Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:43pm
I have not seen any producer associated with this information. Previously Aaron Harnick (nephew of Sheldon, son of Barbara Barrie) was named but it would not surprise me to learn he has glommed onto some a-list producer.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:44pm
Wow, fantastic casting. I just love her voice .... it is so feminine, elegant and timeless. I think this is a great move for her. This show has now jumped to the top of my spring 2017 wishlist along with Hello Dolly and Come From Away.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:46pm
_IrisTInkerbell said: "I do wonder about Samantha Barks. I think she would be considered a bigger "star" even with the Hamilton hype, so it's interesting that they go back to someone less "famous" from the try-out."
I think Phillipa seems perfect for the character and also I think she's more talented than Samantha.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:46pm
this season and next season are shaping up to be marvelous
Updated On: 6/17/16 at 03:46 PM
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:49pm
I love Samantha. I wonder if she was offered something else because it did seem like she would continue with the show. I think Pippa will do great in the role though.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:51pm
gypsy101 said: "_IrisTInkerbell said: "I do wonder about Samantha Barks. I think she would be considered a bigger "star" even with the Hamilton hype, so it's interesting that they go back to someone less "famous" from the try-out."
I think Phillipa seems perfect for the character and also I think she's more talented than Samantha.
"
Oh, that is quite possible. I have never seen either of these women live and I wasn't talkig about the talent of either Samantha or Phillipa. I just noted that it is the opposite of what we see with other shows sometimes, i.e. casting a more famous actor once a show moves to Broadway.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:55pm
I think people are over estimating sam barks star power. Her time to capitalise on the 'girl who played eponine in les mis' has long passed. I do really like her but outside the theatre fans im not sure anyone would know her by name. Its sad but her career doesnt seem to be taking off the way id hoped.
Phillipa soo has the current hamilton buzz to capitalise on.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:56pm
I'm happy for Phillipa, but this show needs a lot of work if they think it's going to be successful.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 3:57pm
yeah I'm kind of sad Samantha didn't parlay her role in Les Miz to bigger things. that's showbiz, I guess!
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:08pm
Must be weird come Tony time to go up against the girl who replaced you in the musical you started.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:14pm
I know Broadway.com isn't always the most reliable but now that there's a second source for this info it seems more likely to be true
http://www.broadway.com/buzz/185233/hamiltons-phillipa-soo-replaces-samantha-barks-in-broadway-bound-amelie/
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:19pm
Next year's awards season is really looking like a bloodbath. Let the 71st Hunger Games begin. And here I thought no actress would want to be pitted against Bette Midler 
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:24pm
gypsy101 said: "yeah I'm kind of sad Samantha didn't parlay her role in Les Miz to bigger things. that's showbiz, I guess!"
If you ask me, I think she's at least been having a more successful career post-Les Miz than Nikki Blonsky did after Hairspray.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:24pm
RippedMan said: "Must be weird come Tony time to go up against the girl who replaced you in the musical you started. "
If Philippa can handle going against Laura Benanti at the Tony's last Sunday, then I think she'll be fine going up against the girl who played Natasha in the musical she started back in 2013. 
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:29pm
Wick3 said: "RippedMan said: "Must be weird come Tony time to go up against the girl who replaced you in the musical you started. "
If Philippa can handle going against Laura Benanti at the Tony's last Sunday, then I think she'll be fine going up against the girl who played Natasha in the musical she started back in 2013.
"
I think you mean Benanti/ Jessie Mueller...
unless Soo had some history with She Loves Me..?
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:29pm
gypsy101 said: "_IrisTInkerbell said: "I do wonder about Samantha Barks. I think she would be considered a bigger "star" even with the Hamilton hype, so it's interesting that they go back to someone less "famous" from the try-out."
I think Phillipa seems perfect for the character and also I think she's more talented than Samantha."
I'm really happy for Philippa. I agree I think Philippa is more talented than Samantha and right now, I think Philippa's name has more star power than Samantha's.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:30pm
There is strangely little snark here.
matthew Morrison was ripped apart when he dared to " replace" the out of town actor.
how is this different ?
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:32pm
because apparently we like Jeremy Jordan more than Matt (also someone said Phillipa did a reading so it kind of seems like she's Jeremy in this situation).
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:38pm
Actors get replaced all the time. It's hardly unheard of, sometimes it improves the show, sometimes not so much. People were not thrilled about Matthew/Jordan scene because latter was apparently shafted. Matthew was in no way incapable of taking on the role, he gave a really mature performance as JM Barrie. No one knows what happened with Barks, so let's not speculate here.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:40pm
unless Soo had some history with She Loves Me..?
Check their personal, not professional, lives
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:44pm
BroadwayNYC2 said: "unless Soo had some history with She Loves Me..?
Check their personal, not professional, lives
"
Ah! Gotcha
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:46pm
Phillipa workshopped the role before Samantha, not comparable to Jeremy/Matthew.
Anyway, I'm thrilled for her. I too think Phillipa is a more accomplished actress than Samantha and she'll do a great job. Also agree that Phillipa's hype is larger than Samantha's at the moment. I hope Adam Chanler-Berat is still involved.
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:47pm
"Check their personal, not professional, lives "
Like cm'mon. Did you have to go there? You'll get this somewhat fun thread locked out. :S
Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:55pm
It's funny to me that so many here seem to think Barks was passed over in favor of Soo when it is obvious it was the other way around. Barks is at a stage in her career where it makes no sense to subtract yourself from the market for a year or more to do a show. And of course even more so financially. In all likelihood, if she tried to do the show, her agent would drop her.
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