Successor to Sandra Joseph in POTO?

[Doogie]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:06am

Does anyone know who will be taking over for Sandra Joseph in POTO next month?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:45am

I want Jennifer Hope Wills to replace her!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:52am

Jennifer Hope Willis as Christine? I don't think she can handle the music...

My vote is for Tamyra Grey. Or Brooke Shields. Or Vanessa Williams.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 4:34am

I'm pretty sure it's Rebecca Pitcher.

[Becky2]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 7:30am

I think it is Rebecca Pitcher. She's already doing five of the eight shows. They'll probably just name her as the regular Christine and probably name Susan Owen or someone as the alternate.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 8:00am

From the classical selections on her website, I think JHW could definitely handle the music with no problem. I would just wonder about her acting. She is always so bright and bubbly. Although she was cast to understudy Laura in WIW and there was certainly nothing bubbly about that. It will probably go to Rebecca Pitcher and Susan Owen as per tradition.

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 8:21am

Didn't JHW get to sing "Think of Me" @ the Majestic in front of ALW and Hal Prince....


It would be great if she took the role! I don't know if this is just a coincedince (sp?) but if you go to www.jenniferhopewills.com it says " Casting Update! Please keep checking back for an upcoming casting announcment."

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 8:28am

By the way It has been confirmed that Rebecca will be taking over Sandra's spot but the alternate is still open...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 10:24am

Jennifer Hope Wills made it to the final three in the audition process for the Vegas production of POTO.

Her and the other two girls sang for some of the producers, including ALW, and ALW didn't like any of the three of them and they went and started the audition process all over again. As much as I love JHW, if she made it that far and was not cast because ALW didn't like her, I doubt she'll ever get to play the role on Broadway.

It is a shame that Jennifer isn't getting cast these days. She is brilliant. I think she would have been perfect for Clara in LITP (she auditioned to replace Kelli and made it far in the call back process before not getting that role either.) Let's hope she finds some success, and soon!

Also, I really don't know why Rebecca Pitcher is being promoted. I was told Sandra's contract wasn't being re-newed because she has been with the show for awhile and they are looking to bring in some new blood to the company. Rebecca has been involved with the show for twelve years (two years previously on Broadway, six years on tour, and going on four years with this current Broadway company.)

Doesn't that make her a little old for Christine, who is supposed to be a young ingenue?

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 10:24 AM

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 10:30am

I agree, she's a brilliant performer. I'd love to see her back on stage soon.

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 10:31am

Were they audtioning when they sang? From JHW's entry I didn't get the impression they were auditioning...


EDIt: nvm...I didn't read the comments!

Although I think JHW got some job...its on her sight about a casting update...I just thought it was coincidental that her casting notice was posted and the Christine alternate spot is open.. Updated On: 3/19/06 at 10:31 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 10:34am

Yes, when they sang they were auditioning. They were the final three choices for the part, and that's when Webber was brought in.

EDIT: She did get a job. She was brought into "The Woman in White" right before it closed to u/s Laura. That's probably what she was refering to..

Updated On: 3/19/06 at 10:34 AM

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 11:26am

No, they update on her page was made today or yesterday...It's a new post!

[londonbaby]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:04pm

does anyone know what if sandra joseph has any other plans coming up? (and is howard mcgillin leaving?)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:46pm

wait...rebecca pitcher is already doing 5 shows a week? so doesn't that make her the "full-time" christine?? so are you saying that Sandra wasn't doing her scheduled five shows a week?
OK........THAT's something to be concerned about not whether or not ELphaba's can do 8 shows!!!! sheeeesh..
sorry..i am a little frisky today!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:51pm

Poor Sandra has been around for so long in this role!


ALW is a little...egotistical when it comes to his work. Which is fine. But I can't believe some of the people that get cast in his shows...and here he is with this huge auditioning process.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:53pm

Yea that did strike me as odd.

It is a shame that Jennifer isn't getting cast these days. She is brilliant. I think she would have been perfect for Clara in LITP (she auditioned to replace Kelli and made it far in the call back process before not getting that role either.) Let's hope she finds some success, and soon!

Yea, she was really upset about it. I talked to her and she said she really had her hopes up and that crushed her heart.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:54pm

That's sad. But I guess is part of the business.

And, well, she was just in WiW.

I bet her break will come around one day.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 4:05pm

Jennifer is amazing...and a nice person too. something will break for her. the fact that any of us have even done ONE broadway show is a blessing! think of how many never even get to do that!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 4:18pm

Since February, Sandra's been doing 3 shows a week -- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday (I believe).

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:05pm

doesn't that make her the alternate christine anyway??

[Anthony3]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 7:34pm

when i saw POTO in Feb., the playbill listed Rebecca Pitcher as the alternate doing Mon eve, Wed mat, and Sat mat. So I thought Sandra was the full time christine.

I have a copy of the POTO cast in my fan photos. (It should be one of the last photos)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 7:56pm

well, MAYBE this is why Sandra is going...i'm just saying..

[Becky2]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 8:00pm

Yes, it's true that Sandra Joseph was performing three shows and was still the principle Christine.

I have a feeling, and I've heard other people kicking this idea around, that the producers think that since Rebecca Pitcher had gotten great reviews, they can have her be the principle for only a portion of the money they were paying Sandra Joseph. (Perhaps it was also a financial reason that Sandra was only performing three shows?) But don't quote me on these last statements, they are purely speculation. I know of a few people who speak with Sandra Joseph regularly, maybe they will shed some light on the situation. (Unless she doesn't care to disclose any of it.)

Personally I don't have a problem with the idea of her having been in the role so long. She is by far the most fitted for the part, even ten years ago she was the very essence of what I thought Christine should be. Her voice is one of the best I've ever heard.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 8:16pm

Wow, I think her voice is one of the worst I've ever heard. Her top notes are awful; she is consistently flat and the high note at the end of the cadenza in "Think of Me" is painful to listen to. Her vibrato sounds like a siren; I am very glad that Sandra Joseph is leaving. I've seen her three times and been extremely disappointed each time.