Mandy Patinkin to join THE GREAT COMET as Pierre for 3 week run!

[LxGstv]

Man, and I thought the Ars Nova/cast recording issue was dramatic... haha

It does appear that bringing Mandy will help with sales, the seating thread is up again with at least 3 or 4 people saying they just got on stage seating...

[Eliza2]

looks like the cast had a vocal run-through with Mandy today

https://twitter.com/ItsJoshCanfield/status/890674921013100544

[froote]

PaulWom said: "Lose his friends? How? By asking them to stop attacking the show on his behalf?"

Yes? A lot of people wouldn't take kindly to being told to stop defending them.

Oak is responsible for his own actions and words and his friends are responsible for theirs. 

[mullein]

^ Anyone who believes that a handful of industry actors not publicly affiliated with Oak in any way expressing their frustration with the ridiculously ham-handed statement from Kagan is somehow undeniable proof of Oak setting his friends to attack the show is delusional.

[GeorgeandDot]

Froote, sounds like you need some new friends.

Also, Mullein we were speaking about Casal who started the whole thing and is good friends with Oak.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

If your relationship depends on allowing your  "friends" to cast public judgement on your position, they're not your real friends.

[froote]

Allowing? They're adults with their own free will.

[GeorgeandDot]

Froote, you're not making much sense here.

[froote]

If you say so. My opinion is that I hope Oak goes on to have a great career worthy of his talents and that I hope this fantastic show runs for as long as possible. To me, the only people that have been unprofessional in this scenario are the producers of the show through their hasty casting descisions and not planning ahead. I still wish the best for the show as it is not the fault of Dave Malloy or the cast. Oak's friends and peers have nothing to do with any of it and are free to post whatever they like on their personal Twitter accounts, with or without Oak's permission.

[Dave28282]

LizzieCurry said: "seaweedjstubbs said: " vocally upset about this decision.....it still hurts to see a talented black actor have to give up a role..... As a black actor, it just begins to feel like producers have very little faith in black performers ..... Hope that this makes sense and explains why people are "bringing race into it" .....

Someone already quoted this, but I wanted to do it again. Thank you, seaweed."

Lunacy.

This happens to white actors every day too. Woe unto you if you see him as human.

And in this case, it's the opposite, where producers clearly had too much faith in him. They gave him the role while it turned out to be not the best fit.

 

 

[Dave28282]

IdinaBellFoster said: " They cast Oak months ago, and knew he wouldn't blow up the box office. "

Maybe they expected a certain run on tickets since some people are extremely race focused?

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

LxGstv said: "It does appear that bringing Mandy will help with sales, the seating thread is up again with at least 3 or 4 people saying they just got on stage seating..."

Aaaand there it is. This conversation has been going on much longer than this news warrants. Anybody who sees this as anything other than a financially motivated decision in a commercial industry is honestly reading into things way too much.

[Jarethan]

10086Sundays said: "They cast Oak so long ago, I'm sure at the time they were hoping that some Tony wins and good word of mouth would carry them after Josh left, but clearly that didn't happen.  I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they didn't cast Oak thinking he would bring in anywhere near the amount of fans Josh did.  

I just looked at Telecharge for this Friday, Saturday Eve and Sunday and they're only about 70% sold on average.  Sunday, especially, is closer to 50%.  Plus, most of the tickets for all 3 shows are eligible for a discount.

qolbinau said: "Who could they possibly get to sustain a run in this show now with such short notice?"

I think that might be the real issue, they haven't been able to get someone big to come in after Labor Day, for any of the roles, so they're panicking.

 

Not to be obnoxious with you -- because we only disagree in degrees -- but they are idiots if they thought that he would sell ANY tickets, beyond those sold to some rabid theatre fans, many of whom participate in this board, who seem to see some shows dozens of times (in order to be able to see Sally X take over the role of  April in Company) and think that average theatergoers do that too. 

 

[Robbie2]

GeorgeandDot said: "Oak is also probably the least famous out of all the Hamilton leads.  If they were to have gotten Daveed or Christopher that would have been different and probably would've brought in the $$, but Oak is completely uninteresting even to those who love Hamilton.  It was a poor choice to cast him in the first place and he then started a week late because he wasn't ready.  Now they're simply asking him to step aside for the moment to let a famous actor who will bring in an audience play the role.  It sounds like this hurt Oak's ego and he went crying to his friends who then started a personal twitter war against Comet and Patinkin by calling them racist.

Jesus, this whole thing is despicable.  I wouldn't be surprised if Comet closed because of this in the near future.  Frankly, I hope it ruins Oak's career.  I worked in the industry for quite some time and if anyone dared to do something like this then, they would've never worked again.  It's entirely unprofessional.  What's going on, on Twitter is horrible.  So many nasty comments towards Patinkin and the Great Comet (mostly by white fan girls, which I find hilariously ironic) because he couldn't suck it up and be professional about the situation.  A lot of people are calling the show out on it's lack of diversity.  Last time I checked the Tony nominated leading lady is a beautiful, young, unknown black woman.  Let's also not forget the incredible Amber Gray and that gorgeous ensemble of young people of every color.  Oak's "retaliation" is putting a whole cast of PoC at risk.  He's going to close the whole g*ddamn show because he's petty.

If only the Broadway community cared as much about their trans friends right now...............

 

"EXACTLY, perfectly put G&D! Bravo and moving forward ...Nobody was seeing Comet for Oak...Ingrid, yes and now for Mandy!

 

[BroadwayBeebe]

I just picked up my tickets to see Patinkin on the 19th. I already have tickets for this Sunday ( I got them specifically for Ingrid, but am glad I will get to see Oak as well) and I saw Groban in January. I'm really excited to revisit this show over and over and see all the different interpretations. 

[froote]

It's untrue that nobody was seeing the show for Oak. Not enough people yes, nobody no.

[Robbie2]

froote said: "It's untrue that nobody was seeing the show for Oak. Not enough people yes, nobody no.

 

"

 

Not what people in the industry are saying...

[froote]

I don't care what people in the industry are saying, I bought a ticket to see Oak, so did other people on this board and so did other people I know.

[Robbie2]

froote said: "I don't care what people in the industry are saying, I bought a ticket to see Oak, so did other people on this board and so did other people I know.

 

"Cool...chill dude 

 

[VotePeron]

I had zero intention of seeing Comet (again) before September 3rd. 

The moment Mandy was announced, I immediately bought a $100 ticket. 

Call it whatever you want, but they got me, and will get others, who had no intention of seeing the show, to get tickets. It was a business decision, and everyone taking it personally isn't understanding that Oak is an employee who signed a contract that would allow something like this to happen. He's still getting paid, and invited to return (not that he'll take it). 

Many more people will see Comet with Mandy rather than Oak. It is a fact. Replacing him was an easy decision, if not the most friendly one. 

 

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

GeorgeandDot said: "Oak is also probably the least famous out of all the Hamilton leads.  If they were to have gotten Daveed or Christopher that would have been different and probably would've brought in the $$, but Oak is completely uninteresting even to those who love Hamilton.  It was a poor choice to cast him in the first place and he then started a week late because he wasn't ready.  Now they're simply asking him to step aside for the moment to let a famous actor who will bring in an audience play the role.  It sounds like this hurt Oak's ego and he went crying to his friends who then started a personal twitter war against Comet and Patinkin by calling them racist.

Jesus, this whole thing is despicable.  I wouldn't be surprised if Comet closed because of this in the near future.  Frankly, I hope it ruins Oak's career.  I worked in the industry for quite some time and if anyone dared to do something like this then, they would've never worked again.  It's entirely unprofessional.  What's going on, on Twitter is horrible.  So many nasty comments towards Patinkin and the Great Comet (mostly by white fan girls, which I find hilariously ironic) because he couldn't suck it up and be professional about the situation.  A lot of people are calling the show out on it's lack of diversity.  Last time I checked the Tony nominated leading lady is a beautiful, young, unknown black woman.  Let's also not forget the incredible Amber Gray and that gorgeous ensemble of young people of every color.  Oak's "retaliation" is putting a whole cast of PoC at risk.  He's going to close the whole g*ddamn show because he's petty.

If only the Broadway community cared as much about their trans friends right now...............

 

"

I couldn't tell whether this is sarcasm or just an asinine comment made up of tons of snide assumptions and non sequiturs. 

[Jarethan]

froote said: "I don't care what people in the industry are saying, I bought a ticket to see Oak, so did other people on this board and so did other people I know.

 

And you are clearly a typical theatre goer.  You and the other people on this board represent an infinitesimal slice of the overall theatre going audience.  If Bob and Nancy from Montclair or Jay and Ally from Scarsdale didn't but tickets to see Josh Groban, they sure as hell aren't going to but tickets to see someone they never heard of called Oak something or other, whose claim to fame is that he had the 8th or 9th largest role in the original cast of Hamilton.  And if they did see it, and they remembered the name, they would have figured that the guy who played ruff-and-tumble Hercules Mulligan was going to replace Josh Groban of the silken voice; that would not automatically have struck them as great casting.  (I know that a good actor can play anything, but...).

Per some other posts, but adapting them, this is nothing new.  Even with two much more well known Tony winning actors actors still in the cast, i.e., Brian Stokers Mitchell and Billy Porter, Scott Rudin closed Shuffle Along because he discovered that Shuffle Along had somehow become solely the Audra MacDonald show and people weren't going to buy tickets without her.  And he is a pretty smart guy (although I do think he needs to start focusing the marketing more on Hello Dolly and less on Bette Midler or he is going to end up with a show that will run shorter than it should.

 

[Robbie2]

Dancingthrulife2 said: "GeorgeandDot said: "Oak is also probably the least famous out of all the Hamilton leads.  If they were to have gotten Daveed or Christopher that would have been different and probably would've brought in the $$, but Oak is completely uninteresting even to those who love Hamilton.  It was a poor choice to cast him in the first place and he then started a week late because he wasn't ready.  Now they're simply asking him to step aside for the moment to let a famous actor who will bring in an audience play the role.  It sounds like this hurt Oak's ego and he went crying to his friends who then started a personal twitter war against Comet and Patinkin by calling them racist.

Jesus, this whole thing is despicable.  I wouldn't be surprised if Comet closed because of this in the near future.  Frankly, I hope it ruins Oak's career.  I worked in the industry for quite some time and if anyone dared to do something like this then, they would've never worked again.  It's entirely unprofessional.  What's going on, on Twitter is horrible.  So many nasty comments towards Patinkin and the Great Comet (mostly by white fan girls, which I find hilariously ironic) because he couldn't suck it up and be professional about the situation.  A lot of people are calling the show out on it's lack of diversity.  Last time I checked the Tony nominated leading lady is a beautiful, young, unknown black woman.  Let's also not forget the incredible Amber Gray and that gorgeous ensemble of young people of every color.  Oak's "retaliation" is putting a whole cast of PoC at risk.  He's going to close the whole g*ddamn show because he's petty.

If only the Broadway community cared as much about their trans friends right now...............

 

"

I couldn't tell whether this is sarcasm or just an asinine comment made up of tons of snide assumptions and non sequiturs. 

 

"Enough already...The show won't last unless they get a star after Mandy...how can it?

 

[VintageSnarker]

bdn223 said: 
Hes maybe 10-20 years to old for the role, not 30....

 At the start of War and Peace Natasha is 13 and Pierre is in his early-mid 20s. It should also be noted that life expectancy in 1800s Russia was under 40 years. When Comet begins Natasha is 16/17sh and Pierre is in his late 20s, making Pierre a man in the final quarter of his life. Thus when you cast it considering the main drive of Pierre in Comet is his existential crisis, you should cast it older as it is more in line with a the contemporary "Mid Life crisis" then the crisis someone has when they turn 30, which would be truer on paper, but not in terms of authorial intent.

Relative life expectancy is a completely illogical way to cast non-contemporary shows. 

Also, I don't have a problem with him actually playing the instruments or just miming it. It's great to find actor musicians but I enjoyed Marie and Rosetta for example and the actual musicians were behind the curtain.

dramamama611 said: "I think he'll play the part wonderfully and can't wait to hear him sing the score.  Do I think he's too old?  Yes.  Do I actually care?  Nope."

Also, this.

I think the possible racial motivation is being way overblown. It seems like it was mishandled but I don't think this is the show to attack for diversity issues because of this one casting decision. Those on twitter arguing that Oak is as big of a star as Patinkin are delusional. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

VotePeron said: "It was a business decision, and everyone taking it personally isn't understanding that Oak is an employee who signed a contract that would allow something like this to happen."

THANK YOU.

[froote]

Jarethan that overlong response wasn't necessary. I already stated that obviously not enough people wanted to see Oak. My issue was with the wording that 'nobody' bought tickets just to see him, which is untrue.