I would like to see peoples general opinions on this. It was brought up in the case of Finding Neverland when Matthew Morrison participated in a reading last year but was unable to commit to the trial run at A.R.T in the fall due to Glee comittments and is now taking the show to broadway.
Should ALL principle actors of a broadway show only be eligible for the job if they participated from the beginning of the development process and stayed with it all the way through?
Each production is a separate contract. They can do whatever they want It is highly likely that Jordan knew all along they hoped to get Morrison back.
This isn't a club, it's a business. The producers are going to do whatever they believe is best for the show.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
There are many reasons why casts get changes from one step to the next . . .
Scheduling. Pay. (Often workshops and out of town try outs pay very little) Can't be out of town for a try out. Creative differences - a cast member not working out, not liking the way a show is moving - a part being written out.
In regards to FN, I wish Jordan and McGrath were transferring because they were great. However, if they have to bring in others as a selling point, I'm glad it's Morrison and Grammer, who have both been on Broadway before, done eight shows a week, have respect for Broadway and know what they are getting into, rather than someone is not up for the job or worse, can't sing.
In the original ADDAMS FAMILY workshop (Summer 200, it was, of course, led by Nathan and Bebe as Gomez and Morticia, but the rest of the company consisted of:
Michael Arden as Lucas Beineke, replaced by Wesley Taylor. Annaleigh Ashford as Wednesday Addams, replaced by Krysta Rodriguez. Mary Birdsong as Alice Beineke, replaced by Jan Maxwell in a workshop, and later, Carolee Carmello. Marylouise Burke as Grandmama, replaced by Jackie Hoffman. Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester, who inevitably stayed on with the production. Matthew Gumley as Pugsley Addams was a lot of the same. Zachary James as Lurch, too. Jeff McCarthy as Col. Mal Beineke, who was later replaced by Terrence Mann.
So, as you can see, sometimes? SUPER talented people lose gigs.
i know someone who just did a reading for a new musical and she said they're planning on launching an out of town trial for it this summer but because of her current schedule and contract with another production, she doesn't think she will be a part of it.
it's a business, so no, i don't think they should only be eligible if they participate in the reading, workshops, out of town trials, etc.
We ll think about Joel Grey in Wicked. He wasn't the Wizard in the SF tryout and he was still a fantastic choice!
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
Kelli O'Hara didn't do out of town tryout for BRIDGES because she was pregnant but was always slated for the Broadway run. Jessie Mueller didn't join Beautiful until a few years in.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
There's absolutely no way to make it an eligibility thing.
In the case of FN, I feel like I personally lucked out by living in Cambridge because I happen to love Jordan and McGrath and feel lukewarm about Morrison and Grammar. But it was just luck.
That said, we hope that producers act with integrity thorughout the process in terms of being upfront with their actors -- but that's a whole nother thing, and we could just as well say that about the whole world and the rest of life (hoping that people act with integrity. Integrity will always be a sometimes thing. This is humanity).