"Newsies" cast change(s)
"Newsies" cast change(s)
loliveve
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/12
#1"Newsies" cast change(s)
Posted: 7/23/12 at 1:03am
Alex Wong (known for "SYTYCD") is leaving the show this week. I think JP Ferreri is replacing him, but don't know fore sure. Does anyone know? And are other cast changes anticipated in the near future? Just wondering!
I guess I was surprised because I figured cast members would stay until Aug. 19 (the date of the extension before it became open-ended).
#2Re: "Newsies" cast change(s)
Posted: 7/23/12 at 1:11amBummer! This is one of those shows (like the last revival of Hair) that I feel is going to lose a lot of its magic when the original leads are gone.
JohnyBroadway
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/12
PlayItAgain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/11
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#5Re:
Posted: 7/23/12 at 9:20am
To be fair, if you didn't KNOW who Alex was (from SYTYCD) he wouldn't stand out in this.
I wouldn't think there will all that many changes in the near future.
And I agree: this won't be hurt by changes in casting. The choreography is the wow factor.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#8Re:
Posted: 7/23/12 at 9:57am
nevermind. I did a bit of googling and found his twitter account, where he announced it to all of his fans.
His account:
http://twitter.com/AlexdWong/
The specific tweet:
http://twitter.com/AlexdWong/status/227175077450489857
Updated On: 7/23/12 at 09:57 AM
loliveve
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/12
tphiliboy152
Featured Actor Joined: 6/14/12
#11Re:
Posted: 7/23/12 at 11:28pmIs Alex the only one leaving as of now? I'd imagine more people will be leaving within the coming weeks because Newsies just had an open casting call in NYC and through submitting videos. I also read on their twitter that they are going to audition for newsboys in Los Angeles soon.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#12Re:
Posted: 7/23/12 at 11:54pm
As an ensemble member, Alex Wong is only obligated to 6 months with the show. Right about now is when the original scheduled run would be ending, so he probably negotiated to be allowed to leave. At the end of the 6 months, any and all of the ensemble boys will be allowed to commit to a minimum of another 6 months by signing a new contract or they can continue on their current contract and then leave any time they choose by giving 4 week's notice.
By that logic, they need a casting folder full of newsies ready to go and be offered contracts for the show.
Producers are also required to hold auditions every 6 months, regardless of role availability. No doubt they are also contemplating a tour for the show.
ILuv2shop531
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/07
loliveve
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/12
#14Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 12:31am
Well, the original run of the show was to end the day of the Tony Awards. Regardless, six months-- including previews-- would be Sept. 15th. Or does the six-month period include tech, etc.?
Also, I thought some shows have ensemble members hired to "run-of-show" contracts? (At least that is what I heard from an ensemble member in "Wicked"). I guess it doesn't really matter though...
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#15Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 12:43am
if you note in my post, I said that when the extension was announced, he probably negotiated a date that he would be able to leave.
ensemble members are on a "six month - run of the play contract". It is an open ended contract, good for the length of the show's run, but they have to commit to a minimum of six months in the show. every six months they are able to sign a rider committing to six more months, or they can choose to not sign the rider and then they are free to leave whenever they choose.
loliveve
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/12
#17Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 12:54am
Actually, Alex only had a binding contract until June 10, the original closing date. This is an extension of that, as he has other obligations that the production team was aware he committed to. JP Ferreri may be temporarily replacing him, but he is I believe going to be another swing once they rehearse the replacement, which they did find at last weekend's open call, so congrats to him. They were also hoping to find an additional swing through the open calls and ECC's and I'm not quite sure about the status of that now that JP is rejoining the company.
Here's hoping they do tour!
Updated On: 7/24/12 at 12:54 AM
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#18Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 3:53am
See? Obligations after the original closing date and he negotiated out after the show extended. :)
Last I saw, Ferreri was only coming in as a temporary replacement. I hadn't heard that he would be swinging after, so who knows. I could easily see them (and would say that it would be wise) having 4 Newsie swings as there such a large number of young men in the show. When I went early in previews, they already had two on that day!
mdbro88
Swing Joined: 12/27/11
#20Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 12:27pm
I know Alex is on the faculty of the dance intensive Excel in Motion, beginning in Nov. There are several SYTYCD alums in that group. I'm fairly certain he will be an All Star this year on SYTYCD, particularly since there is a female contestant who is classically trained. I imagine Nigel is salivating to match him up with her.
"I agree that Alex didn't stand out that much. I was much more drawn to watch Ryan Steele (but who isn't?) and Evan Kasprzak rather than Alex."
That was my take. Evan, along with fellow SYTYCDer Jess, were so good in King of New York, especially the tap face-off with the spoons.
And I agree, with the demands of that choreography, I have been surprised at the small number of swings. I can't imagine churning out 8 shows a week without eventually running out of steam...or needing a break to recover from stress on the body.
#21Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 2:24pmIn the show I don't necessarily think Alex stands out as much as just keeping the level of execution high. I actually had Michael Fatica on for Evan when I saw it and he was great. Thayne and Jess do stand out to me, though, as far as SYTYCD go. I'm a fan of them all, though, and really commend their work. What a demanding show.
#22Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 3:42pm
Interesting to hear you all say he didn't stand to you. I thought quite the opposite. I have never seen SYTYCD before, so I didn't even know which ones were in that before reading the Playbill bios and matching bios to faces. I just don't think he's featured as heavily - Evan and Jess have the aforementioned spoons bit in King of NY, Thayne has a featured second character.
Alex's dancing stood out to me in a few ways. The first time I saw Newsies at first preview, during King of New York, when he has the solo on top of the table and taps the spoon on his shoe when his leg is raised up, everyone gasped. Every time since then, everyone has gasped "ohhh!" when he does that. Second time is during his pirouettes during the finale. I'm NOT a dancer, but he and Ryan Steele have such beautiful form and their pirouettes look like a "how-to," just perfect.
Updated On: 8/30/12 at 03:42 PM
mdbro88
Swing Joined: 12/27/11
#23Re:
Posted: 7/24/12 at 6:01pm
broadway_show_fan, I need to modify what I said earlier. All of the ensemble, including Alex, are stupefyingly good. Christopher Gattelli said that he allowed each dancer to show whatever specialty move or "trick" they had in their dance vocabulary and made sure to work that moment in somehow, so I agree, they all shine as dancers. I think I was also considering stage persona, acting, ability to project to the back of the theater, etc. in my earlier comment.
For Alex, are you talking about his split turn, which he does as a "leg grab"? Alex considers that his signature move. I guess maybe I was expecting him to have considerably MORE impact than most of the other boys, considering he was once a principal in Miami City Ballet. They all have their wow moments for sure. I am a little saddened by the beginnings of the dissolution of the original cast. Alex's fans, in particular, will be disappointed and rightly so. I know if Ryan Steele leaves, there will be outright grief among many fans.
By the way since you didn't watch SYTYCD, do yourself a favor. Search YouTube for "Twitch, Alex" and watch "ballet boy" kill a hiphop with one of the former SYTYCD stars. He's a versatile dancer to boot!
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