"Originating" a Broadway Role

A lot has been mentioned lately about Stephanie J. Block being the "original" Elphaba in WICKED during its workshop phases, then Idina stepping in in SF and taking over the role, bringing the show to Broadway... and the rest is history.

I believe this is all part of the natural creative process of mounting a major Broadway show, and has been for years. While I in no way take away from Stephanie's contribrution to Wicked in its early development, I still will always think of Idina Menzel as the "original" Broadway Elphaba.

It got me thinking... This is not the first time a new performer was brought in prior to a show's opening in New York, going on to win fame and glory. Others come to mind, but I wonder if any of you have stories or names to share!

The one that comes to mind right away is Andrea McArdle in "Annie." She was a part of the show out of town (as Pepper, I believe), then replaced the girl in the lead prior to the show coming into New York. Anyone know the story behind that?

Also Paul Newman was hired as an understudy, then the paper boy for the original cast of "Picnic," but while they were out of town he stepped into the part of Alan (the second male lead), and took the show to New York.

---

Okay, maybe not. That's a new one on me. I do know that Ellen Foley ("Night Court" and "Paradise By the Dashboard Lights") played the Witch in the San Diego out-of-town try-out for Into the Woods. But I don't know the Betty Buckley story. Do tell!

---

Lainie Kazan getting replaced out of town by one of her best friends and neighbor, Michelle Lee in SEESAW.

Faye Dunaway getting replaced by Glenn Close in SUNSET BLVD.

---

Kristin Chenoweth did the workshop, but Erin Dily was playing the role when Sutton Foster stepped up.

Kristin Chenoweth said in an interview that she was NOT supposed to play Millie. She was intended to play Miss Dorothy but had to back out because of scheduling conflicts.

---

Joel Grey replaced someone as the wizard after the out-of-town run. What was his name? Can't remember.

---

Robert Morse (Tony winner for How To Succeed)

---

Kristin Vigard was Annie at Goodspeed originally. It was decided that she was "too sweet" and that the material really warrented a tougher Annie to keep the show from falling into Schmaltzville, and Vigard was replaced by Andrea McArdle.

Vigard actually came back to the production as McArdle's standby on Broadway.

James Carpinello was originally supposed to be Link. Different soruces say different things about why he left the production.

These are all really great!

re: SUNSET BLVD.

This is the way I understood it. (Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Patti originated the role in London and was supposed to play Norma on Broadway.

EDIT: Dunnaway was supposed to open the Los Angeles company, but was replaced before it opened with much embarassment and ALW apologies by Glenn Close. A little while later, strange things started happening, and Patti was NOT going to Broadway. There was more public humiliation and apologies, etc.

The Los Angeles production (which was running full-steam) was shut down. And the entire cast, with the exception of Judy Kuhn who was pregnant, became the Broadway company and opened the show in NYC.

So I guess Glenn replaced Dunnaway in L.A., and then LuPone in NYC.

---

Updated On: 9/23/05 at 12:25 PM

As far as I know, Close was always the replacer, not the replacee.

But I too would love to know if anyone has the scoop!

---

By the way, Chenoweth also played Queenie in the first workshop/reading of Lippa's THE WILD PARTY at the O'Neill Festival.

Of course, there are numerous cases of actors being replaced during previews or out-of-town try-outs:

Hans Conreid replacing David Burns (who literally dropped dead on stage)in 70 GIRLS, 70.

Steve Barton replacing Roger Rees in THE RED SHOES

Jim Walton replacing Jim Weissenbach in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

Josie DeGuzman replacing Carolyn Mignini in the GUYS AND DOLLS revival.

Susan Watson and Jack Gilford replacing Carole Demas and Hiram Sherman in the NO NO NANETTE revival.

Actor/playwright Larry Shue played Rev. Crisparkle in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD in Central Park, but was killed in an auto accident. Jerome Martin played the role on Broadway.

Similarly, Patricia Routledge played Ruth in PIRATES OF PENZANCE in the park, but Etelle Parsons played it on Broadway.

When the revival of ON THE TOWN was remounted on Broadway, A LOT of the cast was different - but it took over a year for the tranfer. The same is true of the Broadway remounting of WONDERFUL TOWN.

Updated On: 9/23/05 at 01:19 PM

Come to think of it... I had also heard that LaChanze was the original Sarah in the workshop of Ragtime. Something fell apart in the negotiations for the Toronto/Broadway mounting, and she dropped out.

Ironically, she ended up playing the part in the "American Premiere" production in L.A., and went on to replace Audra in in the Broadway company.

---