Pippin cast changes

[RW3]

Ciara's last day is September 14

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

I know it's incongruous, but the production has changed over time to incorporate new circus talents and showcase other performer abilities, so...

Bring back Ben Vereen. I'd love to see him do it again. He's still got the spark.

[ethan231h]

I don't think Ben could do what Ciara does. Also many of the vocals were fixed for a woman.

[ACL2006]

I love Ben Vereen. But there's no way at his age he's getting on that trapeze. I wonder who'll replace Ciara?

[ethan231h]

I think Paige David and Patrick Paige would make a great Fastrada and Charlemagne!

[sky942]

Orion appears to be back as the Rolla Bolla after leaving at the beginning of the summer. He is listed as part of the current cast on Playbill
Current Cast

[ethan231h]

he has been back since the end of July.

[inception]

Erik has said on his twitter that this Sunday, September 7 will be his last show.

[ACL2006]

surprised there haven't been any hints as to who the new Leading Player is.

[dreaming]

I was wondering why they haven't told us who the new Leading Player is and possibly who's going to be Berthe after Andrea Martin departs on 9/21.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

I don't think Ben could do what Ciara does. Also many of the vocals were fixed for a woman.

I love Ben Vereen. But there's no way at his age he's getting on that trapeze.

I guess nobody read the part of my post where I said that "the production has changed over time to incorporate new circus talents and showcase other performer abilities." There have been new circus tricks and balancing acts. So who said he has to get on the trapeze? Give him a dance specialty. Who said he has to sing in Patina's keys? Lower them. If the show can morph to fit new circus specialties, why not to fit the best Leading Player this show has ever had in its history? It's not only a nice nod to the original Schwartz/Hirson character of the Old Man that later became the Leading Player by absorbing a bunch of smaller roles, but it's a chance to showcase the talents of a Broadway legend who's still got it.

[dreaming]

Dream on. Ben Vereen, God bless him, is not physically up to eight performances a week I don't think. They'd need an alternate, most likely. There are also certain parts of the show that must remain frozen for the production as a whole to work.

[jonartdesigns]

Vereen would never do it, but incidentally some of Patina's keys seemed LOWER than Ben's.

Has anyone seen John Dossett as Charles yet?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Dream on. Ben Vereen, God bless him, is not physically up to eight performances a week I don't think.

Vereen would never do it, but incidentally some of Patina's keys seemed LOWER than Ben's.

There's a nasty rash of assumptions here. Everyone said he would never do Jesus Christ Superstar again, but he's done it twice -- once in 2006 as Judas, and a run in Houston recently as Pilate. I think for the right incentive, and noting the fact that he's done what amount of work lately, Ben would absolutely come back. Not every element of the show is so set in stone that he couldn't do it.

As for the keys, some of what Patina sings is low for Ben, but high for Patina. Some is high for Ben, but low for Patina. It happens. I'd normalize them for Ben's voice. He's still got a lot of electricity; he won the Tony in the part before, and I think he'd do very well in the role.

[heygrenson]

I saw John Dossett as Charlemagne August 27, he was doing pretty well for it being one of his first few days.


Mike Schwitter, who was a swing and Elder Price cover on The Book Of Mormon 1st National Tour when it first started, seems to be replacing Erik.

[getatme]

http://instagram.com/p/slh-uarwB9/

Yep! According to his instagram post he starts Tuesday and Mckenzie Bell will be going on for Fastrada. Sort of crazy she's going on so soon after joining the company, but Lara Seiebert Young has been on for Charlotte a few times since she joined as well.