Worst and best examples of stunt casting.

[HogansHero]

"But both are designed for the same purpose. To sell tickets."

Every single thing in a show is designed to sell tickets. If that's your definition, then the whole thing is one big stunt.

The "fit for the part" question is too loaded with the subjective to be meaningful. A stunt, to me, is something that draws attention for an extrinsic reason.

[GavestonPS]

most of the examples given here are not stunt casting. They are just celebrity casting. There is nothing meaningful conveyed in listing which celebrities an individual liked and didn't like.

To wit, a friend of mine (with numerous theater and film credits, but not as big a name) was up against Reba McIntire for Annie Oakley. My friend said McIntire auditioned like everybody else and knocked the ball out of the park. Was McIntire's fan base a factor? Sure. But per my witness (who had every reason to be biassed against McIntire), the country singer's audition was killer. No stunt involved.

[brdway411]

Daniel Radcliffe as Hedwig, Too young, too short, and cannot sing very well. (this is if it were to happen, of course .)

[IndyTheatreGeek]

I have to agree Fran Drescher was the worst I've seen in NY. Her voice just didn't fit the show at all, much as I love her ordinarily.

Worst in London, Jerry Springer in Chicago. His Billy Flynn couldn't find the correct note throughout the show, to say nothing of a performance that was flat as well.

[henrikegerman]

"Stunt casting makes roles traditionally played by character actors unavailable to them. Examples of stunt casting include Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness in Star Wars,"

Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness weren't character actors?

[lovebwy]

Billie Joe Armstrong (best) and Christie Brinkley (Worst) own this thread.

Did anyone here is Miss Anne Baxter when she replaced Betty Bacall in Applause?

[philly03]

I actually think Sebastian Bach was a good example of stunt casting - he brought a different audience to Broadway. Anyone remember fans throwing roses on the stage, as Bach bit off the rose heads and spat them into the crowd?

I also found Ricky Martin, David Hasselhoff and Billy Ray Cyrus in my bottom three performances. Brooke Shields in Leap of Faith was rough too, but at least she recognized she was a problem. (Oddly, I thought Brooke was great in The Addams Family)

[lovebwy]

Christine Brinkley made Melanie Griffith look like goddamn Gwen Verdon!

[Showface]

"Daniel Radcliffe as Hedwig, Too young, too short, and cannot sing very well. (this is if it were to happen, of course .)"

If this actually happens, then, DISHONOR, on the producers.




But, fortunately, I don't think that will happen. Unless, I'm missing something.

[yankeefan7]

Agree totally, was quite surprised myself.

[yankeefan7]

Think Christie Brinkley was even worse - lol

[MichelleCraig]

Best: Liza in CHICAGO
Worst: Liza in VICTOR / VICTORIA

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Is Bille Joe even considered stunt casting? I mean, he was onstage performing his own songs in a show based on his own concept from his band's own album? I think he would be stunt casting if he showed up in Tommy, but not American Idiot

Yes, that would absolutely be considered stunt casting. Why does it matter if he was performing his own songs in a show based on his album? He was still performing in a Broadway show. He was still brought in to boost ticket sales. I don't really see how this could not be considered stunt casting.

[mikey2573]

Aaron Carter as Jojo in SEUSSICAL. He was supposed to be "the smallest Who in Whoville" but he was taller than Cathy Rigby's Cat in the Hat as tall (or taller) than some others in the ensemble. He also kept doing "rap" moves with his arms while he was singing. I half expected him to grab his crotch, which, to his credit, he did not do.
Still pretty bad though.

[ajh]

David Hasselhoff in the London CHICAGO as Billy Flynn. He was utterly perfect.

[The Other One]

Best: Pearlie Mae Bailey in HELLO, DOLLY!
Worst: Carrie Fisher in AGNES OF GOD

[Jane2]

Wendy Williams in Chicago. Can't sing, dance, or act.

[lovebwy]

Oh how I wish I could have seen Pearlie Mae in Dolly. My parents didn't have me until 4 years after she left the show!

I swear, the older folks on the board who got to see all those classic performances are the luckiest people in the world. I've seen a few, but nothing compared to what some of you have seen.

Sorry to go off topic!

[Mister Matt]

Best and worst I've seen were in the same cast.

Best - Mac Davis in Will Rogers Follies
Worst - Marla Maples in Will Rogers Follies

[MichelleCraig]

My first Broadway show, albeit at the Shubert in Boston, was HELLO, DOLLY! with Pearl Bailey. She was pretty amazing...I can remember that during the title number, when Pearl was out on the runway of the stage (or whatever you call it), she kept tapping the conductor on the head as she danced by him, saying: "Slow down, honey!"