Shows that depend on certain performers

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:49pm

What current shows are there in NY, that can only survive with certain performers. I mean new shows with no major replacements yet, because if there's replacements, that shows it does not rely on any performers. "Gypsy" relies on Patti LuPone to an EXTREME amount, and "Legally Blonde" relies on Laura Bell Bundy a lot. What else is there? Can "Heights" go on without Lin Manuel-Miranda. I don't even want to think about "Passing Strange" without Stew.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:46pm

I meant this certain production. Last production depended on Bernadette Peters.

[SMiller]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:46pm

R U kidding me?

Legally Blonde can survive without LBB. Passing Strange and Stew?
I would say DHP with Curtains and if you want to include In The Heights then I would say it needs Mandy Gonzalez.

I know that The Boy from Oz NEEDED Hugh Jackman.

SMiller

[Leo_Yikes]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:49pm

wow...just wow

[ashley0139]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:50pm

Legally Blonde in no way depends on Laura Bell Bundy because no one outside of the Broadway community has heard of her. It depends on its name. If someone came in from across the country, they couldn't care less whether Laura Bell Bundy is in the show. Come on.

[skb2010]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:51pm

AHH. but you are mistaken Ashley. She was on MTV Monday. Half of the teenage girls (that aren't theater fans) in the USA have now heard of her.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:52pm

Although it not still open, GREY GARDENS depended on Ebersole.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:53pm

PATTI LUPONE GYPSY does depend on Patti LuPone. I think it will close when her contract is up. Maybe it would have been different if they had just billed it as "Gypsy," but it's relying on LuPone's name quite a bit.

As for the rest, I disagree. And to whoever said it -- I think Mandy Gonzalez is insanely talented, but ITH will surely survive without her.

[SMiller]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:54pm

I agree. They are coming to see the show for the show. Becky, in my opinion, does a much better job then Laura does.

SMiller

[strelimyn]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 2:57am

I completely agree with Boy From Oz depending on Hugh Jackman. In an interview with Broadway Bullet, Stephanie J. Block told of the entire show being on hiatus as Jackman needed time off for one reason or another (I want to say X-Men promotion - but I don't know).

[shh282]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 11:25am

November - > Nathan Lane, it's absolutely brilliant but he is the glue that holds it all together undoubtedly.

[kylestefanie]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 12:20pm

Grease depends on Laura Osnes and Max Crumm now Taylor Hicks I'm sure will contribute

I also agree with november with Nathan Lane

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 12:33pm

Producers started falling apart after Lane and Broderick left.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 12:37pm

During the run of THE BOY FROM OZ, the producers wisely chose to shut-down production for 2 weeks every few months to give Hugh Jackman a rest. It wasn't for any other reason -- no promotional tour; no other projects; nothing. Just for rest. The cast and crew were also blessed as they were still paid full salary during this break. Thanks to this, Hugh never missed a single performance during the show's entire 1-year run.

KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN and SUNSET BLVD. heavily relied on a star to keep running. Vanessa Williams gave KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN an unexpected boost to ticket sales when she replaced Chita Rivera (Maria Conchita Alonso closed it shortly after she replaced Vanessa). SUNSET BLVD. closed shortly after UK's Elaine Paige joined the show.

[DrewBill]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 12:45pm

There's probably only one show currently playing on Broadway that is a "star vehicle" and dependent on it's lead, and that's Patti LuPone in "Gypsy." I think most everyone else is replaceable right now.

From the past, I think both "The Boy From Oz" and "Grey Gardens" could have survived without their original stars, but their respective producers (for mainly financial reasons) decided not to even try. (Actually, I believe that the "Oz" producers did explore Hugh Jackman replacements for a while before deciding against it.)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 12:53pm

Producers started falling apart after Lane and Broderick left.

Yeah, it fell apart after a more-than-healthy 6 year run and having played 2,535 performances (including the 33 preview performances).

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 1:01pm

How can you see that Legally Blonde relies on LBB?
um. Hsven Burton and Becky Gusliv are incredible Elle understudies, some people even claimed that they like one or both of them better. If anything I would say Orfeh would be the one, but even so she's replaceable eventually.

But every show to some degree depends on having good performers. Like as much as I love Rent, I really hate seeing it w/ tamyra, or really just with a weak cast in general.

I agree about Producers, maybe not so much Broderick (i actually got roger bart as an understudy when i saw it and he was fabulous) but definitely nathan Lane. And seeing as I though ebersole was the ONLY good thing about grey gardens, her as well. THIS run of gypsy relies on patti. I wouldn't say that ITH relies on Lin, but he definitely adds to the performance.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 3:26pm

I feel like PASSING STRANGE and Stew are intimately tied. Something tells me this isn't going to be revived in a few years or have a healthy regional life. It's really about Stew and his story and life. That was my impression when I saw it.

OH....many believe that FUNNY GIRL is nothing but boring without Babs.

Updated On: 6/10/08 at 03:26 PM

[strelimyn]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 8:00pm

BrodyFosse123, thanks for clearing up the Jackman/Boy From Oz story for me!

:)

[SheepyFuzz]

Posted: 6/10/08 at 8:10pm

I think Young Frankenstein won't last much longer after the leads are all gone.

[nervous]

Posted: 6/11/08 at 1:56pm

I don't agree that Young Frankenstein depends on its leads. Other than Megan, the leads are not well known outside of the theater community, and the theater community has already turned thumbs-down on the show. This musical will continue as long as the tourists buy tickets because they recognize "Mel Brooks" and "Young Frankenstein" on the marquee.