Chad Kimball Leaves MEMPHIS

[Jordan Catalano]

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Chad-Kimball-to-Take-Hiatus-from-MEMPHIS-Due-to-Injury-No-Plans-to-Return-Yet-20110721

[AC126748]

He needs to take a medical leave, but he's not leaving for three full months?

Is this just a nice way to say his contract wasn't renewed?

[Jordan Catalano]

If that was the case why wouldn't they just say he's chosen not to renew his contract once its up?

[Fosse76]

This caught my eye:

"...due to nerve damage he's suffered in his neck as a result of performing the demanding role of 'Huey Calhoun' eight nights a week."

Since WHEN has he performed eight shows per week? While I don't know what caused his injury, and that it is perfectly possible to have injured himself as a result of his performance, the implication that the role itself is what lead to such injury is almost laughable.

[massofmen]

oh sweet! now i will go back and understand all of the lines of that character! BEcause hopefully the new huey will have an accent that sounds like the rest of the cast BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL FROM THE EXACT SAME PLACE!!!!!!

[uncageg]

AC1, I was thinking the same thing. I went to look at the opening date for the show and it was in October. Maybe that has no bearing but I find it interesting that he is leaving at that time.

[DottieD'Luscia]

This makes absolutely no sense. He's injured now, but doesn't begin his haitus until October 23rd. Why not wait until October 23rd to make such an announcement.

[NDR]

I agree. It is a bit strange that he is injured now but is not leaving the show until October.
I wish him all the best though.

[Owen22]

You know, I haven't seen him but once, early on, and he was less than great in the movie version, but when he started, Chad was on fire. He gave a truly great performance, acting and singing. A complete performance, full of character and we should all remember that.

[Jordan Catalano]

I saw him early on and he was even more annoying than he was in the filmed version.

[adamgreer]

I saw him early on too, and he was awful then. Lots of screaming, odd inflections, and he played Huey Calhoun like he was mentally retarded.

I don't understand why, if he's injured, he's not leaving for 3 more months. Wouldn't that just make his injury worse? This sounds like (terrible) PR spin to me.

[ACL2006]

something is very odd here. he's injured but will still perform with the show for 3 more months. my guess is he'll still perform only 2 shows a week and they'll have his u/s rotate(there are three Huey u/s - Bryan Fenkart, Justin Patterson, Jamison Scott).

[Owen22]

sorry at being forced to name call but...

you all are just some nasty f*cking bitches

I'm sure you're so proud.

[ace33]

While it is true (and odd) that his contract is up in the sept/oct timeframe, the injury and absence timing is plausible.

He has had this 'nerve' thing for a long time now, since last winter i believe, and it is what has caused his poor attendance (and hence the show assigning him a standby). Nerve injuries are not like a broken foot or strained vocal chords; an example is in pro sports where players can tolerate a nerve injury it but may eventually have to bite the bullet and schedule a time to go on the DL or eventually have surgery during the offseason if it never heals itself.

I do remember his performances being much stronger towards the beginning of the run, and he was also much healthier looking! I imagine that being a lead-actor isn’t easy and his is role is one of the most physically taxing roles currently on bway. But like many have been saying on these boards "if he can’t handle it, then step aside and let someone else try"... there ya go!

With that said, does that mean hes pretty much done? The show is doing just fine but I cant imagine Memphis is going to run THAT much longer.

[CurtainPullDowner]

I hope he gets better, I thought he was excellent in the show.

[HistoryBoy2]

Chad your attendance in this thread is better than the last six months in the theatre!

[iluvtheatertrash]

I saw it in previews and thought he was extraordinary. In fact, I was hoping he'd win the Tony.

I haven't gone back (and never plan on it), so I can't say what his performance has turned into.

But all of this is extremely strange...

[beautywickedlover]

Looks like we may another Karen Olivo situation like in "West Side Story."

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Nothing against him, hope he recovers soon and well, but I'm always surprised to hear that this show is still running AND that it's a hit, how baffling...
I imagine they'll bring in someone like Will Chase or Hunter Foster to replace him.

[ReggieonBway]

^Hunter Foster is working on The Hollow at Signature Theatre right now, I doubt he'd go on as Huey.

I thought he was good enough early on in the run, but his voice was too thin to maintain singing high Cs for too long. Montego will be playing Felicia for a while, I'm sure.

[dramamama611]

While it does sound odd to announce an injury LOA 3 months in advance, perhaps it has to do with scheduling of surgery. It's possible that HE is refusing to take the "leave" until his contract is up....living up to his responsibilities. Yes, it sounds unlikely - but it could be plausible. Maybe, with the und

I was lukewarm about Memphis, and I really did NOT care for his performance. I don't enjoy characature performances.

[jonartdesigns]

His performance in the filmed version was bizarre, I could see how maintaining that strange posture 8 shows a week could cause damage of some kind.

[AC126748]

Actually, Chad makes Karen Olivo look like Ethel Merman.

[N2NFTW]

massofmen: If you can understand English, you can understand what he says. I mean, you can also even make the case that black people in the south did talk differently than white people, and since the cast is actually mostly black, you can make the case that his different voice/accent is actually correct.

And if he was THAT bad, Memphis would not be still here.

[Jordan Catalano]

Well he IS that bad and MEMPHIS is still here, so there goes your theory.

And I understood him but I know people who didn't and it's not because they're not smart it's because he sounded like a drunk idiot. Character choice or not, it's bizarre and I'm sure whoever takes his place will play the role sober.