So wait--if NPH ends on Sunday, August 17th, and Andrew doesn't start until Wednesday, August 20th, are they just cancelling shows on Monday and Tuesday (although I think Monday is a dark day anyway).

ShakinBaconGirl

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Stand-by
joined:3/25/14

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 05:51pm

I love this news!

frogs_fan85

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Broadway Legend
joined:12/3/05

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 05:52pm

HEDWIG doesn't run on Tuesday either.

Will42

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joined:5/27/10

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 05:54pm

Jared Leto would have been an amazing if highly unrealistic choice.

Kad

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Broadway Legend
joined:11/5/05

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 05:56pm

Jim Parsons could play Hedwig's meek librarian brother.

Platypus

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joined:11/13/07

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 05:58pm

I wasn't expecting Andrew Rannells either but I think he's a good choice. Though I'm not sure he'd live up to NPH's performance (I'm in the camp that found NPH's performance to be phenomenal). But I just watched a youtube clip of Rannells singing Origin of Love and I thought he sounded great. It's a really pretty take on the song.

As a huge Jared Leto fan, I, too, would love to see him play Hedwig considering both his singing and acting skills, and we know he can play a feminine character well. I have seen him in concert several times and he is a very high energy and engaging live performer. But he's on tour with 30 Seconds to Mars fairly continuously between now and November. So in addition to the above comment that it would not be a smart career move to play two transgendered roles in a row, it would also be logistically impossible. But we can always dream :).

promisespromises2

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joined:5/23/13

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:14pm

Never even THOUGHT of Andrew for this role, but I love it!

Sutton Ross

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joined:7/20/13

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:18pm

Jim Parsons . LOL

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averagebwaynut

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Leading Actor
joined:8/15/08

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:20pm

"Joseph Gordon Levitt, Adam Lambert, Tim Minchin, Matt Bellamy, Jared Leto, Donald Glover, Jim Parsons, Lee Pace, or even Amanda Palmer would be much more interesting choices…."

And you know for a fact that all...or even any...of the above folks are both free and interested in and the right actor/singer for this role? As much as the next person, I enjoy making suggestions about who I'd like to see replace in a given show, but it's not like a given producer can simply decide who he/she wants, snap their fingers and get them. And in a role like this, following a sold-out, Tony-winning run like NPH's, I'd say it's even more daunting to find a "name" actor of any stature who is willing to replace. I hope they keep several of the names you list above in the mix for subsequent replacements, but I don't think Rannells is a bad choice at all and quite honestly, to me, anyone who takes on Hedwig is "interesting" -- it's such a unique role and anyone who plays it brings something different to it. "Good" remains to be proven, but I definitely think it's interesting and I'm encouraged by their willingness to go with proven talent and not just box office clout.

"No matter how much you want the part, never let 'em see you sweat." -- Old Dry Idea commercial

Sutton Ross

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joined:7/20/13

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:23pm

Pretty much all those people have big film and television careers or don't have any interest in doing Broadway.

covenanthouse.org

gleek4114

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joined:5/24/13

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:27pm

This choice is very unexpected and out if the box but I'm on board!

GreasedLightning

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joined:2/11/14

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:28pm

How do you know none of them have any interest in doing Broadway? And P!nk does!? Like I said, I wouldn't go see any of those people in this role… but it's all speculation.

Sutton Ross

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joined:7/20/13

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:35pm

Pink is just something people want on here. I doubt she has interest. The person I was referring to without a television or movie career would be Donald Glover. He has stated, in every single interview since leaving Community, that he is completely focused on his rap career. Therefore, he would have no interest in doing this.

The majority of the rest of them have active movie and television careers.

covenanthouse.org

Updated On: 6/12/14 at 06:35 PM

Jane2

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joined:2/13/04

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:37pm

<-----craves juicy pizza

Phantom of London

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joined:3/26/08

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:39pm

Instead of the producers pushing for Neil Patrick Harris to extend his run, which he was quite equivocal he had no desire to do this, it look like the producers have lined up an excellent replacement, which could make way for NPH to re-charge his batteries and come back for the run over Christmas.

2014 Theatre: Billy Elliot***** Meet Me In St Louis*** American Psycho**** Tell Me On A Sunday**** Jeeves and Wooster: Perfect Nonsense* Stephen Ward**** Charlie and the Chocolate factory*** Dirty Dancing** Stephen Sondheim's Puttin It Together*** Candide*** The Lion King***** The Book of Mormon****** Les Miserable***** Stephen Ward**** The Weir**** Fortune's Fool*** Spamalot*** Superior Doughnuts**** Seven Brides For Seven Brothers**** (Orchard Theatre, Dartford) Finans Rainbow**** The Commitments** Boeing Boeing*** (Orchard Theatre, Dartford) The A-Z of Mrs P** Billy Elliot***** Wicked** Good People***** Urinetown***** Spamalot*** The Full Monty**** Other Desert Cities*** Ghosts*** Dirty Rotten Scoundrels***** It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman*** Stephen Ward**** King Lear**** A Taste Of Honey** Blithe Spirit**** From Here To Eternity**** Spamalot*** Fiddler On The Roof** (Orchard Theatre, Dartford) Relative Values**** Fatal Attraction*** Matilda***** 39 Steps**** Another Country** Handbagged** Two Into One*** The Beautiful Game***** Let The Right One In**** Once**** Privacy***** Home** Best of Friends** Avenue Q*** Good People***** Betty Blue Eyes*** (Tour: Salisbury Playhouse) I Can't Sing* A View From The Bridge***** Water Babies **** (Tour: Leicester Curve) Miss Saigon***** In The Heights*** The Testament of Mary*** This May Hurt A Bit*** The Last 5 Years* (Greenwich Theatre) All My Sons*** Happy Days** Dirty Rotten Scoundrels**** Bakersfield Mist**** Ushers** The Pajama Game***

JoeKv99

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joined:12/27/04

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:44pm

It will be mot amusing to see the box office tumble when Rannells takes over. Announcing it's only for 8 weeks is very wise...if they cn run it at a loss that long.

No good can possibly come from using this vast wasteland of error and deliberate deceit. You should get off of it and warn others away. You should make sure your children and grandchildren know what a corrupt and morally bankrupt institution it truly is.

everythingtaboo

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joined:5/5/04

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 06:51pm

Has the show recouped? After NPH's surely sizeable compensation for the show, it can't be that pricey to run, so hopefully by the time he leaves it'll recoup and be able to run with a smaller nut for an extended period.

"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

Idiot

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joined:10/9/10

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 07:20pm

I'd fly to NY for PINK.

SweetLips

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Leading Actor
joined:1/23/13

Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG
Posted: 6/12/14 at 07:20pm

I would go see Mr Rannells in anything-preferably[him] NOT wearing anything. If it were physically possible I would gladly have his babies-he's sex on a stick !