I loved Derrek Williams as Fiyero. Also, on the topic of wicked, Eden was great. Very different from the others.
I saw Matt Caplan as Mark on a bootleg and couldn't stand him, but i thought he was okay live. Just a totally different mark than anthony rapp's.
Also I saw Jason Gillman as an understudy for Freddie in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and although i was looking forward to Norbert, I was impressed. Jonathan Pryce was good too.
Hunter Foster as Leo in the Producers was funny too.
"In the rain, the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever."
Definitely Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun. I thought Deidre Goodwin was an amazing Velma in Chicago. Although I know a lot of people thought he was miscast (he definitely was better-looking than the role required), I thought Steven Weber was a better singer and looser dancer than Matthew Broderick in The Producers. Joe Cassidy was a hilarious understudy replacement for Norbert in DRS. Taylor Dayne was the highlight of Aida as Amneris. I thought both John Stamos and Adam Pascal were surprisingly good as the Emcee in Cabaret. Speaking of Cabaret, Polly Bergen as Frau Schneider and Heather Laws as Sally Bowles were also quite excellent replacements.
On the down side: Melanie Griffith in Chicago. I thought her voice and performance were fine, but the lady cannot dance to save her soul. Whose bright idea was it to cast her in a part that required extensive dancing? She fell during the climactic cartwheel and I really felt sorry for her. Jim Walton in The Music Man could sing and dance, but had no where near the charisma required to be a successful Harold Hill and threw off the entire dynamics of the show. I was not bowled over by Leslie Uggams as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. I know many people think he is wonderful in this part and God knows I love Harvey Fierstein, but watching him attempt to croak out melodious songs like "Tradition" and "If I Were a Rich Man" in Fiddler on the Roof was really quite terrifying.
I am in a positive mood, so here are my favorites:
Barrett Foa (Rod/Princeton): Avenue Q Karmine Alers (Mimi): Rent Jeremny Kushnier (Roger): Rent Jennifer Laura Thompson (Glinda): Wicked Susan Egan (Sally Bowles): Cabaret Brenda Braxton (Velma Kelly): Chicago Aaron Lazar (Fabrizio): Light in the Piazza Adam Pascal (Emcee): Cabaret
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe
Jaime Lee Kirchner was quite possibly the best Mimi after Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Regarding the original post, didn't Ana Gasteyer play Columbia, not Magenta? I thought Daphne stayed with Rocky for the whole run.
Tari Kelly was a fantastic Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, although since she originated the part on tour of the revival, I don't know if she'd technically be considered a replacement...
"Who says you can't bend over backwards and eat bugs if you want to? I guess the bugs would probably say you can't do that that, but assuming that they are willing and consenting bugs, then there's no problem. Let's wig out eating bugs."
-RuPaul
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
Richard Kind as Andre - DRS (I just know he`s going to be perfect!!! so I thought I`d go ahead and post him!!!)
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey