THE GREAT COMET Announces September Broadway Closing; Final Performers for Role of 'Pierre'- Page 10

[LarryD2]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 11:27am

The sad irony of this situation: Because of a small cadre of misinformed (and, in some cases, completely uninformed) individuals, one of the most organically diverse productions on Broadway is closing, putting a lot of people out of work. And it's closing with two white men playing Pierre--exactly what they wanted to avoid. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 11:35am

^Care to elaborate?  I don't think I remember any of that.   (But I'm old, maybe I do.)   Feel free to pm if you don't want to post.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 11:43am

JayElle said: "No actor wanted to step into the role?  Then who will do the tour?  And when it goes on tour, they should rename it Titanic 2."

 

I believe by "no actors," they meant no big-name stars wanted to take the role. For touring productions, you don't usually get the star or stunt casting you get with Broadway productions (and a lot of ticket sales come from local theatregoers getting the show lumped in with season tickets anyway), so I don't think a touring production of Great Comet would have problems finding a good Pierre to fit the part. After all, that talented but unknown actor trying to get a job wouldn't want to turn down the chance to headline a touring production. It's absolutely better than no job at all. 

Updated On: 8/9/17 at 11:43 AM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:03pm

It's astonishing to see Erivo's complete and utter lack of apology on Twitter. Instead, she's calling people who remotely challenge her drunk, reaching, nonsense. Why does she keep digging a deeper hole for herself?

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:06pm

It's not in the budget but I'm considering seeing the show one last time.

Thoughts on Stangland vs Malloy? It would be so cool to see Malloy but there's the original cast recording...whereas this is my only chance to see Stangland.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:09pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "It's astonishing to see Erivo's complete and utter lack of apology on Twitter. Instead, she's calling people who remotely challenge her drunk, reaching, nonsense. Why does she keep digging a deeper hole for herself?"


That "drunk" one really rubs me the wrong way. People are bringing up a valid concern, and she's just...laughing it off? She needs to either apologize or just stop talking about this when she was never even involved in the production in the first place. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:11pm

Cynthia is a bully.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:13pm

I unfollowed her on Twitter a few weeks ago.  

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:17pm

At the opposite end of the spectrum:  I love the video Heath Saunders posted on Instagram.  

[ethan231h]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 12:20pm

Where is Cynthia's agent/press agent in this...jeez 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 1:09pm

It would be a real shame if AEA were to not grant her permission to perform in the future. 

[HSky]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 1:19pm

politopian said: "It's not in the budget but I'm considering seeing the show one last time.

Thoughts on Stangland vs Malloy? It would be so cool to see Malloy but there's the original cast recording...whereas this is my only chance to see Stangland."

On the Pierre spectrum, I'd put Stangland closer to Malloy than Groban. His Pierre is weary and defeated by the world (my impression of Groban's Pierre was that he perhaps had more of a willing role in isolating himself from the outside world). I think all three have different strengths but his "Great Comet of 1812" is my favorite.

Posted: 8/9/17 at 1:26pm

it's sad it ended this way but show's closing was inevitable no matter what, even if Casal and company kept their mouths shut so can't blame them too much even though they handled the situation terribly. The problem was a lack of ticket sales and no better future on the horizon. Patinkin would only have been there for 3 weeks and nothing would have saved this show outside of a name coming in. And there was clearly no name coming in after September 3rd and never would have been even without this s*storm.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 1:28pm

NYadgal said: "At the opposite end of the spectrum:  I love the video Heath Saunders posted on Instagram.  "

Did he post something other than a reblog of the video that's been going around? 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXlEkNkn1Y2/?taken-by=feeltheheath

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 1:36pm

Erivo's behavior surrounding this incident makes me not want to support her in her next show.  Her fans are also awful.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 2:50pm

Seperite said: "Think Oak and Casal are the only ones who risk adverse career consequences? Au contraire.

If I'm a producer, I'm now reluctant to cast *any* African-Americans in a Broadway show, for fear that the role will then be perceived as permanently limited solely to Black artists. Knowing that no actor stays in a role forever, even if I have my eye set on a Black actor who I think would be perfect for a role, I'd be reluctant to cast him/her, for fear that when the time comes to cast a replacement, I will be severely limited in my choices.

Nobody wants these headaches or controversies; the easiest way to deal with them when they arise is to bolt, just as Patinkin did. When you have significant money at risk, the last thing you want is for the PC police to tell you who you can and cannot cast. So you avoid the controversy altogether by avoiding casting Black actors about whom misfits might make a stink.

Great advancement for the cause of diversity, Oak, Casal, and Erivo. 

The bitter irony, of course, is that the casting of such shows as Aladdin and Great Comet, the existence of such shows as Hamilton and On Your Feet, and the distribution of Tony Awards (particularly in 2016) prove that at least in the modern day, Broadway is extraordinarily committed to diversity -- certainly moreso than Hollywood. And yet its well-intentioned, truly colorblind movers and shakers are brought down by frenetic fanatics for whom equality and diversity doesn't mean color-blindness, but the establishment of sacrosanct, Black-only roles that are off-limits to white folks.

The effect of this fanaticism and, yes, racism is to hurt the very cause they purport to espouse.

Utterly and completely ridiculous."

 

This. Very well written.

The sad thing is also that people like Cynthia Erivo think they "care about people" and are "well-intentioned" too, not realizing she achieves the opposite by making it about race and her own ego.

There were 2 different situations this week only where she displayed this.

Even now I have not seen 1 tweet where she shows any sympathy for the cast or situation.

People like her are a disaster for equality. But I'm seriously questioning her sanity at this point, so let's wait and see how this will be handled. Maybe her agent will intervene or maybe she's in such a state that it's not fair to treat and judge her as a sensible human being at this point.

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/9/17 at 02:50 PM

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 3:01pm

Trying to stay out of the drama.  I'd really like to see this before it closes. Would you recommend Dave or Scott?

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 3:17pm

Glittergrrl said: "Trying to stay out of the drama.  I'd really like to see this before it closes. Would you recommend Dave or Scott?

"

Uh well I know he's not the most popular figure around here but I'd try to see it before august 13 because from the audio I've heard Oak has a very beautiful voice. Also Ingrid Michaelsen is leaving on August 13 too. But I had seen the OBC with Josh, Denee, Brittain, Lucas, Amber, etc.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 3:48pm

Lots of people out of work now. I hope everyone's happy up their on that high horse.

[Margo319]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 4:07pm

"It's astonishing to see Erivo's complete and utter lack of apology on Twitter. Instead, she's calling people who remotely challenge her drunk, reaching, nonsense. Why does she keep digging a deeper hole for herself"?

Because she is not sorry, and fundamentally believes in her statements I suppose.  I didn't think it was her business, but I guess she thought otherwise.  

[DAME]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 4:14pm

The whole thing is unfortunate.  But honestly this show would have just closed very soon one way or the other.  As far as people being out of work... that is showbiz...    Shows close all the time.  Time to move on.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 4:23pm

I just recently unfollowed Erivo myself. She needs to stop using Twitter as her soap box.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 4:24pm

She was way too much time on her hands.

[Margo319]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 4:30pm

Yeah, I don't think she is performing in anything soon, I could be wrong, but days and days of this crap has warranted many people unfollowing her. 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 8/9/17 at 5:11pm

During the height of all this, she was in Williamstown working on a reading of a new musical. I doubt Erivo's Twitter presence or persona will have any effect on her career.