Why did Joel Grey leave Wicked?

[442namffug]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:17pm

Why did Joel Grey leave Wicked? I heard he was sick but why didn't he come back after he got better? What was wrong?

[timote316]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:22pm

I dunno exactly, but its for the better. He was far above that role. So is George, but thats beside the point...

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:24pm

what? no punchline? that's just wrong.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:30pm

Disappointed.

[wicked4good2]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:33pm

he had bronccitis (sp?) and he was out for a really long time and then he just decided to end his contract and go out with kristin chenoweth (but george hern had been in for him for about a month anyway when he decided to end his contract)

[Idina's BIGGEST fan]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:37pm

I just heard it was because he left on medical leave, but I'm not sure.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:44pm

"he had bronccitis (sp?) and he was out for a really long time and then he just decided to end his contract and go out with kristin chenoweth (but george hern had been in for him for about a month anyway when he decided to end his contract)"

Actually, George Hearn wasn't in for Joel when he ended his contract. Sean McCourt was in for Joel until July 20th (the day George started). We had known that Joel ended his contract for a while before that (a month or two).

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 8:50pm

wicked4good2 is almost right. He had a scheduled vacation the weekend after the Tonys, and never came back after that, as he was ill. Sean went on as the Wizard for the next six weeks, and Mr. Hearn debuted on July 20 with JLT and Joey.

[wicked4good2]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 9:13pm

lol thanx thega and luckydave, i wasn't totally sure when i posted that. now i know. guess i'm not totally a wicked freak huh? haha

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 10:48pm

Seems slightly suspicious of Joel... is he hiding something?? I'm not prying!

Sounds similar to Donna Murphy's leave in WONDERFUL TOWN... except I believe Joel Grey more than Donna Murphy.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 10:50pm

Will everyone please give the Donna bashing a rest now?

No one knows what was wrong with her or how serious it is/was.

And she is one of Broadway's finest actresses and deserves more respect.

Updated On: 1/6/05 at 10:50 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:47pm

Why do you believe Murphy less? Because Riedel decided to pick on her?

[broadwayalto01]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 9:21am

I actually say Joel Grey when I saw Wicked on June 18.. He was so good.. You couldn't tell anything was wrong with him though..

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 9:26am

If we're gonna get into this about Grey vs. Murphy, then I would say the reason I believe Murphy less is because unlike Joel Grey, no official statement regarding her absences or the reason for them was ever made. That is all.

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:09am

I can't believe that with all the connected folks on this board, no one has any inside scoop on Grey's totally unexpected exit from the biggest hit on Broadway. I was glad to have finally seen him in something and was stunned that he dropped out. It sure seemed to me there had to be more to the story.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:11am

"...then he just decided to end his contract and go out with kristin chenoweth..."

Who HASN'T that girl gone out with??

[SamIAm]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 8:07am

Joshua: Not sure what you mean about Grey hiding something OR about Murphy hiding something.

Both actors were sick and both were unable to work. It is not their obligation to share with the general public the excruciating details of their illness, even if it WOULD make you feel better. And my experience has been that even when an actor does tell the public what is wrong with him/her, they are either belived to be exaggerating or the public says 'I don't care what's the matter with them...they should be in the show because I paid my $100 to see them'...so it's pretty much a no-win situation.

Still, this role seems cursed...since Grey left after having been out for some time fighting an illness and then Hearn ended up having surgery...hmm...

Don't know if I'd take that part.

AND...one last thing...if you're a WICKED fanatic...like some on these boards...here's a little barb: maybe Joel left because he got sick of fighting off the wackos at the stage door screaming for Idina and Kristin. Has to make your ears bleed after awhile.

OK...kids...just KIDDING...put down those flaming torches....AAAAHHHHHHH