Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#1Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:42am
WHOA!
Comet's Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/GreatCometBway/videos/687999821361257/
NYTimes article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/theater/hamilton-star-is-to-replace-josh-groban-in-natasha.html
pupscotch
Broadway Star Joined: 1/24/16
#2Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:44am
Wow! What an inspired choice! He'll be terrific!
#3Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:44am
I guess he now won't be playing Kristoff in Frozen.
Updated On: 2/15/17 at 11:44 AM
#4Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:44am
Wow! Never would've guessed this. Very interesting! Sadly, I don't think this show will be able to stay open too long without a big name or Tony wins.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#6Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:47am
Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I guess he now won't be playing Kristoff in Frozen
I don't see how we can jump to this conclusion yet.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#7Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:49am
He specifically says in the NYT article he isn't continuing as Kristoff.
#8Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:50am
little_sally said: "Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I guess he now won't be playing Kristoff in Frozen
I don't see how we can jump to this conclusion yet.
"
The out of town tryout begins in July or August, right?
#9Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:50am
I am a little surprised that producers didn't get someone with more name recognition, but he's a really interesting choice for the role- I'd love to see him! I also appreciate that the creative team isn't rigidly adhering to the racial breakdown of the original cast.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#10Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:56am
As much as I am a fan of Oak's...I think they're going to need someone with more name recognition and box office $ to keep that Comet running.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#11Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 11:59am
My thought too, neon. I'm seeing that he's currently scheduled to perform in Comet from July 3 to September 4. From the response I've been seeing on social media in the past 20 minutes alone, it looks like there's certainly an audience for Oak who'll easily fill seats for those two months (I'm among it!). Maybe he's only going to be there for those few months before a more commercial name takes the role?
#12Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:00pm
LesWickedly said: "Sadly, I don't think this show will be able to stay open too long without a big name or Tony wins."
"It reflects a bet by Broadway that 'Hamilton' alumni have ongoing, bankable box-office appeal...And it is the rare instance in which two black actors are leading the cast of a show that is not about black characters"
So, in a way, it's stunt casting. In lieu of a bona fide celebrity, they're hoping to score with novelty appeal.
"Starring Okieriete Onaodowan, direct from Hamilton!"
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#13Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:01pm
Definitely going to head back to the show to catch him. Awesome news!
Valyitz
Chorus Member Joined: 7/30/15
#14Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:01pm
He will be fantastic! What an inspired choice. I so wish I could see him in the role.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#15Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:01pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "My thought too, neon. I'm seeing that he's currently scheduled to perform in Comet from July 3 to September 4. From the response I've been seeing on social media in the past 20 minutes alone, it looks like there's certainly an audience for Oak who'll easily fill seats for those two months (I'm among it!). Maybe he's only going to be there for those few months before a more commercial name takes the role?"
Yeah, I think so too.
#16Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:02pm
I can and do 100% dig this.
Jakeevan942
Leading Actor Joined: 6/18/08
#17Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:02pm
Between the Hamilfans, a few (assumed) Tony wins, and the summer tourist crowds, I think Oak will do just fine filling the room for the 2 months. This is inspired casting, and I am going tor revisit the show for this.
They are going to need a bigger name to make it through the fall-It's not a cheap show to run, and Oak doesn't have much name recognition outside of the theater community.
#18Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:04pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "From the response I've been seeing on social media in the past 20 minutes alone, it looks like there's certainly an audience for Oak who'll easily fill seats for those two months (I'm among it!). "
81,936 people are already committed to going according to social media?! Wow!
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#19Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:07pm
haterobics said: "81,936 people are already committed to going according to social media?! Wow!"
I was referring to the Facebook comments on Comet's video and the replies to its tweet about the news. People are stoked.
#20Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:11pm
I want to see him do it, but it is a great choice that seeds a flop.
justasmalltownboy13
Stand-by Joined: 1/28/16
#21Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:18pm
Who is this guy?
MinnieFay
Stand-by Joined: 5/19/16
#22Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:22pm
Regardless of how good the guy may (or may not) be --- if they don't get a "name" lined up for one of the other roles, the closing notice will follow shortly after Groban leaves. It's not a cheap show to run and even with Groban --- they're barely covering expenses during some weeks.
10086sunset
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
#23Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:24pm
neonlightsxo said: "As much as I am a fan of Oak's...I think they're going to need someone with more name recognition and box office $ to keep that Comet running."
Nicely put, Neon. Couldn't agree more...
Oak is fine but I don't see this selling tickets...
#24Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:26pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "I was referring to the Facebook comments on Comet's video and the replies to its tweet about the news. People are stoked."
And I just pointed out that far less people are stoked on social media than the total number of seats in his run...
#25Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET
Posted: 2/15/17 at 12:27pm
MinnieFay said: "Regardless of how good the guy may (or may not) be --- if they don't get a "name" lined up for one of the other roles, the closing notice will follow shortly after Groban leaves. It's not a cheap show to run and even with Groban --- they're barely covering expenses during some weeks.
"
What are the operatiing costs? Haven't they been well over a million dollars most weeks? I can't see it costs that much to run, even with groban.
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