Taboo Reading Cast - What Happened?!?

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/25/03 at 10:16pm

I'm shocked. I just read in Stage Notes on Broadway.com that people like Kerry Butler, Christopher Sieber, Orfeh, Deven May, Annie Golden, etc. were in the original "Taboo" cast. Why would Rosie want to lose such great performers?

No offense to the final cast, but it's a completely different level of talent (Raul excluded).
link

[Not Since Carrie Pipperidge]

Posted: 7/25/03 at 10:20pm

First of all, I like this column a lot...always look forward to it.

As for Taboo, I don't think we should assume that these proven talents WANTED to be in the final production. Considering all of the problems they've had getting a final script written, this show could be in trouble. According to the item, the role that Orfeh played isn't even in the show. And I assume that Christopher Sieber was just filling in for Boy George because Rosie said from the start that he would be in it.

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 7/25/03 at 10:23pm

I disagree about the "level of talent." The TABOO cast is a terrific one.

[LC]

Posted: 7/26/03 at 5:13am

Well, Charles Busch's book must have changed a lot since the first draft, if the character of "Jenny" has gone. She was originally going to be Boy George's room mate, with their relationship complicated by the love triangle between her, George and Marcus (Jenny & Marcus/Marcus & George) Anyone know anything about story development since then?

[Becky]

Posted: 7/26/03 at 5:28am

It happens all the time. On many occasions performers take part in early readings without any intentions of taking part in the final production. For instance, Chris has a new sitcom this fall , so he wouldn't have been available to do Taboo anyway. I also know of another performer who did the early reading and didn't have any intention of being involved with the final production.

We don't even know how many of the people from the reading *wanted* to be involved, so we can't assume the production "lost" them.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 7/26/03 at 6:10pm

I can't wait for stage notes to go up each week. About Taboo, it's all starting to sound a but strained. Like it's headed for trouble. I get the feeling you might have to be a staunch 80's fan to really appreciate this show. I could be wrong, we'll see.

[LC]

Posted: 7/26/03 at 6:39pm

It's not 80s music though.

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 7/26/03 at 6:58pm

I just listened to the London album this week. It is 80s. British 80s. And it's bad.