SHUFFLE ALONG Sets Sudden Broadway Closing After Audra McDonald Departs

[Call_me_jorge]

I think Adrienne would be better suited for Eliza and she has been in a show written by Lin before with bring it on so it is plausible. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

I guess the reason I thought of Peggy/Maria is with her versatile character acting from Shuffle she'd be good at doing both the childish, innocent Peggy and the sultry, sexy Maria. But Eliza would be good too. :)

[aaaaaa15]

I thought Adrienne was the highlight of Shuffle Along (I saw Audra's understudy) and would love to see her as Eliza.

[Mr Roxy]

I know this may sound simplistic but here it is:

 

Store the sets

See how many original stars could possibly be ready to restart when Audra would be ready to return

If and when it might be feasible, start scouting for an available theater

 

If everything fell into place, it could reopen. It would basically be a hiatus where it would cost the producers nothing other than the cost of storing the sets. Those involved might  believe in it enough to make it happen if all the pieces fell into place. 

 

The only cost they would have would be storing the sets as the show is basically set and would need a short preview period. Anyone care to chime in, one way or the other?

[Call_me_jorge]

Love the idea and the hope for it, but really? I'm pretty sure all of cast, unless they get some recompense from the producers for sitting around, aren't going to wait for it to start back up again.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

What about a remount at the Kennedy Center or the Ahmanson Theatre? Or some other established regional theatre, like Paper Mill, 5th Avenue, or the Old Globe?

[BroadwayConcierge]

I'd go with Brave's suggestion. This show could do phenomenally in one of those venues. I really don't see any reason why it needs to continue to occupy a Broadway house in the near future. It's done.

[ChiTheaterFan]

All I know is if leads this talented are all still available in 6 months and haven't moved on, I will be very sad for us all...

[brian1973]

Oh yes you're right. It's just a question of the money to store sets. Jeeeez! How naive can you get!

 

Mr Roxy said: "I know this may sound simplistic but here it is:

 

Store the sets

See how many original stars could possibly be ready to restart when Audra would be ready to return

If and when it might be feasible, start scouting for an available theater

 

If everything fell into place, it could reopen. It would basically be a hiatus where it would cost the producers nothing other than the cost of storing the sets. Those involved might  believe in it enough to make it happen if all the pieces fell into place. 

 

The only cost they would have would be storing the sets as the show is basically set and would need a short preview period. Anyone care to chime in, one way or the other?

 

"

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Also, is it weird that I kind of see Adrienne as more of an Angelica than an Eliza...?

[aaaaaa15]

I was more convinced by her in the innocent part in Shuffle Along, which is why I'd have her as Eliza.

[Call_me_jorge]

Well considering Angelica is currently being played by someone of the same race as Adrienne, it's not weird at all. 

[aaaaaa15]

There could easily be an Asian Angelica and a black Eliza in the next cast, doesn't mean anything.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Jorge, Jorge, Jorge. Not what I was going for at all. I was raising my opinion of Ms. Warren's acting and character traits for the role in question—not racial alignment. Wow.

[nolanativeny]

Well Ms. Warren is a very talented actress who I'm sure could play both Angelica and Eliza very convincingly. Her guest role on Orange is the New Black proved that to me. I didn't recognize her when I saw Shuffle Along but I was rewatching season 1 and she's the tough girl in the wheelchair during the "scared straight" episode, and she was great in that.

[BWAY Baby2]

1. The play seemed like a stiff to me- with or without Audra- and I am not surprised to see it go.

[HogansHero]

My guess is that, at the core of the decision, Scott Rudin did not like the finished show any more than I or some others here (and elsewhere) did. Once you accept that premise, everything else falls in place. This, of course, is a problem with building a show on Broadway-you don't know what you have when you decide to go forward, so you are making theoretical decisions based on what people have done before. As I said before, I didn't think most of the people involved were doing their best work here, but least among them was Mr. Wolfe. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Just found this tweet: https://twitter.com/rhiannongiddens/status/746138636618444800

My heart breaks for Rhiannon. I truly hope she makes it on Broadway someday. 

[Jordan Catalano]

The show is such a weird one. It's good, but like I stated in another discussion I started here, once I left the theater, I didn't even think about it for days. It was either a case of too many cooks in the kitchen or not a good enough one to bring it all together. I think that, like THE COLOR PURPLE, very good performances overshadow the fact that the actual show isn't that great. (Except COLOR PURPLE has a terrible book and awful score that are very much hidden by actresses being able to give exceptional performances in it).

[E. riley]

I loved the show and all of this makes me sad. Especially a**hole-lish are all the headlines laying at Audra's feet.

I left completely bedazzled by Adrienne Warren. She was so talented and a true light. Love to see her take on Eliza. I hope she has an amazing career.

 

[HogansHero]

@Jordan, I think that's right. There are a few other differences, some of which are obscured by the demographic here and without regard to the shortcomings of the book: Shuffle is a jukebox musical, with music for which the general public is not pining; it is based on a style of dance that the general public has no interest in; it tells a story that is pitched only to the base demographic. There are great performers in this show but (obviously) none of them except Audra are box office draws. Formulas don't sell tickets.

[dramamama611]

I think you can take his statements in two ways:  throwing her under the bus/blaming her OR as the truth: they couldn't survive without Audra.  

Yes, I think its foolish to have taken this on knowing about her leave of absence....even before the pregnancy however, they did.  Who COULD they have gotten with both the star power AND the talent to take her place without making a difference at the box office?  Who?

[HogansHero]

@dramamama, you set up a false choice. No one is likely to provide the same talent because arguably she has no equal, but there certainly are people who can meet or exceed her starpower. Would any of them do it? Who knows, but we never will. I assume you accept the notion that casting Beyoncé would do the trick.

[gypsy101]

actually Beyoncé would be right for the character, I think. they'd have to change those keys though.

[dramamama611]

I wasn't providing a choice....I was actually asking who could they get that had both box office draw and the talent to do the role justice as a triple threat, and yes, that would be a likely actual option to do it.  

[GreasedLightning]

With all this talk about The Color Purple... Maybe Rhiannan could replace Hedeley when she departs Purple? 

Kidding. 

On a serious note, how is the rest of the run selling? I'm assuming it's close to sold out.