Stunt casting that worked!
Stunt casting that worked!
eslgr8
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/04
#0Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:35pmLots of nominations for the worst "stunt" casting. Now let's get positive and list "stunt" replacements that surprised you with how good they were. Though I haven't seen her, NY critics seemed pretty unanimous in saying that Brooke Shields did a great job in Wonderful Town (astounding those who thought she could never pull it off.) Anyone else to add to this list? Updated On: 1/20/05 at 02:35 PM
#1re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:37pmFrom what I hear, Reba McIntyre in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.
Chloe
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/28/04
#2re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:38pmIt's also generally agreed that Deborah Cox did a good job as the last Broadway Aida.
#3re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:39pmBrooke Shields in Wonderful Town.
Spooky
Featured Actor Joined: 7/20/04
#4re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:40pm
Delta Burke in Millie
And I admit to buyer tix for Sweet Charity just to see Christina Applegate, though I read today that they got Charlotte D'Am...as backup in case she pulls a Donna Murphy (their words not mine)
#5re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:41pmWell, "worked" as in turned out to be a good casting choice and they didn't totally botch the role, or "worked" in terms of boosting income, (which seems to be the primary purpose of stunt casting)?
TheGaIsSilent
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/25/04
#6re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:45pm
Eep, I'm gonna say it.
Drew Lachey in RENT.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#8re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:53pm
This was off broadway but I thought Joey Mcintyre was just as good as Raul Esparza in TTB. Ack, I said it! I did! 
#9re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:55pm
As good? Really?
Hm...
eslgr8
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/04
#10re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:56pmLuv the emcee: In my original post, I stated "'stunt' replacements that surprised you with how good they were," not which ones increased the box office. By the way, I saw Drew Lachey in Rent last September and not having anyone else to compare him with, and not knowing much about Drew except that he had been one of 98 Degrees, I thought he did quite well, and it was only his first week. He seemed sensitive and nerdy (isn't that what his character is supposed to be?) which his pop star image didn't get in the way of for me.
#11re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:56pm
As good? Really?
Hm...
Really, no need to roll eyes at me. I love Raul Esparza and was horrified to think of anyone replacing him. Then Joey stepped in and I was pleasantly surprised at how good he was.
#12re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:58pmsorry, I saw Joey McIntyre in Boston and he killed the character. Such a good show to have it ruined by someone who couldn't act. He passed with th singing, but he lacked all kinds of energy and honesty in his performance. He yucked it up for his hometown and it was obvious.
#13re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:00pmMadeofGold, I'm just kidding! I actually screwed up the emoticon, though. I meant to get the one with the big eyes, not the eye-roll. Sorry!
#14re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:00pm
sorry, I saw Joey McIntyre in Boston and he killed the character. Such a good show to have it ruined by someone who couldn't act. He passed with th singing, but he lacked all kinds of energy and honesty in his performance. He yucked it up for his hometown and it was obvious.
I swear I thought he was great. He added a different energy to the show that I liked. I saw Raul in TTB four times and Joey three, here at the Jane Street theater. I thought he was wonderful.
Conversely, I hated Molly Ringwald when she joined the cast but others liked her.
*shrugs shoulders*
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#15re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:04pmi saw joey in boston too and thought he was better than raul...
#16re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:13pm
the term stunt casting clearly means different things to different people at different times. If they were considered "stunt casting" certainly:
Liza Minnelli subbing for the ailing Verdon in Chicago
Raquel Welch replacing Lauren Bacall in WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Anne Baxter replacing Lauren Bacall in APPLAUSE (Baxter starred in the musical as Margo Channing and interestingly had played Eve to an Oscar nomination in the film on which APPLAUSE was based, ALL ABOUT EVE.--THAT was serious stunt casting at the time--the actress who played Eve in the movie, playing Margo in the Broadway musical they adapted from it)
was Phyllis Diller in Hello Dolly! on Broadway stuntcasting?
#17re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:17pm
Molly Ringwald in "Cabaret"
Believe me, I was skeptical at first, that being my favorite show. But she played the character EXTREMELY well and was invited back to do a second run in the character. She also grossed the most money the show had grossed in years. I very much enjoyed her.
ElphieZ
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/04
#18re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:17pm
Chita Rivera as Roxie in Chicago (in Las Vegas).
You have to admit whoever did that was genius!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#19re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:22pm
I enjoyed Joey MacIntyre too in TTB.
I also thought Molly Ringwald was good in CABARET
BWayBoy88
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/04
#20re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:27pm
Antonio Banderas in Nine
I'm not sure if this counts because he has a background in theater, but Hugh Jackman in BFO
#21re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:32pm
Ethel Merman in HELLO, DOLLY!
Hell, Pearl Bailey and the African-American cast of HELLO, DOLLY! while were at it!
TheGaIsSilent
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/25/04
#22re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:36pm
CastAlbum, what are you using for your definition? I wouldn't consider either one of those stunts.
Another one: Joey McIntyre in Wicked. Entertaining.
#23re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:45pm
Ahhhh, you don't know David Merrick, then.
Peal Bailey's cast of HELLO, DOLLY replaced Betty Grable and the New York cast she headed. David Merrick saw how well the African-American cast was doing in Washington. DOLLY was starting to slip a little in the New York box office, so he ordered the entire New York cast fired and replaced with the African-American cast. Pearl's DOLLY! ran over 200 performances.
After Pearl's run, Merman was put in as Dolly. Merman was for whom the role was written for, but she originally turned it down. In fact, two songs written for her in mind were added to the show when she came on.
Trust me, with Merrick involved, that was stunt casting.
JoJo2
Swing Joined: 1/20/05
#24re: Stunt casting that worked!
Posted: 1/20/05 at 3:45pmRikki Lee Travolta was perfect in "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" and Neil Patrick Harris was great in "Rent"
Videos