If it's true, I think it might be dicey this early in the run to muck up the formula that has proven box office success so far with "Finding Neverland". Kelsey Grammar is a "name" and somehow the mix with him, Matt Morrison, the story, etc has worked. Wonder if Kelsey has some TV project he's working because 3 months seems more than a normal break.
"when I’m on stage I see the abyss and have to overcome it by telling myself it’s only a play." - Helen Mirren
Yeah,, I mean personally I'm not an Anthony Warlow fan and I want to see this show and love Kelsey Grammer so now I want to see it before his absence because you never know what could change in those 3 months either, for the show and him. :)
Grammar seemed completely bored during their number on the Tony Awards. I think he's experiencing something completely different than what he did with LA CAGE. No Tony nomination plus poor reviews. I wonder if he's trying to get out of the production completely and move on to another [TV] project.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Very good observation. How much of a draw he actually is really debatable.
He tires of things, much like his last ex wife, & just moves on. It would be a plus if Warlow stays on permanently. He probably has a better voice than most in the cast.
I remember thinking that when he was in Annie. It never happened. I think he only ever showed up at one thing outside of Annie and it was Broadway Backwards. I hope he does 54 Below or Joe's Pub or SOMETHING like that this time around!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Someone told me a few weeks ago Bryan Cranston had been discussing stepping in for Grammer at some point. Given him being a producer I guess it isn't a weird thought. Wonder if this could happen post Warlow depending if Kelsey really comes back?
"Very good observation. How much of a draw he actually is really debatable. He tires of things, much like his last ex wife, & just moves on. It would be a plus if Warlow stays on permanently. He probably has a better voice than most in the cast."
One thing he didn't tire of was a hefty television paycheck for twenty years, lol!
"Very good observation. How much of a draw he actually is really debatable. He tires of things, much like his last ex wife, & just moves on. It would be a plus if Warlow stays on permanently. He probably has a better voice than most in the cast."
Like I said earlier, Kelsey was probaby one of several factors that have shaped FINDING NEVERLAND's robust box office so far. Not saying he's the main draw, but he certainly didn't hurt and IIRC, he actually got overall better reviews than Matt with many of the critics.
I do think it's a LOW blow to invoke his marital history as "evidence" of his not being able to stay on FN.
"when I’m on stage I see the abyss and have to overcome it by telling myself it’s only a play." - Helen Mirren
I agree. I was joking when I made the comment about how long he was on tv, but still his personal life has nothing to do with whether he wants a break from his tiring show for a little while. People do it all the time, but when a big actor does it he gets some backlash. Why? I don't know, but still.
He was out of Finding Neverland last night and his understudy Paul Slade Smith went on in his place (I actually prefer him in his original role as Mr. Henshaw than Charles Frohman). A lot of performers were out last night. There were 5 different inserts in the playbill last night announcing the replacements.
"Mostly, I loved the size of these people's emotions. Nobody has emotions this size anymore. Outsized emotions. Operatic emotions. Kushemski and Vanda are like Tristan and Isolde, they're Paolo and Francesca. Nobody's in total thrall like this anymore. Nobody's overcome by passion like this, or goes through this kind of rage." Thomas, Venus in Fur
Maybe I'm hallucinating but I swear I remember reading somewhere back when Grammer was announced for Broadway that he had a pre-existing commitment that would require him to take a three month leave in the summer or fall, after which he return to the show. I can't remember now where I heard it -- here? Datalounge? Reidel's column? It's understandable that the producers would avoid mentioning a star's planned absence while trying to build advance sales. (And it would also be understandable, the way things have played out, that Grammer might not be overly anxious to return if that was the original plan).
If he is taking a few months off....but will return in the fall, he surely must be leaving soon. That will annoy all the people who booked to see him over the summer. When I saw it it was clear many were there for him
"Mostly, I loved the size of these people's emotions. Nobody has emotions this size anymore. Outsized emotions. Operatic emotions. Kushemski and Vanda are like Tristan and Isolde, they're Paolo and Francesca. Nobody's in total thrall like this anymore. Nobody's overcome by passion like this, or goes through this kind of rage." Thomas, Venus in Fur