Sara Gettelfinger to replace Rachel York?

Posted: 1/29/10 at 12:12pm

According to the shows logo on Trokia Entertainment booking, Sara will be Cruella De Vil. Anyone hear anything about this?
Trokia's Website

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 12:18pm

I'm sorry we won't get to see Rachel York's take on the role when the show arrives in NYC...

[NakedMaid]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 12:29pm

Best news I've heard! I love SG!
When is it in NY??

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 12:58pm

I've only seen her in Pippin, but I think her angular boniness will work well as Cruella. :)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 2:04pm

That is crazy! Why on earth would York be leaving a high-paying job like that? Did she find out the hard way that she's allergic to dogs?

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 2:15pm

From what I've heard the show hasn't really been a success. I had no desire to see it in Dallas after hearing the music at "Broadway in Chicago," but I've herd the many of the seats in Dallas were EMPTY. Some reviewers at ticket websites even siad that they left the show during intermission.
Updated On: 1/29/10 at 02:15 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 2:35pm

YES! I was actually really excited to see this and even though I'm a huge fan of York's, I'm an even bigger fan of Gettelfinger so this just made my day. Now I can not wait for the show to get to NYC. Thanks for sharing this!!

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 2:46pm

Why didn't Sara Gettelfinger make it to the Broadway production of Grey Gardens?

[jv92]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 2:48pm

"Why didn't Sara Gettelfinger make it to the Broadway production of Grey Gardens?"

She didn't look or sound like a young Ebersole was the reason most came up with.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 2:56pm

The Dallas run did VERY poorly by most standards. Enough so that during it's first week, tickets were between 50 and 75% off.

[Weez]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 3:12pm

Hold the phone! You mean they're two different people?! :O

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 3:31pm

I didn't think Erin Davie looked or sounded like a young Christine Ebersole, either. And she was about a foot shorter than Christine, too.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 3:33pm

"The Dallas run did VERY poorly by most standards. Enough so that during it's first week, tickets were between 50 and 75% off."

I hope that won't happen to "Shrek the Musical" when it comes here this fall. The music and book are way better than this show. I'm definetley going and will invite some people with me.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 3:44pm

I'm going only because it is part of my season tickets. I wonder what they're going to do with all the advertising in Chicago with Rachel York's name plastered everywhere?

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 4:00pm

I think there's a better chance of this making it to Broadway...

Posted: 1/29/10 at 7:21pm

Rachel York 101 Dalmatians Rachel York, left, has abruptly left the Chicago-bound tour of “101 Dalmatians.” Her replacement as Cruella De Vil will be Sara Gettelfinger (an actress previously on Broadway in “Seuessical” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”)

In an announcement on her Web site, York told her fans she is “returning to California.” There has been talk on Broadway of the show's struggles — the musical is based on the 1956 book by Dodie Smith (as opposed to the 1961 animated Disney version) and features music by Dennis DeYoung. Ticket sales have been weak in most markets and the show has been suffering layoff weeks due to a lack of bookings. York's last performance is Sunday in East Lansing, Mich. The show is then on hiatus until its opening with Gettelfinger in Chicago on Feb.16 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.


Chicago Theatre Blog

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 7:50pm

Here's the complete statement from her website:

"Once The 101 Dalmatians Musical ends its engagement at the Wharton Center in East Lansing, Michigan on Sunday, January 31, Rachel will hang up her furs and climb down from her stilts, ending her triumphant run as the notorious puppy snatcher Cruella De Vil. With a trunk full of unanimous rave reviews in hand, Rachel is heading back to Hollywood where she will pursue promising film and television opportunities."

Review quotes are there, too. My word. Those are going to be hard to beat!
York's Website

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 12:47am

how'd she get out of her contract

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 12:58am

They'd be smart to just close the show now. Sara Gettelfinger, like York, deserves so MUCH BETTER than this. I guess times are tough for jobs.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 12:59am

wickedbeautylover-
I expect Shrek to sell about like Poppins did. Well, but not 100% sold out. There'll be a discount.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 1:02am

Looks liek Dallas wasn't the only city this show was struggling in according to the theatre blog.
Updated On: 1/30/10 at 01:02 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 1:16am

Here's the direct link to the Chicago Tribune's theatre blog that Chicago Star copypasta'd earlier: http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/01/101-dalmations-but-no-rachel-york.html

[Upland]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 9:38pm

Good luck to Rachel and her "promising film and tv opportunities."

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 10:32pm

It's very simple what happened. Rachel saw how bad the show was and decided not to be attached to such a project anympre as it would get her nowhere. As it is pilot season in LA LA land, she saw this as a golden opportunity (read: excuse) to leave.

[Parks]

Posted: 1/31/10 at 8:53am

Perhaps the producers were looking to reduce her contract so she decided to leave. Is that possible? Apparently there were layoffs, according to one of those statements...