Ramin's Alternate

[Tag]

Posted: 11/29/13 at 11:57pm

Looks like a full cast announcement will come on Monday, with Aaron Walpole performing JVJ once a week as he does in Toronto.

This Monday, for instance, it will be announced that Season 3 winner Melissa O’Neil and third-place finisher Aaron Walpole — both currently onstage in Les Misérables at the Princess of Wales Theatre — will follow the Cameron Mackintosh production to Broadway once it wraps up its Toronto run on Feb. 2.
(O’Neil and Walpole were keeping mum about their Broadway duties last week, but sources told the Star that O’Neil will understudy the role of Épinone while Walpole will continue subbing for Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean once a week, as he’s been doing in Toronto.)
Link

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 12:37am

I'm glad to hear that they are both transferring even though they will be understudies. I was a fan of both of them when they were on 'Canadian Idol', especially O'Neil.

Updated On: 11/30/13 at 12:37 AM

[Bunes]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 2:26am

can't we PLEASE Get broadway actors

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 5:50am

Once they sign their contracts, they ARE Broadway actors. Everyone needs to start somewhere. Just because they got NOTICED first with an idol doesn't mean they aren't "worthy" or they haven't trained.

[PastorErnst]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 7:48am

@Bunes Both Aaron and Melissa have appeared on Broadway before. They also have quite a number of theatrical credits here in Canada.

Updated On: 11/30/13 at 07:48 AM

[gstrus2]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 7:58am

In the Toronto run, when does the alternate go on? (What day?)

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 8:19am

Thursdays

[winston89]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 9:02am

I'm wondering what got the powers that be to give the role of Valjean an alternate close to thirty years in? If I recall correctly, they've never had one in the West End production. Why start now? I am not saying that the role isn't hard to sing etc. But, I just find it interesting that they are starting to give whoever is playing Valjean and alternate for this new production, when there hasn't been any history in the past.



ETA, I did remember that Dudu Fischer did have an alternate for Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons so he could observe the sabbath. However, that's a bit different because that was for religious reason rather than the role being vocally taxing.

Updated On: 11/30/13 at 09:02 AM

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 10:17am

I think it's more of a Karimloo thing than the production deciding an alternate was needed. I believe he's had alternates for every role he's played since Love Never Dies. I'm pretty sure they gave him an alternate when he played Valjean for a few months in the West End, which I don't think is common practice.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 10:32am

Winston, Jean Valjean has always been contracted to only perfume 7 shows a week. They've just never announced an official alternate before. However, an understudy has gone on at least once a week since the original production.

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 11:14am

Really? Once a week since the Barbican production in 1985? What utter rubbish.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 11:33am

I have no idea about London, but on Broadway (and on the US tours), yes.

[haphazardry]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 3:59pm

Also, I seem to remember Ivan Rutherford being credited as an alternate for at least part of Robert Marien's run as Valjean.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 4:40am

He was. He was also in the souvenir brochure as such.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 5:20am

Karimloo has stated that he never wants to do 8 shows a week again.

[Movidude742]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 7:43am

Aaron was in Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar, so he already qualifies.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 9:31am

The current Valjean in London only does 7 shows a week.. I believe his u/s does the Monday evening performances.

[hanschens]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 12:45pm

I think Alfie Boe in 2011 was the first Valjean in London to have an alternate, with Jonathan Williams doing monday evenings and wednesday matinees. Karimloo had two different alternates for about two months, with Christopher Key performing the role on a Monday and Christopher Jacobsen performing the role on a thursday. Christopher Jacobsen took over the role on a monday as well as his usual thursday in mid-jan/early feb 2012, if I remember rightly. David Shannon, who replaced Karimloo in London, did seven shows a week (Jacobsen remained doing the monday show.) For the 2012/13 cast, Geronimo Rauch did all eight performances a week and now the 2013/14 cast have gone back to having an alternate/understudy on a monday.

I hope that clears up the issue of the London alternate debate.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 12:47pm

No, he wasn't. I have a souvenir brochure that lists John Owen-Jones as the Valjean alt so it was a while ago. I'm trying to remember who the 6- or 7-show Valjean was, though...

[mikem]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 1:02pm

Did Alexander Gemignani have an alternate in the recent Broadway Les Mis revival? I don't remember any comments about people seeing an alternate/understudy in the role during the first few months.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 1:23pm

No formal alternate, no.