Official: Daniel Radcliffe to Exit HOW TO SUCCEED Jan. 1; Darren Criss to Start Jan. 3 for Three Weeks

[Rob]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:14pm

Click Here to Read Official: Daniel Radcliffe to Exit HOW TO SUCCEED Jan. 1; Darren Criss to Start Jan. 3 for Three Weeks

[mjroberts972]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:20pm

Why for only 3 weeks?
Are they gonna have to find another replacement after that?

[Shunterk]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:26pm

I think the idea is to be able to train/hire a bigger name after Criss leaves. Or at least, try to find someone. If not, then the producers will have just made that much more revenue. Either way, a show keeps running.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:27pm

Criss is contracted to do GLEE as a series regular next season. He can't do more than three weeks performances (along with, I believe, two weeks rehearsal beforehand). According to Ryan Murphy, he'll only be missing one episode.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 2:18pm

I wish I liked the show...because he is going to be stunning!

[Overkill]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:09pm

I've said it before, I think he's totally wrong for the part. Almost as wrong as Daniel. The whole production is misled.

Not saying the guy isn't talented, but based off his singing in "A Very Potter Musical"/YouTube videos and the auto-tuned mess that is GLEE, I don't think he has the right voice for the character. Same with Daniel. And they're both too pretty. Robert Morse didn't have pre-teens throwing their panties at him. The role of Finch is supposed to be an every man. Not Harry Potter. Mr. Morse didn't have to rely on his looks and name for the role. Just sayin.

That's just me. I'm sure he'll do a fine job, just nothing past a regional theatre performance.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:19pm

But Finch isn't supposed to be ugly. He should be suave and charming--that's part of how he wins people over and why Rosemary takes a liking to him. And people are only throwing their panties at Daniel Radcliffe because he played Harry Potter. And who's to say that because he played Harry Potter, he can't play an every man?

[Overkill]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:29pm

Well, I'm not saying he should be Quasimodo. He just doesn't have to be a teen heartthrob. I like my Finch to rely on heart and charm alone. He gets through the business worl with his book and his ability to charm people out of their pants. I don't think he really has to be suave. But charm must be present for the character to be likeable.

I think Daniel is a GREAT actor. He does a great job breaking away from Harry Potter in this and he's very charming with his American accent, but I don't believe him as Finch. I can't wait to see him do more, and I hope he does more musical theatre. Darren, I find to be just okay. His voice is okay. Pitchy. His acting..meh. Nothing better than any other ensemble member on Broadway. He's just a "name" to help the show.

I will admit, I haven't found a Finch I've liked since Morse. It's just kind of burnt into my mind. Like Carol Channing as Dolly Levi or Ethel Merman as Rose. It's just HIS. Not to say others can't do it well, but his performance is always present in my mind while watching the show.
Updated On: 8/1/11 at 03:29 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:37pm

I just don't get all of this excitement for just 3 weeks. and if they don't find someone after Criss, then the show will close Jan. 22.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:40pm

Is Criss really that much of a "name" to carry this show, even for 3 weeks?

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:51pm

'Mr. Morse didn't have to rely on his looks and name for the role' [in 'How to Succeed'].

I love Morse, but he was cast for much of his younger career because he DOES look like a boyish, leading man with puppy-dog eyes. He looked young. When he did 'How to Succeed,' he was 30 (compared to Daniel Radcliffe, who just turned 22). By the time the 1967 movie of 'How to Succeed' came out, Morse must've been about 36. Also, wshen Morse played Richard in 'Take Me Along,' his character was almost 17, but Morse himself was 28. Of course, an actor's looks play into how he gets cast.

Also, Morse wasn't exactly cast in 'How to Succeed' as some unknown who relied only on 'heart and charm.' By that point, he had 3 Broadway shows on his resume and 2 Tony nominations.

[fflagg]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 3:51pm

All the GLEE queens and their faghags will go. But will he get asses in the seats for 3 weeks post the holidays? Maybe. He is a bland cutie in a hit TV show. The only reason he is there is to sell tickets not for his talent. Who comes after him? Justin Bieber?

I say replace John Laroquette with Jane Lynch!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 5:04pm

What's next for the Hirsh?

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 5:20pm

Will Criss sell tickets? I think so. And imagine if they cross-promote and put some H2$ ads on during GLEE. "See the hunk you're watching on TV right now live, in person." The GLEE diehards who will be buying (or getting their parents to buy) full price tickets for three weeks are the demographic the producers are after. Seriously, there's a reason why producers don't cast based on the opinions of the posters on this board and ATC. If they did, we'd get Bobby Steggert and a closing notice in six weeks.

[pitfever]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 5:37pm

I think Criss will be awesome, and fit the role perfectly. He has the charisma and stage experience and should be fine.

All the Criss bashing is ridiculous. He's a singer, actor, stage performer, song writer and composer. But he's not that talented eh? Hey, when's the last time you play a piano? Haters gonna hate.
Updated On: 8/1/11 at 05:37 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 5:42pm

If he sells out each week, that's an extra, what, 3 million? Maybe they need those extra weeks to get closer to reaching break-even, or maybe it's purely for profit.

[pitfever]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 5:57pm

I can already tell that if it's not sell out, it's Criss' fault, despite Jan is usually the slow month, isn't it?? I pray for Winter God, please keep the snow OFF!!!

[harris007]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 6:28pm

And I see the ever vile fflagg was able to work in another nasty gay comment

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 8:05pm

My daughter is a Starkid (she traveled 180 miles to see Darren at Six Flags - we drove to Chicago to see Starkid to perform and for a convention appearance and for the YouTube tour) and her first reaction was "can we get tickets" - even though it's not just play tickets, but also air tickets and hotels. I was going to get her tickets to Book of Mormom, so perhaps I'll put her to the test. Choose One and only one.

As for ticket sales potential, Team Starkid (now w/o Darren) announced a two day cabaret in Chicago for charity. They sold out online in 4 minutes. Darren is "harry freaking potter" and he does sell to that demo (At Starkid's "Starship" show in Chicago, if you bought $100 merchandise, you got a signed Darren Criss photo. They sold a lot of merchandise)
Updated On: 8/1/11 at 08:05 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:17pm

Now Im gonna have Justin Beiber singing "I Believe in You" in my head all night.

Thanks.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:34pm

What is a starkid?

[rjm516]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 10:12pm

"What is a starkid?"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120478/

[suttonequalslove]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 7:44pm

I can't wait for Criss to start, and I am personally waiting to buy tickets until Daniel Radcliffe leaves. His singing is not quite up to par, and I think Darren Criss is CRAZY TALENTED.

Updated On: 8/3/11 at 07:44 PM

[I'mNOTthatGIRL72]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 12:10pm

Darren Criss will sell it, because he is not just "that gay kid on glee'. Darren Criss is a talented performer and composer, and while I don't think he's the strongest singer, he's got a nice voice and the bottom line is HE IS GOING TO SELL TICKETS. Not only for the gleeks, but for us Starkids. Starkid is his theatre company that he belongs to, from the University of Michigan. They hit it big on youtube with their parody musical "A Very Potter Musical", and its sequel, as well as the hilarious show "Me and my Dick" and most recently, Starship. Darren wrote a large chunk of the music and, as someone said before, he is Harry Freakin' Potter, and he's very special to us Starkids. My friend and I just bought tickets to his opening night on Broadway. Two years ago he was just a freshly graduated kid who caught people's attention in a cute youtube musical. Now, he's about to make his Broadway debut. It's so exciting to see all this happen for him. Good luck, Darren, we're so proud of you!