Posted: 5/27/15 at 9:19pm
SO i have it on good word that Roger is done with the show due to health concerns, is a shame but obviously making sure you don't die is more important then being in a show 8 times a week for maybe 4-5 more weeks..
Posted: 5/27/15 at 9:24pm
*IF* this is true, then I am truly disappointed.....
Posted: 5/27/15 at 9:28pm
Tom Nelis was Prospero at ART last season and he was really great. I think he's talented as heck.
Posted: 5/27/15 at 9:28pm
"making sure you don't die is more important then being in a show 8 times a week for maybe 4-5 more weeks.. "
Well, that escalated quickly, didn't it?
Posted: 5/27/15 at 9:46pm
Roger is a lovely man. Wishing him a speedy recovery. So sorry I'll miss him on stage.
Posted: 5/27/15 at 9:51pm
Such sad news. Nelis is great in the role and obviously a much better singer, but his performance is not as heartbreaking as Rees', as he plays less of a completely broken man. Still a valid character choice, but I do prefer Rees as Anton.
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:01pm
Your word is good and true, sadly. Rees has left as the illness is beginning to impair his ability to adequately perform the role. A tough journey ahead. Wishing him only the best...
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:04pm
Breaks my heart. He is such a nice person and so easy to work with. Wishing him the best and sending good vibes.
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:19pm
sad to hear but should have figured something was off when we stagedoored a few weeks ago and with only a few of us waiting he totally blew past us, every other experience i've ever had with him he's been super nice and generous with his time, I'm hoping he has a speedy recovery but he has a long battle ahead.
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:37pm
Dear Roger,
Some of us have loved you since Nicholas Nickleby. All of us wish you abundant good health and a complete recovery.
Your pal, Joey
Updated On: 5/28/15 at 11:37 PM
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:47pm
According to there website Tom Nelis is officially Anton
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:54pm
He's been up there for a few days.
Posted: 5/27/15 at 11:59pm
I saw both. I thought the understudy was better.
Posted: 5/28/15 at 12:23am
I saw Nelis in the role tonight and was just so so so impressed with his take on the role. This was my 5th time seeing the show and I think I enjoyed it even more tonight than I have the past 4 times. There's always something new to see on the stage, due to Doyle's brilliant direction.
After the show, I heard an usher mention a talkback and I asked her if it was for everyone and she said it was for a PBS group but if I wanted to stay, she wouldn't stop me. So I joined the maybe 20 other people for a really fascinating 35 minute talk with Tom Nelis, Mary Beth Peil, Elena Shadow, John Riddle, Chris Newcomer & George Abud.
Updated On: 5/28/15 at 12:23 AM
Posted: 5/28/15 at 12:34am
I wish him well and a speedy recovery. He is wonderful onstage (and I even loved him in Addams Family)
Posted: 5/28/15 at 8:37am
I don't think it makes much of a difference because:
a) Rees was sleepwalking through the role; not that anyone could blame him, as so much of his material had been cut in the (extremely necessary) pruning of a bloated show, and
b) the closing notice will probably go up the morning after the Tony Awards.
That said, I enjoyed this production enormously, even with Rees figuratively hovering in the shadows.
Posted: 5/28/15 at 9:39am
Perhaps you're right; however, I saw the show almost two months ago, a few days after previews began. But perhaps he was ill from the very beginning - who knows?
Posted: 5/28/15 at 10:03am
Hope he recovers quickly and is feeling better soon. I will say, even out of the aging makeup that most characters wear in the show, he was not looking well at all. I did meet him at the stage door back in April and he was very nice but he didn't look great and his signature was really just a scribble which also led me to believe he was not well.
All the best to him.
Posted: 5/28/15 at 10:38am
I wish him well, and I'm very sorry that he's ill, but did his illness come up suddenly during the run of the show, or did he have knowledge, but though that he'd be able to perform regardless? Not that it's my business, but I can't imagine someone who's sick agreeing to take on a leading role in a major musical. If he thought he could muddle through, more power to him and what a trouper! I'm sorry he had to leave.
Posted: 5/28/15 at 10:56am
I'm not sure why my post about this situation was deleted by the Moderators...but it was. If you wish to know more, please private message me. I only share the facts so that truth & accuracy prevails over incredulous claims of "sleepwalking" through the show. Cheers.
Posted: 5/28/15 at 10:58am
I can only assume it was deleted because the details of the illness have not been made public. I apologize if that's the case. Thanks.
Updated On: 5/28/15 at 10:58 AM
Posted: 5/28/15 at 11:25am
I'm surprised this thread (and specific posts in it) lasted as long as it did. I had assumed there had been a press release, but searching his name on Google News brought nothing. No good, y'all.
Posted: 5/28/15 at 11:26am
That must be due to the fact that his medical condition has not been publicly released. I was unaware of that. Just not sure why my posts were the only ones targeted for deletion.... but whatever.
