Replacements / Stunt Casting we’ll sadly never see.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 8:52am

Which performers have we lost that would have been fantastic replacements or stunt casting in shows?


I think a great stunt cast would have been having Divine reprise Edna in the Broadway production of Hairspray.

Kyle Jean-Baptiste would have made an absolutely amazing Aaron Burr in Hamilton.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 9:28am

This would fall more in the stunt casting category, albeit not the type of stunt casting that has become de rigueur, but I'll put in a vote for my old JCS favorite, Ted Neeley, as "The Man" in ALW's Whistle Down the Wind. (This would've been back when the show was first being put together in the Nineties, to be clear.)

* The score's range suited his older voice.
* The character has an air of ambiguity that could read as saint or sinner so he's not playing the same guy without robes.
* He'd previously worked in the Jim Steinman circuit, providing backup vocals [and "ghost leads"] for Meat Loaf on the 1981 Dead Ringer album and tour, so he could have navigated some of those lyrics with a straight face, having had ample practice.
* He'd have been coming off a national tour of JCS that was designed to be a three-to-five-month production celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1973 film's release but outlived its planned run by several years, falling a mere notch below Guns N' Roses and Janet Jackson on 1993's highest-grossing concert tours list and finally closing in 1997 as the longest-running revival in North American theater history to date, with 1,753 performances under its belt, having grossed over $140 million. The guy was making bank, and a reunion with ALW would stand a fair chance of continuing that trend.

But he's in ALW's book of permanent grudges, no one really knows why, and the show has never had a successful run outside the UK. Shame, really...

Updated On: 10/24/21 at 09:28 AM

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 9:35am

Bette Midler in anything (mainly a Hello Dolly revival)

Anne Hathaway (I saw a few posters speculating she was going to take over Bobbie after Katrina Lenk?)

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 10:09am

Dolly Parton as Dolly Levi

[UrNotAMachine]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 10:15am

Mandy Patinkin as Pierre in Great Comet. I'm still bummed we never got to hear his "Dust and Ashes."

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 10:19am

Vanessa Williams and Brian Stokes Mitchell in HELLO, DOLLY

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 3:06pm

Kyle Jean-Baptiste would have made an absolutely amazing Aaron Burr in Hamilton

He would have been great in so many incredible roles on Broadway. What an absolute tragedy. 

[helvizz]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 3:07pm

Julia Murney as Diana in the original production of Next to Normal. Has she ever played the role at all?

Also, I am haunted daily by the image below. To say Jennifer would've been a hoot is an understatement.

Updated On: 10/24/21 at 03:07 PM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 3:40pm

Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "Bette Midler in anything (mainly a Hello Dolly revival)"

...what?

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 3:40pm

UrNotAMachine said: "Mandy Patinkin as Pierre in Great Comet. I'm still bummed we never got to hear his "Dust and Ashes.""

I’m disappointed we never heard him play accordion. 

[msmp]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 6:07pm

Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "Bette Midler in anything (mainly a Hello Dolly revival)"

do you mean...another revival? because...2017-2018?

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 6:22pm

That's correct!

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 6:27pm

Bette Midler or Patti LuPone as Ursula in The Little Mermaid.

[adotburr]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 6:28pm

Jordan Levinson said: "UrNotAMachine said: "Mandy Patinkin as Pierre in Great Comet. I'm still bummed we never got to hear his "Dust and Ashes.""

I’m disappointed we never heard him play accordion."

I’m still not sure I understand exactly what happened but I’m sad I never got to see this show.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 6:54pm

Judy Garland as Mama Rose.

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 7:11pm

adotburr said: "I’m still not sure I understand exactly what happened but I’m sad I never got to see this show."

Here is the gist from my memory: Okieriete Onaodowan was playing the role of Pierre towards the end of the show's run. Patinkin was scheduled to take over the role after Onaodowan. Unfortunately, a few conflicts came up for Patinkin. This meant that he would need to start his run earlier to play the role, cutting Onaodowan's time with the show short. When the general public heard about this, they took to social media. The show and the producers were slandered for being "racist". This caused Patinkin to step away from the role. With Patinkin out of the picture, the show failed to sell tickets, and closed shortly after Onaodowan's run was over.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 7:18pm

I was hoping to see both Marin Mazzie and Rebecca Luker play Sally in Follies eventually.

[adotburr]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 7:21pm

Nolan LuPone said: "adotburr said: "I’m still not sure I understand exactly what happened but I’m sad I never got to see this show."

Here is the gist from my memory: Okieriete Onaodowan was playing the role of Pierre towards the end of the show's run. Patinkin was scheduled to take over the role after Onaodowan. Unfortunately, a few conflicts came up for Patinkin. This meant that he would need to start his run earlier to play the role, cutting Onaodowan's time with the show short. When the general public heard about this, they took to social media. The show and the producers were slandered for being "racist". This caused Patinkin to step away from the role. With Patinkin out of the picture, the show failed to sell tickets, and closed shortly after Onaodowan's run was over."

Ohhhhh interesting…. I knew it had to do with someone taking over a role but didn’t realize it was causing someone to leave the show early. Yes , I do not agree with what happened and it’s very unfortunate that the show ended this way. Thank you for your summary!

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 7:49pm

Remember when Anna Kendrick was supposedly in line to play Jenna until she pulled out because she booked a tv show?! I don’t really love her voice but I’d have been interested to see her Jenna!

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 8:08pm

“That's correct!”

Pleaseeee stop spreading this gen z nonsense

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 8:15pm

Ok boomer

[alex814]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 8:49pm

Lady Gaga as Maureen in Rent

[sng]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 9:19pm

Britney in Sweet Charity!

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 10:04pm

Leslie Odom as Dr Pomatter next to Nicolette Robinson's Jenna. It almost happened too but they couldn't come to an agreement

[binau]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 4:27am

I always thought it would have been amazing for Marin Mazzie and Jason D to do Bridges of Madison County together. Marin’s voice would have been PERFECT for the score.