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

[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.

[Robbie2]

froote said: "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.

 

"Why not?

 

[Steve C.]

This brou-ha-ha just goes with the territory. As talented a performer as Oak is, (from what I've seen and heard) he was not the right match. As replacement or "stunt" casting is now common, I'm sure there were people who had no idea who Oak was. The producers want to sell tickets, yes, they (and we) want the show to stay open. Mandy will sell tickets!

Let's put it this way; if they cast NeNe Leakes as Natasha they would be selling tickets to her audience...

It's not fair to say that such an incredible and diverse PoC cast and ensemble is anything but that. We've seen GC 4x, and while Oak is an incredible performer, we admire that he did try, (but then, we did get tix for MP, too). 

[froote]

Robbie2 said: "froote said: "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.

 

"Why not?"

Because I'd quite clearly already agreed with his point a few posts up from the post he was responding to.

[VintageSnarker]

JBroadway said: Now I kind of want them to cast LuPone as Marya D. Wouldn't you kill to see her do "In My House"? 

That sounds amazing. I think Grace's voice is more versatile though in that it's... weirder, for lack of a better word. Patti would be incredible but then I don't care how feisty she is, I wouldn't buy Natasha talking back if Patti was playing Marya.

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Jarethan said: "froote said: "

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.

 

 

"

Rudin didn't "discover" that Shuffle Along was the Audra McDonald show. He practically marketed it AS one even knowing that Audra would be gone for a lengthy period of time before her pregnancy.

[VintageSnarker]

Mr. Nowack said: "I think the only disgrace is all these people bashing a show that has taken greater strides towards diversity than pretty much any other this season.

Pity that Oak got booted, yes. But he's a nobody. And those bringing race into it, I just can't even. 

Twitter is why we can't have nice things. 

 

[RippedMan]

I think they've learned that people don't care about the cast of Hamilton doing post-Hamilton shows.

[ljay889]

RippedMan said: "I think they've learned that people don't care about the cast of Hamilton doing post-Hamilton shows.

 

"

Exactly!

[qolbinau]

I don't know why someone would wish this ruins his career but did he actually say anything racist? (I genuinely can't remember - but it seems like people throw that term around so loosley these days). 

As an inside - I'm listening to "Dust and Ashes" and can imagine Mandy singing it. I bet it's going to be an incredibly, incredibly self-indulgent acting/singing performance - and I wonder if he will sing it at snail's space. But I can hear it.

[dramamama611]

VintageSnarker said: "JBroadway said: Now I kind of want them to cast LuPone as Marya D. Wouldn't you kill to see her do "In My House"? 

That sounds amazing. I think Grace's voice is more versatile though in that it's... weirder, for lack of a better word. Patti would be incredible but then I don't care how feisty she is, I wouldn't buy Natasha talking back if Patti was playing Marya.

 

 

"

Best post of the thread.

[Owen22]

I'm a little disappointed in Cynthia Erivo and her series of tweets about the recasting of African American actor Okieriete Onaodowan's Pierre for Mandy Patinkin. 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/theater/mandy-patinkin-oak-onaodowan-great-comet.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftheater

 

I would be the first to scream discrimination but this seems to be nothing of the sort, at least not race discrimination.

 

As one disgruntled Broadway professional states in the article: “It’s like the integration of baseball, where a player has to be twice as good,”  No.  You have to be twice as famous.  Which may be a problem in itself Though one would say the most famous theatrical star of the moment (Audra) is of color as is the writer and most of the cast of the most famous musical on Broadway (just being a tiny member of THAT cast is what the producer's mistakenly assumed would make the otherwise unknown Onaodowan a draw).  Certainly Cynthia herself will soon be right behind Audra.

 

This just seems like a "snowflake" problem. Possibly a minor symptom of a bigger problem. Or maybe not. Maybe it's just showbiz and money.  If Denzel Washington wanted to play Pierre for three weeks, the current Pierre, either white or black, would be jettisoned just as quickly.

 

There are bigger problems for the black and brown community to coalesce around and I'm upset Cynthia is using whatever tweet clout she has to get behind something that appears, and excuse my privilege, minor.

[mullein]

The show will tank in the exactly same way as if Oak were still there come September if a new, famous lead isn't announced asap. 3 weeks of improved grosses hardly bring them closer to recouping, and do nothing to help the advance. Regardless of how the situation was handled, as a financial decision it's fairly pointless. They fixed a problem that didn't need fixing.

[Eliza2]

Oak speaks: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXF_CNyB4DZ/

"I always try to speak from my heart with love after listening. I have listened. I'm more than grateful for all the love and support the community and fans have shown me.  It makes what we do and deal with as artists easier when you know many people do indeed have your back and that you are valued for your work. In spite of everything, I am grateful to have had the time to bring this character to life with a remarkable cast that truly make the Imperial Theater a sacred place every night.  My pops would always tell me to be aware of the company you keep.  I'm fully aware of the remarkable talents this cast holds, with Denee at the helm.  My work is just a reflection of what they bring, have brought and will continue to bring, be it me, Mandy, whomever is co-pilot to Denee. AUGUST 13th WILL BE MY LAST SHOW! I will not be returning. So make room in your schedule between now and Aug 13th. Come through, have a drink, and let's celebrate the time we have because as always, that's all we are guaranteed.  We make the most of the gifts we are given and I'm driven to deliver a defining moment in time, with every line I let loose on stage. 
#MynameisOak #TheHomiesRollDEEP#TheFansMadeRoom #WeAreTheChange#IPierredAndProspered#MyPierreWillPerish #August13th#OnwardsAndUpwords 
#KatyPerry
#SkateyPierre?"

 

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Glad that Oak is not returning to GC because he deserves so much better. Mandy could be great, but the producers handled this terribly and shamefully 

[RippedMan]

I think it's foolish to call racism when - I think - this is probably the first show to have two actors of color in the leads when the show doesn't deal with race. I think that's awesome! 

[schubox]

If anything it may make them more money. People might buy tickets to see Oak after all the stuff in the news about it. Couple that with Patinkin's run and this may actually be a win win for the producers. Doesn't change how it was handled. Wonder who they bring in in September 

[Nicole7579]

Eliza2 said: "Oak speaks: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXF_CNyB4DZ/

"I always try to speak from my heart with love after listening. I have listened. I'm more than grateful for all the love and support the community and fans have shown me.  It makes what we do and deal with as artists easier when you know many people do indeed have your back and that you are valued for your work. In spite of everything, I am grateful to have had the time to bring this character to life with a remarkable cast that truly make the Imperial Theater a sacred place every night.  My pops would always tell me to be aware of the company you keep.  I'm fully aware of the remarkable talents this cast holds, with Denee at the helm.  My work is just a reflection of what they bring, have brought and will continue to bring, be it me, Mandy, whomever is co-pilot to Denee. AUGUST 13th WILL BE MY LAST SHOW! I will not be returning. So make room in your schedule between now and Aug 13th. Come through, have a drink, and let's celebrate the time we have because as always, that's all we are guaranteed.  We make the most of the gifts we are given and I'm driven to deliver a defining moment in time, with every line I let loose on stage. 
#MynameisOak #TheHomiesRollDEEP#TheFansMadeRoom #WeAreTheChange#IPierredAndProspered#MyPierreWillPerish #August13th#OnwardsAndUpwords 
#KatyPerry
#SkateyPierre?"

 

 

"

A great response and I'm glad he's not going back to the show. I wouldn't either after the way they treated him. Say what you want about stunt casting or this being "the business" the producers bungled this one. They handled it wrong and it's very apparent. Oak responded with eloquence and did not bash the show at all. He acted with professionalism. I hope he gets a new part that suits him and his talents. I will be seeing him next week and I hope he enjoys these last performances. 

[haterobics]

So was the offer of Oak coming back forrealz and he turned them down? Or just PR fluff? I mean, he basically was offered three weeks of paid downtime and an extension, no?

I'm not saying it was handled well, by any means.

[Blockhead24]

What a classy post by Oak. I am so sad that his last performance is the day before I get back to NYC. I have one slot left and this show has been on my list but I don't think I can see it now.

[Jarethan]

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Jarethan said: "froote said: "

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.

Rudin didn't "discover" that Shuffle Along was the Audra McDonald show. He practically marketed it AS one even knowing that Audra would be gone for a lengthy period of time before her pregnancy.
 

I don't think that was true, although I certainly could be wrong.  

I remember that he was marketing it as a show with 4 Tony winners.  He was clear that she was going to be gone due to Lady Day in London, but he still had three Tony award winners in the cast besides her.  I think the issue was that he didn't expect demand to disappear (vs. go down) when she was gone.  I was personally shocked at the time that he didn't feel they could figure out a way to minimize losses in a small theatre like the Music Box while she was gone (during the busy summer season), but I guess he concluded that no one wanted to see a show with a future Broadway legend without the legend.  

That is the danger with casting a big star in what you hope to be an open-ended engagement.  What happens when they leave? 


 

 

"

 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Very classy response by Oak.  I'm still bummed I'm missing him by a week.

[Nicole7579]

haterobics said: "So was the offer of Oak coming back forrealz and he turned them down? Or just PR fluff? I mean, he basically was offered three weeks of paid downtime and an extension, no?

I'm not saying it was handled well, by any means.

 

"

No one knows for sure but the line "we hope Oak will be back" tells me that they had not offered or locked him in after Mandy. It also tells me that they are aware of the PR mess they made and threw the line in there to look less like they kicked him out after all the work he put in. Had he taken the offer to come back it would've been a better look for them. So he put the nail in that coffin (as he should've)

[haterobics]

I read it as they put it out there, but he didn't commit before the Mandy press release went out. Could go either way, but I guess sort of irrelevant now. Just have to wait to see who the next Pierre is... 

[phantomcrazy14]

Walked by The Imperial today and saw some people had left some chalk notes on the sidewalk outside the front doors of the theatre. 

Among them were "Make room for Oak", "Pierre is sad", "Nobody should have to step aside for someone more famous" and then "Stop using POC for your own agenda, then tossing them aside when they don't work for you" (some paraphrasing on that last bit cuz I don't remember precisely how it ended. 

 

While I do think it's not in the best manner to have him leave early, I really do not see why this is being turned so much into a racial thing. And again, I am one who supports POC and want more diversity on Broadway. I just didn't see that as a factor in this decision? Maybe it's just me. Idk 

[LarryD2]

"Stop using POC for your own agenda, then tossing them aside when they don't work for you" (some paraphrasing on that last bit cuz I don't remember precisely how it ended. 

I think this kind of thought is what's at play here. I don't think this situation was racially motivated at all, but the optics are bad. A lot of people are seeing an actor of color pushed out early in favor of a more famous white actor, and that's case closed for them, whether it's true or not. They've built a narrative, and taken out of context, the optics don't help.

That said, I think the producers probably feel they made a mistake hiring Oak to begin with. They really thought they were going to anoint a new star, and that he was going to give some incredible star-is-born performance. But that hasn't been the case--far from it. Hell, he wasn't even ready to start on time despite a 6-month lead-in. And then they jumped at the chance to bring in a bigger name, but didn't stop to think how the situation might look from the outside.