#176
Posted: 6/26/24 at 6:12pm
The evil Christian Borle
TAMMY FAYE will transfer to Broadway in 2024-2025 Season — Page 8
#177
Posted: 6/26/24 at 6:18pm
IdinaBellFoster said: "I love Rannells but this feels like an upgrade."
Came on here just I say that and couldn’t agree more. Rannells is adorable AF, and a formidable actor, but Borle is remarkable in everything he does. I had no interest in this show until now.
#178
Posted: 6/26/24 at 6:20pm
Borle is a wonderful actor but he let me down a bit in Some Like It Hot.
Regardless, this is going to flop badly.
“I am furious, but I am sailing.”
#179
Posted: 6/26/24 at 7:15pm
As a fan of Christian Borle and Andrew Rannells and this show, this is very interesting! I saw it twice in London and while I loved Rannells in it (and thought the emotion he brought was very good), he didn’t feel essential to the show the way Katie Brayben did (and I’d even say Zubin Varla felt more important than him).
I do wonder though if Christian Borle be able to play the goofiness/campiness quite as well as Andrew Rannells though, even if he’s been very good in other comedic roles. He would be good at leaning into the sinister side while still keeping a comedic tone, so I really hope they make use of that.
Updated On: 6/26/24 at 07:15 PM
#180
Posted: 6/26/24 at 7:32pm
I think that Borle’s Tony winning performance as Black Stache shows that he can do camp just fine!
I am now curious if Borle got the money Rannels was asking for but the producers wouldn’t give him. Borle is a bigger star with two Tony Awards, so I’m guessing…yes. I even have to wonder if Borle had expressed interest in the role during Rannels’ negotiations, which is why they were willing to let him walk away…
#181
Posted: 6/26/24 at 7:35pm
I truly could not have cared less about this show until this announcement.
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
#182
Posted: 6/26/24 at 8:04pm
He gave everything he had in little shop of horrors. Even the beginning when he’s just a bum on the streets, he was perfection. I enjoyed him in that more than some like it hot. I felt like he was playing second fiddler to j Harrison ghee. I think he will be so good in this.
#183
Posted: 6/26/24 at 8:07pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Borle is a wonderful actor but he let me down a bit inSome Like It Hot.
Regardless, this is going to flop badly."
Always nice to hear from the Voice of Doom.
#184
Posted: 6/26/24 at 8:42pm
Falsettos fans going crazy on social right now that Marvin is replacing Whizzer.
“I am furious, but I am sailing.”
#185
Posted: 6/26/24 at 10:00pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "I am now curious if Borle got the money Rannels was asking for but the producers wouldn’t give him. Borle is a bigger star with two Tony Awards, so I’m guessing…yes. I even have to wonder if Borle had expressed interest in the role during Rannels’ negotiations, which is why they were willing to let him walk away…"
I'm a big fan of Borle and he's a name among Broadway fans. But Rannells has the higher profile career outside of Broadway, and would have a more direct impact on ticket sales.
If Borle was offered more money than Rannells, I think it would be more about him having leverage. The show had a limited window of time to lock in a replacement. Especially because people who had already bought tickets were demanding (and receiving) refunds.
#187
Posted: 6/26/24 at 10:06pm
In what actual universe is Borle a bigger star than Rannels. Certainly not this one.
#188
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Posted: 6/26/24 at 10:09pm
I love Borle and happy he's working. But even he isn't going to make me pay to see this.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#189
Posted: 6/26/24 at 10:14pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "Borle is a bigger star"
No he's not.
Rannells is a perennial talkshow guest, he's written a book, his last two Broadway shows recouped, and he's appeared in countless TV shows and films. Rannells also, importantly, has more of a following in the gay community, an audience base known for buying tickets. He may be a "that guy" actor, but he is still more recognizable than Borle, who almost exclusively works in the theatre and was just on Broadway in a show that didn't recoup. His two Tony Awards are pretty meaningless as far as ticket sales and salaries go.
Keep in mind that we don't know the specifics of Team Rannells' ask. Money might not have been the issue. It could have been length of contract or an option to leave earlier or take a hiatus for a film/TV job. (Or money.) Borle is known for committing a year to a show because he doesn't really work outside the theatre. Borle and Rannells also have the same agent (CAA's Joe Machota), but this stuff happens and reps have vast client lists.
Now, having said all that.... I think Borle feels more right for this role, especially where the sleeziness is concerned. They could have done so much worse as far as replacements go!
Updated On: 6/26/24 at 10:14 PM
#190
Posted: 6/26/24 at 10:54pm
They obviously don’t care about putting bigger names in the show. if they did, Tammy would have at least been played by someone like Jessie Mueller or Laura bell Bundy. The key to selling the show is 1. The quality of the show and 2. Elton John. I already feel like they’re gonna do big stuff with their marketing. I like that video they just put out.
Also, Christian borle was on smash. It’s not like he’s never done anything outside the theatre.
#191
Posted: 6/27/24 at 2:06am
"Going to flop badly" based on what?!!
Nobody has seen this version of the show, including you, so why the negativity?
It was a hot ticket in London (albeit at a small theatre) and got more than its share of decent reviews but the creatives have taken nothing for granted and redeveloped/revised the show for its Broadway run.
The negativity is just so boring and frankly unecessary.
Updated On: 6/27/24 at 02:06 AM
#192
Posted: 6/27/24 at 4:04am
Wow, I'm sure the producers are disappointed and were counting on Runnels for some name value, given his recent success.
#193
Posted: 6/27/24 at 8:53am
Any discount codes for this yet? Thanks
#194
Posted: 6/27/24 at 9:39am
At least they got some attention outta this. Probably helped them because they are sandwiched in between sunset boulevard and gypsy. They need to break through this fall and get people talking
#195
Posted: 6/27/24 at 1:10pm
I wonder if they might go for a bigger name for Jerry Falwell. It's a great part, great songs and won Zubin Varla the Olivier Award. I'd go as far as to say that it's the best male role in the show. Jim is always in Tammy's shadow
#196
Posted: 6/27/24 at 1:18pm
Broadway Flash said: "They obviously don’t care about putting bigger names in the show. if they did, Tammy would have at least been played by someone like JessieMueller or Laura bell Bundy."
It's splitting hairs when comparing someone like Mueller or Laura Bell to Brayben, as far as name value is concerned. The difference in drawing power is close to meaningless, and they've both been in flop shows of late.
If Katie Brayben was great in London and got a ton of acclaim for the role and won an Olivier (and if they were relying on Rannells to sell some tix), that's a reasonable justification to put her up in New York for the run of the show.
Being "Broadway famous" means nothing to the general population, and theatre lovers CANNOT sustain a musical, period.
Your arguments just make you sound ignorant.
#197
Posted: 6/27/24 at 2:28pm
I am also curious how they will cast Falwell, but Brooks Ashmanskas would be spot on.
My one fear is that they would bring over some of the London supporting cast which, Zubin Varla aside, were not good. Terrible accents and over-exaggerated performances that have hopefully been toned down in the revised version.
Updated On: 6/27/24 at 02:28 PM
#198
Posted: 6/27/24 at 2:33pm
They don’t want stars. They probably could have gotten a bigger name for Tammy and decided not to. They will sell the show through other means and frankly, I think it’s the front runner for winning best musical at this point. Betty boop, wonderful world, maybe happy ending, swept away, redwood, death becomes her definitely won’t. We’ll see how queen of Versailles does and operation mincemeat could win. It actually beat Tammy Faye in London
#199
Posted: 6/27/24 at 8:37pm
Broadway Flash said: "They obviously don’t care about putting bigger names in the show. if they did, Tammy would have at least been played by someone like JessieMueller or Laura bell Bundy.
Also, Christian borle was on smash. It’s not like he’s never done anything outside the theatre."
The far bigger story is a complete unknown who becomes a star overnight. Ok, that might be a bit of an exageration, but Katie Brayben got nothing but rave reviews across the board. She carries the show and delivers some knock out songs that will get her some great notices and a tony nom next year.
At least I hope it does. The show and the NYC run have all been planned around Brayben playing Tammy Faye. The creative team have bet a lot on her. No pressure then Katie...
Updated On: 6/27/24 at 08:37 PM
#200
Posted: 6/27/24 at 8:51pm
bway1430 said: "I am also curious how they will cast Falwell, butBrooks Ashmanskas would be spot on.
My one fear is that they would bring over some of the London supporting cast which, Zubin Varla aside, were not good. Terrible accents and over-exaggerated performances that have hopefully been toned down in the revised version."
Please not Brooks Ashmanskas. He always just plays Brooks Ashmanskas and Falwell isn't a gay comedy character.
I'm hoping the roles you refer to, Jan and Paul, have been toned down at least 90% of where they were and that they have cut/changed their act 2 song.
Whilst Andrew Rannells might have been a bigger box office draw, if you saw him in The Book of Mormon, then you've basically seen him in Tammy Faye.
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