Andrew Rannells to replace NPH in HEDWIG

[GreasedLightning]

"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…."

Lol, I wouldn't go back to see a single one of those. Except maybe JGL.

[brettarnett]

I was wishing on Jinkx too, no matter how unrealistic that wish is. In terms of lack of star power.

[MaddieBB12]

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]

I love this news!

[frogs_fan85]

HEDWIG doesn't run on Tuesday either.

[Will42]

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

[Kad]

Jim Parsons could play Hedwig's meek librarian brother.

[Platypus]

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]

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

[Sutton Ross]

Jim Parsons . LOL

[averagebwaynut]

"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.

[Sutton Ross]

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

[gleek4114]

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

[GreasedLightning]

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]

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.

[Jane2]

[Phantom of London]

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.

[JoeKv99]

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.

[everythingtaboo]

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.

[Idiot]

I'd fly to NY for PINK.

[SweetLips]

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 !

[FindingNamo]

Seems like a smart choice but I won't really know what to think until haterobics weighs in.

[trentsketch]

I'm interested in seeing Andrew Rannells in the role. I love his voice.

[Stage Door Sally]

Would also love to see Jinkx strut in after Andrew.

[haterobics]

Exciting news, and starting in September, it jumps up to 8 shows a week...

[Sutton Ross]

Fantastic!