MOULIN ROUGE! Broadway Casting Thread — Page 15

(double post)

Musical just posted a snippet of tonight’s encore megamix and bows. Brady sounds / looks FAB:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMbzjpSNSDs/?igsh=MXR4aWJibnB4bW1hdw==

Wayne is always comfortable on stage, just right at home. I honestly don't know why Taye still does Broadway. He was so weird and uncomfortable during Hedwig, it was truly painful.

Was there Weds. Wayne Brady, as expected, shines and is a charismatic Zigler. Christian Douglas looked like a longtime Broadway vet, not someone who had his Broadway debut the night before. Ashley Loren is even better this time. Diggs...WTAF. Saw this on twitter that captures the thoughts of myself and several around me

https://x.com/nicciclaspells/status/1948995218545483847

Yes, there was a noticeable amount of, um, improv when I saw it. I'll leave it at that...

I’m seeing them toward the end of Taye’s run. I know when I saw his first week of HEDWIG, he was ROUGH - like I wasn’t sure he was gonna make it. At the relative same time, he was also finalizing his divorce with Idina Menzel and I want to think that may have played with his headspace a bit, especially considering HEDWIG is a bear of a show that’s mostly just one person and an onion’s worth of emotional layers.

Hearing that he’s floundering as the Duke is remarkably less forgivable. While I get that he hasn’t done stage acting in over 10 years, this seems like a natural role to re-enter the game in - a supporting role that just has to be suave, cocky, and can carry a tune with menace. He doesn’t have much in the way of choreography and isn’t really featured until midway through Act I. I’m curious as to what the barrier is, especially since he had at least 3-4 months to learn his lines

DottieD'Luscia said: "I saw on Instagram that Nicci Claspell was brought in with 2 hours notice yesterday to play Satine. She previously played Nini on tour, and a brief stint with the Broadway company late last year."

What's Nicci's role with the show now? Was she set to join the Bway company? Because she's gone on as Satine, Nini & Arabia quite a bit since this happened. Vacation cover?

Crusty Bagel said: "I saw the matinee yesterday, Nicci was great. The standout was definitely Christian Douglas who was amazing. I thought Wayne Brady was fine, and Taye was also fine, not terrible but serviceable although he did mess up a line and had to start over. The shows in good shape."

Just “fine” isn’t really a good thing when it comes to star/stunt casting. This show isn’t like CHICAGO where they have ways to change the components to fit each new performer. MR is much more intense and if you can’t keep up and deliver, people will notice.

Case in point for me: Casey Cott, who couldn’t hit a high note even if it was dangling in front of his eyes, and Boy George, who looked so winded about 20-25 minutes in that it seemed like elder abuse by the end.

Playbill Sale!: https://www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

Bobby Daye is returning as Toulouse for 5 weeks only starting 8/12

https://www.instagram.com/p/DND-6l1OCvd/?igsh=c2R1cmt3cXo0aW1v

DADDY DUKE RETURNS! (Tuesday, Sept 30th)

Honestly, he’s damn good at the role because he offsets his handsome appearance with true menace.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/David-Harris-Will-Return-to-MOULIN-ROUGE-as-The-Duke-of-Monroth-20250908?_gl=1*146co51*_gcl_au*MTI4OTgzNTAyOC4xNzUyNzY5MDc4*_ga*ODAzNjIxMTE0LjE2MTk2NDczNjY.*_ga_0Y18T6LY3T*czE3NTczMzY2MDUkbzE0MzckZzEkdDE3NTczMzg0NzUkajU4JGwxJGgxOTE1NzIzMzgkZHBodEpROTU3QkJEYms0akpfcU4zZ2ZjeWNGaVpZZjFNVnc.

quizking101 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "One of my loved ones saw this tonight and quite liked Bobby and Wayne in their roles.

Taye was out, so that person didn't miss anything. :)"

I honestly hope they’re giving Patrick Clanton a nice raise with his next contract. Between him covering Andre Ward and Austin Durant (often multiple times per week) earlier this year, and covering Wayne frequently during his stint, I can’t think of another standby in recent memory who has been on so much that he may as well be a principal.

Who covers the Duke now? Dylan Paul left the cast a while ago and Aaron C. Finley, I think, just left/is on his way out"

Jack Cahill-Lemme is the other current cover

I suspect the size of the role was less than he’d anticipated, or perhaps there was more ensemble singing than he’d anticipated, and that this was an “I’m out!” situation.

As many will know from his Instagram, image and optics are more important to him than the average bear, and knowing him socially, the ego is significant.

I’m happy to be wrong, but my guess is that he felt misaligned with the project when he saw what would be required.