Stars who ALMOST got to Broadway.

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 6:42am

How many stars have been announced for major shows, particularly as replacements in long running productions, and actually got as far as rehearsals but never made it to opening night?

Rita Hayworth was reportedly preparing to take over as Margo in APPLAUSE when the first signs of her illness took her out of the game.

Robert Stack was lined up to replace Van Johnson in LA CAGE AU FOLLES but was evidently not up to the demands of the part.

Elisabeth Seal was supposed to open as Cassie in A CHORUS LINE in London before Michael Bennett withdrew his approval at the last minute.

Film star Jean Arthur famously bailed from BORN YESTERDAY giving Judy Holliday her shot at Broadway and Hollywood stardom.

Louis Jourdan was replaced as the leading man before ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER got to New York.

Who else never made it past the starting gate?

(Apart from Jane K., Marisa T. and other Charitys large and small...)

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 6:58am

Oh, of course, Faye Dunaway as Norma Desmond!

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 7:48am

Well, Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlain were set to debut in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S before David Merrick cancelled the show, despite it's hefty advance.

I can't recall her name right now, but who was set to star in THE MIRACLE WORKER a few years ago before the show got cancelled?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:15am

Hilary Swank was supposed to play Annie in THE MIRACLE WORKER, before it was cancelled alltogether.

Swank was also announced for Maggie in the revival of AFTER THE FALL, but withdrew to do MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

Jenna Elfmann was announced as Jane Krakowski's replacement in NINE, but was let go during rehearsals.

Patti LuPone was dropped from SUNSET BLVD. in New York after the producers said they wanted a bigger name. She sued and won over $1 million.

Actresses previously announced for SWEET CHARITY: Jenna Elfmann, Marisa Tomei, Jane Krakowski

Anita Gillette left THE OLDEST PROFESSION prior to start because of a family tragedy and was replaced by Priscilla Lopez.

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:35am

Carol Demas, Frank McHugh and Hiram Sherman fired during rehearsals for NO, NO, NANETTE in 1971.

Madeline Kahn written out of HOW NOW, DOW JONES in '68.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:44am

Robert Morse left WICKED after the San Francisco tryout.

Erin Dilly was Millie in the La Jolla production, but left. She was replaced by her understudy, Sutton Foster.

Martha Plimpton left Woody Allen's A SECOND HAND MEMORY to write and direct episodes of the TV show 7TH HEAVEN. She was replaced by Elizabeth Marvel.

Jasmine Guy dropped out of THE VIOLET HOUR during previews due to "medical reasons". She was replaced by her understudy, Robin Miles.

Laura Benanti also left THE VIOLET HOUR three weeks before previews started, and was replaced by Dagmara Domincyzk.

Diahann Carroll left ON GOLDEN POND right before it began its pre-Broadway tryout in DC. She was replaced by Leslie Uggams.

Delroy Lindo left GEM OF THE OCEAN due to "creative differences" and was replaced by Anthony Chisholm.

[pab]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:31am

"Well, Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlain were set to debut in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S before David Merrick cancelled the show, despite it's hefty advance."

However, both stars did end up getting to Broadway in other shows.

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:50am

Mandy Moore was supposed to replace Kristin Chenowith in Wicked, but didn't make it past rehearsals. She couldn't quite pull off the vocal demands.

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:15am

Did Mandy even get to rehersals?

[Jwei123]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:20am

J.Lo got severl callbacks for Morales in ACL.

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:31am

Michael Bennett fired Barbara Luna (SOUTH PACIFIC, WEST SIDE STORY) as Morales from ACL after a few performances.

[me101]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:39am

Kristin Chenoweth was supposed to play Millie in TMM, but turned it down to star in a sitcom

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:15am

at least when Carole Demas got axed from NO NO NANNETTE (and replaced by the divine Susan Watson-BYE BYE BIRDIE's original Kim--the casting call actually had asked for a Susan Watson type--Watson phoned them and said she was looking for work and could still pass for the age they needed--she was right, Watson gave a lovely performance in NO NO NANNETTE) Demas was able to create the part of SANDY in GREASE off Broadway and continued for quite a while when the show transferred to Bway. :)

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:17am

of course the legendary Barbara Cook bailed from the infamous CARRIE and was replaced by Betty Buckley. This is really not a star who almost got to Broadway. Cook was already a star and had a Tony. But she smelled disaster and left CARRIE.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:31am

Jennifer Garner was to replace Tammy Blanchard in GYPSY...it closed prematurely.

Updated On: 4/17/05 at 11:31 AM

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:35am

NYC, is that real??

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:39am

Ok maybe I'm the only idiot but....what is the story behind the whole Faye Dunaway in Sunset, well Not being in Sunset?

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:46am

Quite so jjdude2000. I've been friend with Jennifer ever since we were in GYPSY together when she lived in West Virginia. I got to see her last year at her parent's anniversary and we got to talking about broadway and things and she said that she loves it out in CA, but is dieing to be on the great white way, and with pipes like hers, i can see why. She said that she'd been in talks with the producers about taking over for tammy when she left the show. Jennifer is not naturally a very pretty girl, TRUST ME!, but she can be made up to be quite gorgeous, which is why i think she would have been so great in that role. However as we all know, the show's attendance ratings were dropping, and the producers made a move to close. Last time I talked to her though (right before elektra came out), she still seemed very hopeful to do broadway before long. Keep your fingers crossed, she is an AMAZING talent!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:51am

Faye was to replace Glenn Close at the Shubert Theater in L.A. It was announced to the media and word had it that Faye was taking voice lessons in preparation for the role. She DID audition for ALW and apparantly her voice was considered adequate enough to step into the role. Then suddenly ALW's camp announced that the entire L.A. production of "Sunset" was closing down much to Dunaway's surprise. Like the LuPone incident, it was very badly handled and supposedly cost ALW millions in settling with these two women although to my knowledge the exact amounts have never been made public.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:58am

My personal favorite "star being shunned": Lorna Luft was to be Grizabella in CATS but was replaced by Betty Buckley during the audition period....Also i believe luft was booted out from another production when she walked into rehearse and there was another girl in her spot....i think thats how it went, (its all in her book ME AND MY SHADOWS)

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 11:58am

Of course, Richard Dreyfuss in the London PRODUCERS.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:12pm

I believe Karen Black was axed from "Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" while it played out of town. She was to play the role of Philia. In "Sondheim and Co.", it is mentioned that Harold Prince brought in Barbara Harris and Joel Grey to audition for the ingenue and juvenile roles but his desire to have them in the company was overruled.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:19pm

Yea NYC Bust, Luft was to be in the ill-fated musical "Lolita, My Love" as the title character. I kind of remember reading she was replaced because one of the producer's wives thought she was having an affair with her husband.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 1:27pm

me101- I thought Cheno was supposed to be Miss Dorothy?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 1:27pm

Not at all! She was supposed to be Millie.