Revival cast of Hair to open production in London - Page 2
Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
sweetTb'way
Stand-by Joined: 7/27/09
#25re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 8:39am
So this is what I've heard on the matter via someone involved in the production....
The entire American original cast was offered to go over and do the show. Obviously, the entire original cast probably won't make the trip. With this said, it will still be an all American cast. However, apparently the Equity agreement for this all American cast is for 6 months only.
What will probably end up happening is whatever holes are left in the Broadway cast will be recast with actors who will eventually go out on the tour. And the American actors who crossed the pond will probably be offered their jobs back once the 6 month engagement is up.
Just thought I'd share.....
Dantes
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/09
#26re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 8:51amI love how everyone on here thinks they know better than the producers lol
former sadm2 (wink)
sweetTb'way
Stand-by Joined: 7/27/09
#27re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 9:27amI never claimed to know more than the producers - no one could ever know that much. Just simply relaying information from a cast member/friend of mine.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#28re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 9:44amNo one was saying they knew ANYTHING better than anyone. We are just speculating on what will actually happen.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#29re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 10:39am
The site doesn't just say "Broadway Cast" it says, "The Entire Original Tony Award Winning Cast" ....just putting that out there.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
Updated On: 11/15/09 at 10:39 AM
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#30re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:13am
Re: Equity.
The British union has always been more lax about actors from America coming over, it's AEA that's always so pissy. At least, that's my understanding of it.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
bwayrose2
Understudy Joined: 4/12/07
#31re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:24am
Why wouldn't they want to go? It's not like these HAIR kids are well known and have people beating down their doors here in the States. It's a job. Other than Gavin and Will, who I guarantee have been made sweet offers to go, the rest of them are probably happy for free trip to London. It will expose them to a whole new group of fans, industry folk and cultural experiences.
People leave their kids all the time to tour, do sit downs in Vegas or Chicago, do cruise ship work. It seems like a sit down in London could be cool for children. They can go to school there for a few months or come visit.
MusicSnob1
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/09
#32re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:32am
Here's my question: at the end of the day, does it really matter???
HAIR is opening in London in April. With American actors. Cool. The end.
When I think about you, I touch myself.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#33re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:12pm
It leaves US with unanswered questions: like are they really going to throw an all 'virgin' cast up on a broadway stage? I'm bringing 100 people into the city in early April....so I'd really want to know.
I saw the original Les Miz when they had just thrown about 1/3 new people on stage after a large firing. (At least, that's what the word on the street was.) It wasn't pretty, and quite disappointing for my HS group. Don't really want to see that kind of fiasco again.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
MusicSnob1
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/09
#34re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:18pm
You should never see a show based on the cast (unless we're talking about the featured parts OR any headliners). You see HAIR because of its material and message.
The cast, as a whole, is great. But you don't pass the chance to see a musical because the "ensemble" will be different. That's stupid.
When I think about you, I touch myself.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#35re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:23pm
I never said I would "pass" on anything. I'm just curious as to what will happen.
And, after all, this is a DISCUSSION board, and we were simply discussing what little information we have.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#36re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:51pm
I think at least the male members of the cast ought to transfer, otherwise the production will lack a certain authenticity.
Updated On: 11/15/09 at 02:51 PM
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#37re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:23pm
DramaMama...
I think it is safe to assume that if the current cast is opening the London production in April, it is likely that the Broadway replacements will have been performing for at least a month or two.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#38re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:29pmI know a producer for this show and the producers over seas really wanted the entire cast. They think the cast is perfect. The cast also seems very excited to go to London.
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
#39re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:34pmHow many London theatergoers would know if it was the original cast or not? Creel is the only one who has performed over there and I doubt anyone really knows who the hell he is.
#40re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:36pmI think there are potential parallels to August: Osage County, where most but not all of the original Broadway cast did a few months in London. Although it was originally billed as "the cast is going to London," some of them did not go, and after the London run, those that wished returned to the New York production. Some of the London cast members had already left the New York production by the time the London production opened, so the New York production did not have to replace every cast member for those few months.
"What was the name of that cheese that I like?"
"you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start"
"well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"
#41re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:41pmI don't see this triumphing in the UK as it did in the US. With or without "the original cast".
#42re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:59pm
I also imagine this has to do with the fact that the show has such an American sensibility to it that it'd be great to see it open with the wonderful cast that opened the show on Broadway, rather than replacing them with London actors.
Really, I've seen the show three times so far, and only the first time I saw it with the whole cast intact. Every time after that there has been at least one understudy and a couple replacements (Megan Lawrence was missed last time I saw it, I didn't realize she had left the production), and while I still loved the show and the cast, there was definitely something missing.
I will really miss Will Swenson, Gavin Creel, the insanely talented Sasha Allen, Allison Case, Caissie Levy, Kacie Sheik (her "Air" is priceless) and Darius Nichols in the production, but London is in for quite a treat. I think they and the rest of the ensemble are all fabulous and their chemistry truly makes the show work.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Luv2goToShows
Broadway Star Joined: 9/13/09
#43re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 6:24pmWell said ray-andallthatjazz86
MusicSnob1
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/09
#44re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 6:40pm
"I know a producer for this show"
Of course!
When I think about you, I touch myself.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#45re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 6:44pm
MusicSnob-
While I agree that you should see a show for what it is, sometimes that first couple of performances is really rocky for new cast members or understudies, and it can throw everything off a bit. I think that's what dramarama was talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#46re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 7:27pmMusicSnob1...what?
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
MusicSnob1
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/09
#47re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 8:51pm
Husk - That's true. Thanks for clarifying. I have more fun, though, when I get to see a completely new cast or a fresh face. It might throw it off but makes it that much more unpredictable & exciting.
Personal taste, I suppose.
When I think about you, I touch myself.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#48re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/15/09 at 9:08pm
The prize would be if they could get Groff to take over in New York, though I doubt that would happen, but we can dream.
I just hope they don't go with Hanke, who I found vocally weak as Claude.
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#49re: Revival cast of Hair to open production in London
Posted: 11/16/09 at 7:27am
"But it's not what ALL performers are willing to do. They cannot FORCE them all to go. I really find it hard to believe that unless it's for an EXTREMELY limited run that ALL of the current or original cast would agree."
I agree. I understand what people are saying about leaving family to actually do a show is "part of the business," but it doesn't mean all performers choose to do so. Victoria Clark refused to do the Piazza tour because of family.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
