl scouts doing each other's hair.

 

Good catch on that, Jsquared.  

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 4:25pm

Tommy, you are presuming sentimentality on the part of the creative team. Listen to dramamama611.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 5:20pm

Tommymac 2 said: "I find it very cold and hurtful towards Sophia. It’s as if Alex Brightman left and they didn’t even mention a word about him. Then go “ MEET OUR NEW BEETLEJUICE!” ... it’s kind of a deliberate slap in her face. All the hard work and YEARS she spent with that production."

She was paid for her work, she's not entitled to praise. The production would pretty much be the same thing it is now if another actress had been in her place, so let's not get too carried away. 

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 7:56pm

Fosse76 said: "Tommymac 2 said: "I find it very cold and hurtful towards Sophia. It’s as if Alex Brightman left and they didn’t even mention a word about him. Then go “ MEET OUR NEW BEETLEJUICE!” ... it’s kind of a deliberate slap in her face. All the hard work and YEARS she spent with that production."

She was paid for her work, she's not entitled to praise. The production would pretty much be the same thing it is now if another actress had been in her place, so let's not get too carried away."

burnn . I guess every other broadway production would just be the same if it was anyone in that role. You make a point  

 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 11:18pm

Tommymac 2 said: "I just think it’s so shady that besides the one sentence press statement. the production hasn’t even mentioned a word about Sophia. No posts on Instagram saying “ farewell. Thank you “ nothing. Just right into “
Pressley is our lydia “ I find it very cold and hurtful towards Sophia. It’s as if Alex Brightman left and they didn’t even mention a word about him. Then go “ MEET OUR NEW BEETLEJUICE!” ... it’s kind of a deliberate slap in her face. All the hard work and YEARS she spent with that production."

If the whole contractual out thing for TV work is legit AND if she made use of it with as little to no notice as apparently happened.... would you want to be thanking someone that basically up and quit on you without notice to allow you to prepare something and then having them break the news before you have a plan in place and sending basically all of the theatre internet and social media banging on your door wanting answers? Perhaps the slap in the face, as you call it, is just a repayment for the slap she gave them in the face first.

Updated On: 2/26/20 at 11:18 PM

[VotePeron]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 12:17am

All I’ll say is the press office did Sophia one of the biggest favors in recent broadway memory with that press release statement.

[bwaywrldmember6853]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 12:49am

Hey Tommymac2, are you the person who just joined Reddit on the 26th posting in r/broadway stating that Julia Nightingale has been cast as Lydia? 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 7:22am

With Presley on until March, are the swings just rotating in her ensemble track?

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 8:29am

ACL2006 said: "With Presley on until March, are the swings just rotating in her ensemble track?"

I’m not sure if they’re allowed to - equity wise.  .. no idea. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 9:51am

Well, they can't KEEP fewer employees than opening night, but I'm sure there is wiggle room timewise since this is about a timing thing.   

[Heather4]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 11:39am

The swings probably are until someone can be hired would be my guess.  Might be a reason why it took the production a while to announce Presley as Lydia was they needed approval from equity to be short one employee until a replacement is found for the remainder of the run, and as dramamama611 said they probably had some wiggle room due to the timing.

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 4:52pm

Heather4 said: "The swings probably are until someone can be hired would be my guess. Might be a reason why it took the production a while to announce Presley as Lydia was they needed approval from equity to be short one employee until a replacement is found for the remainder of the run, and as dramamama611 said they probably had some wiggle room due to the timing."

I wonder what the resining would be to cast a new lydia instead of just keeping Presley in the role ... 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/27/20 at 5:21pm

Because she's more valuble as an understudy.

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/28/20 at 12:31am

Maise Williams would be a fantastic choice for Lydia !

[saxpower]

Posted: 2/28/20 at 5:45pm

I wonder if the possible move to the Barrymore is also affecting the decision about a "permanent" Lydia.  The "Its only about two months before the show closes" thinking would no longer be valid.  It would make sense to take time to (a) consider options and (b) find out if the transfer is happening and how that effects Ms. Ryan's (and Ms. Steingold's) availability (have they already signed on to post-currently scheduled closing commitments).  Too many moving pieces to make a final decision now, but things will be clearer by the end of March. 

[Tommymac 2]

Posted: 2/29/20 at 11:32pm

I hope they do cast a new actor for Lydia. I would really like to see a fresh take. ... also. Casting a new swing and Having then learn all of Presley’s tracks. Plus learn the lydia role as well. Would seem like a bit much. When they can just cast a new girl to take the lydia role. ... unless , they really love Presley as lydia.

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 3/6/20 at 12:29pm

Presley just posted that she's holding a contest to win tickets for "My final performance in Beetlejuice on March 29th" so it seems like she's leaving the show all together after she's done as Lydia. That's almost exactly a year from the start of previews, so I wonder if we'll start seeing other announcements soon as well.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/6/20 at 12:36pm

Source

https://twitter.com/PrezRyan/status/1235976313908928519