Star replacements who were actually incredible.- Page 2

[Wickedfan18]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:13pm

megan hilty as glinda in wicked..AMAZING

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:15pm

I only saw her performance a few nights ago on Leno....er...

Also, Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba in Wicked was great.

AND WHO CAN FORGET
Tony Danza - The Producers
and Chirs Kattan - The Frogs

AMAZING performances right there!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:17pm

I love Megan, but they are talking about STARS, not Broadway actresses making debuts.

Brooke Shields in WT.
Vanessa Williams in Kiss.
Drew Lachey in Rent.
Frenchie in Rent.
Tamyra Gray in BD.
Toni Braxton in Aida.
Liza Minnelli in Victor/Victoria.
Eileen Atkins in Doubt.
Ron Eldar in Doubt.
Rosie O'Donnell in Fiddler.
Harvey Feirstein in Fiddler.
Jena Malone in Doubt.

Updated On: 4/25/07 at 10:17 PM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:19pm

I saw Liza in Victor/Victoria....NOT pretty.

I thought she ruined the show. Sure, it was great to see a living legend on stage, but she was dreadful in the role and couldn't hit notes like the amazing Julie Andrews. They even cut out the songs "If I Were a Man" and "Living in The Shadows" (or that other song...can't really remember)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:20pm

Brooke Shields in Cabaret-LOVED her.
Sharon Lawrence in Chicago
and, he wasn't a star at the time, but he was just so good: Jai Rodriquez in Rent

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:34pm

People said that Brooke was the funniest Sally Bowles.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:37pm

I heard good things about Liza's turn as Roxie in the original Chicago.

And I don't know how good she was, but I am ammused that Anne Baxter replaced Lauren Bacall in "Applause"

[jjoey076]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:42pm

Joey McIntyre was actually good.

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:47pm

I wish I was around during the time, but I would have loved to have seen Pearl Bailey and Ethel Merman in HELLO, DOLLY!

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:49pm

I second Megan Hilty being amazing! She was the absolute highlight of Wicked. And don't crucify me, but I really enjoyed Rue McClanahan even though a lot of people didn't like her. She really made the character of Morrible formidible and funny at the same time. Ben Vereen was the best Wizard, hands down.

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:43pm

Sandy Duncan was one of the best Roxie replacements...nailed pretty much everything about the character.

Reba is probably the best example, when she took over she elevated that show to a totally different level. PLEASE revive Whorehouse with her as Mona!

I enjoyed Jennifer Holliday as Mama Morton.

Brooke Shields has been a solid replacement in nearly everything she's done.

I liked Anne Heche and JJLeigh in their runs of Proof.

[Poppy]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:09am

Robert Evan stepping into Jekyll & Hyde after Robert Cuccioli did an amazing job and J. Mark McVey in "Beauty and the Beast" also a very fine choice.

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 3:15am

Gina Gershon, Cabaret.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 3:39am

Gina was great in Cabaret.

Also, the only person who could hold a candle to Alan Cumming or Joel Grey in Cabaret was Neil Patrick Harris. He made the role his own and was absolutely AMAZING!

And I REALLY enjoyed Rosie O'Donnell in Seussical and Fiddler but I didn't list her in the risk of being bashed. I thought she was fantastic in both roles.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 5:21am

I really enjoyed Kerry Ellis' performance as Elphaba in London. It's the powerhouse voice she has, incredible :)

[fossemoves]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:06pm

REBA! I trully wish they would revive Whorehouse for her.

And I'm forced to aggree about Brooke. She is a solid, skilled, and talented actress and the roles she's gone in and replaced under have been great. I"d like to see her orginate a role though.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:11pm

Personally, I thought Uncle Jesse was a great replacement after Mr. Banderas left.

Updated On: 4/24/07 at 07:11 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:12pm

Jonathan Pryce as Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:14pm

fantasia - color purple
ana gastyer - wicked
drew lachey- rent
joey mcyntire - wicked (though he was like drunk every show ) haha

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:14pm

The only reason I made it through WOMAN OF THE YEAR was Welch. She was gorgeous and great. Clark was hideous in SUNSET BLVD. I loved Close.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:16pm

Buckley WAS Norma Desmond. Hands down.

[sondhead]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:22pm

Deborah Cox in Aida was surprisingly wonderful

And I also feel this probably answers more of what the OP was asking.. star replacements.. not people WE know as famous but stunt casting

[WestVillage]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 12:57pm

Jane Powell in Irene
Petula Clark in Blood Brothers
Merman, Diller and Baily in Dolly
Raquel in Woman of the Year
Anne Baxter in Applause
Liza in Chicago (original production)
Martha Raye in No, No Nanette
Ann Reinking in ACL

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 1:09pm

Thanks for reminding me about Raquel Welch. What struck me most about her was her sheer joy of performing and being on stage. That she was actually good in the role was almost beside the point--I don't think I've ever seen someone simply have so much fun.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 1:54pm

Aneliese van der Pol (of THAT'S SO RAVEN fame) as "Belle" in the closing company of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. One of the most incredible voices I have EVER heard onstage. So powerful, so beauitufl, so touching, so...I could go on, but yeah... If you haven't seen it, or are reluctant to see it, DON'T BE! Get your tickets today!

Best,
- Mike