Okieriete Onaodowan to Replace Josh Groban in THE GREAT COMET- Page 3

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 3:34pm

"2) A La "HEDWIG", he's a bridge to a bigger replacement down the road. (They had Andrew Rannells, far from a name outside the theatre community, bridge the gap between NPH and Michael C. Hall.)"

 

This is my thought too.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 3:39pm

I don't know why the assumption is that if they choose to try and bring in a name to sell tickets, it has to be the person playing Pierre.

Anyway, good for him. It's nice to see talented actors getting work.

[A Canadian in NYC]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 3:42pm

icecreambenjamin said: "Valentina3 said: ""I've heard a lot of people throw his name out there as an example of what would be bad stunt casting for Pierre, but Darren Criss would do quite well in the role.  He has quite a dedicated fan base."

He. Cannot. Sing. The. Part. And is not right for the part to begin with. I wouldn't mind seeing him as Anatole eventually (which he also cannot sing as written) but probably has enough charm to make up for it.

 


He can't sing the part, but a non trained singer like Dave Malloy or Scott Strangland could give a great performance?  Hmmm something doesn't add up my friend.  With a beard and the fat suit, he would look just fine.  I DO think that he is absolutely terrible for Anatole.

 

He absolutely could not sing either part.  Why not cast someone who actually can?  The talent pool has to be greater than this?  He is breathy, pitchy and has a complete lack of vibrato.  Maybe its ok for Hedwig (I think not as Lena and Euan have proved) but please don't put him in roles that deserve a true talent in musical theatre.

 

As for Oak, I think its brilliant and I wish him well.  I'm sorry I won't be seeing him in the role.

 

"

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 3:48pm

"I don't know why the assumption is that if they choose to try and bring in a name to sell tickets, it has to be the person playing Pierre"

Because nobody else seems to be leaving any time soon?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 4:05pm

icecreambenjamin said: "Hogan, are you saying that the show has absolutely no chance at winning a significant Tony award and that anyone who says that is delusional or are you saying that anyone who says the opposite is being delusional?"

I am saying that anyone who thinks Comet will win Best Musical (the only award that is box-office-significant, absent a star whose presence can be exploited) is delusional. 

On another point, I think the comparison to Hedwig doesn't hold up under rigorous analysis. In a cheap show that had already made a ton of money, Hall underperformed Harris by (eyeballing it) at least 40% and did not significanlt outperform Rannels. Comet cannot sustain a comparable situation. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 4:14pm

Right, Comet would need to replace their Rannells with another NPH. In this case, a Groban level NPH.

[Castle2]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 4:20pm

neonlightsxo said: "Right, Comet would need to replace their Rannells with another NPH. In this case, a Groban level NPH."

Maybe they'll get NPH. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 5:01pm

actually, Groban has not come close to matching NPH.  I think it would take someone like Usher and that is not gonna happen (and would be its own kind of fail if it did.)

[Abbade]

Posted: 2/15/17 at 10:23pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "My thought too, neon. I'm seeing that he's currently scheduled to perform in Comet from July 3 to September 4."

Guys, actually I'm almost certain that Oak will play Pierre for a while. He's SCHEDULED to perform till September 'cuz this is the date that the show is confirmed. If you look in the website September 4 is the last day that there are tickets on sale.
 

Updated On: 2/15/17 at 10:23 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 12:27am

Abbade said: "BroadwayConcierge said: "My thought too, neon. I'm seeing that he's currently scheduled to perform in Comet from July 3 to September 4."

Guys, actually I'm almost certain that Oak will play Pierre for a while. He's SCHEDULED to perform till September 'cuz this is the date that the show is confirmed. If you look in the website September 4 is the last day that there are tickets on sale."

That's not how it works.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 12:33am

Hogan's really being quite a jerk today.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 1:05am

icecreambenjamin said: "Hogan's really being quite a jerk today."

I don't think so, but I guess it depends how you define it. Correcting errors that go to the heart of a point doesn't strike me as jerky.

[Consistency]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 6:56am

Hogan being condescending and exhibiting an unearned level of arrogance? No, it couldn't be! 

"Correcting errors"

Oh honey. I know you think the world of yourself, but you actually AREN'T able to see the future. Though I don't think its Tony chances are very great either, I'm not quite delusional enough to think that I know, as a 100% fact, the outcome of the awards four months before they're given - especially since we're not exactly talking about an "Amazing Grace"-style flop here.

Let's make this very plain, and hopefully clear up some of your self-delusion: You're not "correcting errors" here. Nor are you piercing "delusions." You're merely mistaking your own assumptions for fact. 

Updated On: 2/16/17 at 06:56 AM

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 7:43am

Consistency said: "Hogan being condescending and exhibiting an unearned level of arrogance? No, it couldn't be! 

"Correcting errors"

Oh honey. I know you think the world of yourself, but you actually AREN'T able to see the future. Though I don't think its Tony chances are very great either, I'm not quite delusional enough to think that I know, as a 100% fact, the outcome of the awards four months before they're given - especially since we're not exactly talking about an "Amazing Grace"-style flop here.

Let's make this very plain, and hopefully clear up some of your self-delusion: You're not "correcting errors" here. Nor are you piercing "delusions." You're merely mistaking your own assumptions for fact. 

 

"

And Hogan's being the jerk?! This response is plagued with jerkiness. 

 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 7:54am

I think it would take someone like Usher

 

In what year? 2005?

[JennH]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 9:44am

I'm glad that the show is surpassing Josh and that people are starting to see it for the sake of seeing it...I love that! 

However I finally saw it last night myself...is there something Im missing? Because I did not enjoy myself...like at all. It didn't help that this week has killed my health and morale but for whatever reason I just didn't "get this show" if that's makes sense. Im damn good at following some pretty convoluted plot lines but I could not follow this to save my life even with reading a synopsis beforehand. The problem I've found with those kind of plot lines is that you have to make up for it with staging that helps the audience follow along. This kind of design and staging was a deterrent for me to follow this. Again that's just me and how I think theatre elements tend to work best. I have no issue with abstract directorial visions, but this piece is so abstract on its own already that making the design and staging abstract along with it didn't help me. I just don't think I "got it".

And for heavens sake...the characters narrating their own actions...JUST STOP THIS FORMULA. I can't express enough how much I detest utilizing this element. 

Anyways, sorry had to come back and ask about this, because it seems like I'm missing something here...

But I'm more than thrilled that people are coming to see the show rather than "Josh". 

[Kad]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 9:56am

It's good casting and a great role for Onaodowan, who remains rather unknown.

The number of people who will be buying tickets because of this casting will be miniscule and that's hardly a stretch to say, but clearly the producers were aware of that when they cast him. Hopefully they are able to position the show itself as the reason to buy a ticket rather than its cast, which is the key to longevity.

 

 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:24am

@consistency Abbade's comment to which I was responding was a common factual error: the sell-to date has no significance outside of the box office, and no one would write an actor contract that cuts out on that date because of that date. My prognostications about a show's prospects are, like everyone else's, my opinions, and nothing more (or less). And when I say someone is delusional, that too is my opinion. I've been pretty transparent about that. Sometimes it's worth taking a step back and asking how something written here would be taken if it were said over dinner among friends and acquaintances. 

@BroadwayNYC2 I think 99.9% of all recording artists would give their firstborn to have a year like the current one for Usher. No he is not his stable mate Justin Bieber, but I was trying not to be totally silly.

@PThespian I would think you would recognize those quotes as opinions. I thought we'd progressed here beyond the point where every opinion needs an IMHO appended to it. You could be right about a shift in audiences, WOM, etc., but the numbers don't bear it out: they show a softening of demand, even for Groban. Can that be reversed? Maybe. We shal see. P.S. I don't think anyone should be packing their bags just yet. It is important to recall that a lunatic is running the asylum known as the Imperial and the show may well run past the sell-to date and the sell-by date as well-until the production is kicked to the curb by the Shuberts.

 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:06am

Still not nearly the draw you think you would be, but we all know you aren't a fan of being questioned 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:07am

Still not nearly the draw you think you would be, but we all know you aren't a fan of being questioned 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 12:10pm

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Still not nearly the draw you think you would be, but we all know you aren't a fan of being questioned "

I am 100% categorically certain that I would not be a draw! I assume you mean that I think Usher would be. I was just throwing his name out there, but I think in the context of Groban being a draw, Usher would be a draw. Certainly not on the insane level of casting Bieber, but I thought my point was clear. If you want to substitute Drake, fine, though I thought that was an even sillier choice. BTW, I love being questioned. That does not mean I will cave when I think I am write but I love spirited discussion. Do you?

 

[slumdogdelaware]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 12:51pm

Looks like he's pushed back his first appearance, per Twitter.

UPDATE: July 11th will be Oaks first show! DATE CHANGE! They need another week 2get ready for Oak! #PierreOrPerish @GreatCometBway

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 1:05pm

Here's a direct link: https://twitter.com/oaksmash/status/880829740332064768

That seems kind of unprofessional to me. Shouldn't they know how long it takes to put someone into the show? So who will be playing Pierre. I doubt Josh is gonna extend another week.

[Eliza2]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 1:41pm

if this tweet is to be believed, Dave Malloy will be Pierre in the meantime

https://twitter.com/TheCometMemes/status/880842602257543168

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 2:00pm

Or if Telecharge is to be believed:

Dave Malloy (7/3 - 7/9)