Zachary Noah Piser exits previously announced Tiananmen musical

[Voter]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:01pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwYTAypvRT2/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
 

I can’t post photos but here

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:10pm

Wonder what’s going on here…!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:29pm

I’m pretty sure Piser’s instagram has been hacked…

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:37pm

That’s a pretty specific post to put up after hacking someone. Aren’t hackers usually trying to spam followers with cryptocurrency scams or p0rn links?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:58pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "That’s a pretty specific post to put up after hacking someone. Aren’t hackers usually trying to spam followers with cryptocurrency scams or p0rn links?"

Yes, this feels like more of a "photo dump" across multiple posts to distract from the news that he's leaving a show.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 5:48pm

Per Steven Cuevas, who was announced as the shows music supervisor, he has not actually signed on to be the shows music supervisor. This seems very unusual, to say the least.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 6:06pm

Wow...how strange. Rehearsals start in ten days...unfortunately, this happens a lot with these midsized-Equity regional theatres. They get some fancy Broadway actor for the lead, but then that person gets a better-paying gig and drops out before rehearsals begin. This is why most theatres wait until rehearsals have begun to announce their cast...

Updated On: 8/25/23 at 06:06 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 11:14pm

I just read Piser has been performing in China recently, one of the photos he posted were on the Shanghai skyline. I genuinely hope he is okay.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 8/26/23 at 3:12am

Has he "changed sides"?  

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 8/26/23 at 7:10am

They’ve been trying to get this musical off the ground for over a decade. I have no idea why they’re still trying to make it happen. It’s… not very good.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/26/23 at 9:12pm

Updated On: 8/26/23 at 09:12 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/26/23 at 9:13pm

CoffeeBreak said: "can’t act or sing & JULIET"
Piser is not in & Juliet.

Updated On: 8/26/23 at 09:13 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/26/23 at 9:14pm

Updated On: 8/28/23 at 09:14 PM

[Alex M]

Posted: 8/27/23 at 10:06pm

CoffeeBreak said: "who? and what?"

get a life

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/29/23 at 10:25am

Looks like Zachary is continuing on with this China tour until September 10th, so if we do find out about what happened and why he exited the show it won’t be until after then.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 8/29/23 at 11:10am

they got to him!

[Voter]

Posted: 8/29/23 at 11:19am

Call_me_jorge said: "Looks like Zachary is continuing on with this China tour until September 10th, so if we do find out about what happened and why he exited the show it won’t be until after then."

To be fair, being in China and having work lined up in China is already enough to distance oneself from something like a Tiananmen musical. 

When I did theatre work over there pre pandemic, we were given a list of topics to NOT DISCUSS (which included Taiwan, the Dalai Lama, Hong Kong... where there were mass protests while I was there) and if we were asked them to change the topic. However, everyone wanted to ask us about Trump.

That being said, hearing he's going back out to China and backing out of a Tiananmen musical does not surprise me. Especially since he was IN CHINA when his participation was announced.

This isn't going to sound crazy... but truly, I'm glad he's okay after being put in a dangerous situation like that. They WILL pull you aside.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/29/23 at 11:23am

I wonder if there was any communication between the show and Zach about when they were going to announce the cast; It could’ve just been unfortunate timing, but they ultimately put him in a very dangerous situation.

Updated On: 8/29/23 at 11:23 AM

[Voter]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 11:14am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Zachary-Noah-Piser-Departs-TIANANMEN-Musical-at-Phoenix-Theatre-Company-20230830

"No further information or explanation was given for his withdrawal, but Piser's manager, Dave Brenner, told CNN "there was a creative difference."

However, Wu’er Kaixi, a student leader in the Tiananmen protests who has worked on the musical as a conceiver and creative consultant, believes there is a different reason

“I believe…the reason for his withdrawal is not ‘creative difference,’ rather, simply fear," he told CNN. "He was given pressure by Chinese authorities. After 30 some years of censoring any information about Tiananmen, the Chinese government today is still extremely afraid of mentioning the atrocity they conducted."

Read the original story on CNN.

It is notable to mention that Piser's departure from the musical comes while he is on a tour of China as part of a concert from Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment. As previously reported, the concert also features Broadway stars Jenn Colella (Come From Away), Keri René Fuller (Six), and Joseph Morales (Hamilton).

The tour began at the Shanghai Grand Theatre for six shows August 23rd-27th, and it will continue on to the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center August 29th-30th, the Nanjing Lichi Theater September 2nd, the Chengdu City Concert Hall September 6th-7th, and finally ending its tour at the Shanxi Opera House in Xi’an September 9th-10th."

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 4:38pm

Interesting that the tour is expected to go through the 10th and rehearsals for the show are expected to begin on the 5th… was Piser originally going to miss those 5+ days of rehearsals?

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:11pm

Something very odd is going on here

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:16pm

Alex M said: "CoffeeBreak said: "who? and what?"

get a life"

These were a legit questions.  I didn't know of him or the show.   Thanks "Voter" for the helpful link.  Wow.

Updated On: 8/30/23 at 05:16 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 8/31/23 at 10:15pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Something very odd is going on here"

Not following closely and know nothing about Piser but i have to agree that its strange hed go to China just weeks before he was meant to open a show about Chinese atrocities? Im frankly surprised any Bway actors are fine getting paid to traipse around (at the invitation? under the auspices?) of a brutal dictatorial regime. For shame.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/14/23 at 4:57pm

Is there any news on replacement casting for Piser’s role? They should be in rehearsals by now. 

[Voter]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 12:22pm

Per a press release:

Respected Broadway Actors Kennedy Kanagawa and Ellie Wang to Lead New Tiananmen Musical Debuting at

The Phoenix Theatre Company on Wednesday, October 4th, 2023 

Kanagawa and Wang Join the all Asian American and Pacific Islander Cast to Tell the Story of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protest with Contemporary Flourishes; The Announcement Follows Zach Piser's Withdrawal