Confused about Shuffle Along

[Kevin98]

I am shocked that Shuffle Along with 3 (?) Tony Winners would go down with Audra leaving. But I personally think anyone with a Brain would have a good replacement for Audra for those weeks. And would have announced it earlier.

[Mr Roxy]

A puzzlement indeed. You are correct.

[pupscotch]

They had a replacement, Rhiannon Giddens. But you would think that Billy Porter and Stokes could be enough to sell a show nowadays, especially together, and especially with Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry as well. But that's how it goes I guess.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Some cast members are baffled as well.

I wasn't planning on seeing it again before Audra left, but I was going to see it in August with her replacement. 

That being said, I have purchased tickets to their final two performances.

[Broadway Forever2]

yep I'm so contused. I'm still wondering if Rudin jumped the gun on closing just because it advances weren't as strong without Audra. 

[Jish]

pupscotch said: "They had a replacement, Rhiannon Giddens. But you would think that Billy Porter and Stokes could be enough to sell a show nowadays, especially together, and especially with Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry as well. But that's how it goes I guess."

In my opinion it would have been enough to sell the show if Audra wasn't in it. But once you put Audra in it and give people a choice between seeing it with or without her - everybody chooses with.

[LizzieCurry]

Broadway Forever2 said: "yep I'm so contused. I'm still wondering if Rudin jumped the gun on closing just because it advances weren't as strong without Audra. "

This couldn't possibly have been discussed quite a bit on this board already, could it have?

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1094201#4826508

[gypsy101]

I agree with Jish. not that she wasn't wonderful in the role (she really is, but she's wonderful in most any role) and I know she spoke about how being in the show was important to her artistically, because the original show is a piece of African-American Broadway history and it's mostly forgotten. But if they had put basically anyone else in her role that could sing and act it, with the four men above the title, I think it would have been a hit and it wouldn't be closing after 100 performances. Hell, if they had put Rhiannon in from the beginning perhaps it could have made her a Broadway star.

[Mr Roxy]

Agree with Gypsy on this. Saw Audra in many things but this role was one of her lesser ones. Shuffle was an ensemble piece compared to her other roles. They should have either waited on the whole project until she was free and clear or had a star caliber replacement ready to go until she returned. I feel they should have waited until next season until they had a real shot of winning Best Musical Tony . Despite the naysayers on the board, the show was very entertaining in every way and would have seen it without her.

[aaaaaa15]

Unfortunately I don't think it would win best musical this season either.

[Mr Roxy]

Everyone has a right to their opinion but we do not share yours.

[gypsy101]

it would have definitely stood a better chance this year. everyone else nominated you knew would be an also-ran. 2016-17 will be much less certain.

[aaaaaa15]

To clarify by this year I meant this season that has just started. I don't see how it would win against Dear Evan Hansen, Great Comet and maybe others.

[broadwayguy91]

damn, gypsy101. now I wish Rhiannon had been cast since the beginning, lol. would have been a treat. 

[gypsy101]

Rhiannon has a fabulous voice that is also very versatile, she would have sounded fantastic on Memories of You. I wish she had been given the opportunity.

[broadwayguy91]

I wonder if a non-profit like Lincoln Center had been a co producer, would it have not shut down in Audra's absence.

[Robert16]

I was confused about all that talent given so little to do on stage - yes, the dancing was fabulous but everything else was a bore

[HogansHero]

the show clearly had started to soften already even with Audra. It's very easy for folks here to spend OPM but the bottom line is this production was a misfire: not enough people have any interest in it, with anyone (except maybe a mega star and it seems unlikely any of them are hot to trot as replacement casting in this show. As I have said many times, this show appeals to ardent musical theatregoers but few else; it is not very good as anything other than entertainment, it is a jukebox musical based on really old music and its history lesson is not one folks are drawn to. The result is surprising especially considering the shows prospects on paper, but it is not a great work of art.

[Thelastven]

I didn't pipe up on the other thread ... Let me start by saying I love Audra. But I would have been equally excited to see Rhiannon. I had no idea she was stepping in until the closing was announced, what a shame. I know she's a new name for a lot of people, but she does have a following and that should have been taken advantage of before jumping to closing. My two cents. I hope the cast all lands on their feet. 

[HogansHero]

@Thelastven "that should have been taken advantage of before jumping to closing"

what you are saying is that the producers should have expended money in the six figure range even though the weekly grosses and advances even with the known quantity of Audra still in the show suggested that the show was precipitously running out of steam. As always, it is very easy to spend OPM. Why don't you cut the prodution a check for $250k? I'm sure they would rescind the closing notice for a week if you did.

[FlySkyHigh]

In no way am I a marketing expert, but I found the way this show was promoted a little strange. Apparently, Rudin does this with all his shows but the fact that they didn't have a press day or even a public opening night didn't do the production any favors. Everyone was so busy speculating on what the show was about that by the time previews started, people were immediately taken off guard and/or disappointed because the show wasn't what they imagined it to be. I personally loved it, btw. Plus, besides Audra making a couple late night appearances (where she was promoting Lady Day just as much, if not more), again there wasn't any public performances or promotion for the show. If I wasn't a Broadway enthusiast and a huge Audra fan, I don't know if I would have even heard of this show. Not only would I have had all five leads doing the talk show/news circuit to begin with, I would have had Rhiannon doing the same thing once she was announced as a  replacement. I think there is a bigger market for this type show; it just didn't reach the masses.

[neonlightsxo]

"Apparently, Rudin does this with all his shows but the fact that they didn't have a press day or even a public opening night didn't do the production any favors"

 

Yes, he does that with all his shows. I don't think some photo galleries on theater websites of opening night pictures would have made a difference in the life of Shuffle Along. Not sure what you mean by "didn't have press day"--- it's never just one press day anymore, and the press were invited.

[gypsy101]

whatever the show's merits are as a work of "art," the dancing was fantastic and I found the songs to be terrific as well. like most people, I assume, I'm not very familiar with 1920's Broadway (especially since cast albums weren't recorded regularly until the early 40's) but these songs made me wish I had more to hear from that era. I would purchase a cast recording solely because of Adrienne Warren's performance of "I'm Craving for that Kind of Love." she was wonderful. fingers crossed the rumors of Nonesuch recording the cast are true.

[aaaaaa15]

Agreed, I would love a cast recording.

[Jordan Catalano]

Apparently there was a recording made and sent to Tony voters. It looks like it was taken from a soundboard recording of the show, but it's something...

[gypsy101]

if anyone has said soundboard you know where to find me....