Who are some "Unknowns" who you think would make incredible replacements in currently running Broadway musicals?

[willrolandsframes]

Basically, name an Actor or Actress who is not very well known who would be a killer replacement for a role in a musical that is currently running on Broadway.

For me, I'd really love to see Hannah Corneau take on Eliza in Hamilton. Yes, she would be the first Caucasian female to take on a leading role full-time in Hamilton, but she's received critical acclaim as Yitzhak in the Hedwig tour, has a great vocal range, and already proved she could nail the part in RANGE A Cappella's "Hamilton in 7 Minutes" video from last year.

[pupscotch]

I absolutely do not want to see a white actress playing Eliza, or any leading role in Hamilton. 

I don't know if she's quite an unknown, but I'd love to see Shoba Narayan take on Christine. Her voice fits the role beautifully.

[Call_me_jorge]

She's already played it on the rode, but Alison Luff as Elphaba. I mean, C'mon. She probably had the finest Elphaba voice. It was crisp and clear and certainly better than the screeches coming out of Idinas mouth, not that she was terrible. When comparing the two, idina was screeching. 

[ethan231h]

Call_me_jorge said: "She's already played it on the rode, but Alison Luff as Elphaba. I mean, C'mon. She probably had the finest Elphaba voice. It was crisp and clear and certainly better than the screeches coming out of Idinas mouth, not that she was terrible. When comparing the two, idina was screeching. 

 

"

We get it, you love Alison Luff.

 

Both sorta names but I'd love to see Carly Hughes as Angelica, and Ciara Renee as Peggy/Maria in Hamilton....

Would also kill to see Teal Wicks as Anya in Anastasia...

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Jessica Vosk (current tour Elphaba) should take over on Broadway. She is phenomenal. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Lulu Fall, who is an ensemble member of the Great Comet cast, would slay as a full time Helene. She's got a killer set of pipes on her and if she could do the rapping, she'd be an awesome Angelica Schuyler.

Not really an unknown at all, but I think Jeremy Kushnier would have been a great Hedwig.

Jaycee Macapugay would be a good Gigi in Miss Saigon.

Hannah Shankman would be a good fit as Jenna in Waitress.

[amazingamandakate]

Not sure how unknown they are, but I've always felt the Jacobs siblings would do well in Waitress (Adam as Dr. Pomatter, Arielle as Dawn)

I think Britney Coleman (currently in Sunset Boulevard) would be a good Peggy/Maria and Ashley Park would be a good Eliza. I also would LOVE to see Park as Glinda in Wicked, if they ever wanted to cast a non-white actress in that role.

[willrolandsframes]

amazingamandakate said: " and Ashley Park would be a good Eliza. I also would LOVE to see Park as Glinda in Wicked, if they ever wanted to cast a non-white actress in that role."

There's a lot of people on this board who want to see Park be the next Natasha in Great Comet, but both of these are definite possibilities as well.

[ElphabaGoodman]

Sabrina Harper as Roxie Hart

Janine DiVita as Elphaba

Manna Nichols as Eliza in Hamilton

 

[leighmiserables]

Not sure how unknown he is, but I'd love to see George Salazar as Evan Hansen. He might be a little too old for the role now, but I've been courting that idea ever since hearing him sing "Michael in the Bathroom" from Be More Chill. I think he could put a great spin on the character, plus he's got the pipes. Here's a video of him performing the song at 54 Below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0fQmkBmb60. I think everything about it just screams "Next Evan Hansen" imo. 

(Edit: Also, now that I'm thinking about Be More Chill/Dear Evan Hansen – Will Connolly would make a great replacement for Jared.) 

[ethan231h]

ElphabaGoodman said: "Sabrina Harper as Roxie Hart

Janine DiVita as Elphaba

Manna Nichols as Eliza in Hamilton

 

 

"

I second Sabrna as Roxie....she was fabulous as Fastrada in Pippin!!

[SkidRowUrchins]

amazingamandakate said: "Not sure how unknown they are, but I've always felt the Jacobs siblings would do well in Waitress (Adam as Dr. Pomatter, Arielle as Dawn)

I think Britney Coleman (currently in Sunset Boulevard) would be a good Peggy/Maria and Ashley Park would be a good Eliza. I also would LOVE to see Park as Glinda in Wicked, if they ever wanted to cast a non-white actress in that role.

 

"

Agree 100% on Britney Coleman as Peggy/Maria. 

[darquegk]

I don't think they can cast a non-white Glinda because (much like James Bond, of whom there is a similar debate) she stands as a symbol of the mostly white hegemony, even when not engaged at any meaningful level with it.

I would love to see Shoba get a full-time lead in something. Christine is an interesting choice...

[DooWahDiddy]

Jaycee Macapugay would be a good Gigi in Miss Saigon.

Jaygee, and I agree with you. 

[PatrickDC]

I'd like to see Charlie Williams in . . . any show! ??????????

[NOWaWarning]

Bonnie Milligan in just about anything.

[henrikegerman]

Olga Merediz as Helena in War Paint.

[trpguyy]

European audiences have gotten to see Sabrina Harper as Roxie, hopefully they'll get her on Broadway soon. 

 

Charlie Franklin as Evan Hansen would be wonderful too

[HeyMrMusic]

darquegk said: "I don't think they can cast a non-white Glinda because (much like James Bond, of whom there is a similar debate) she stands as a symbol of the mostly white hegemony, even when not engaged at any meaningful level with it."

I'm pretty sure they can cast a nonwhite actor as Glinda; they just haven't. They have cast nonwhite actors as every other principal and in the ensemble, so it's an overdue casting decision to open up the color of that character. 

[Valentina3]

OP - I saw Hannah C as Evita last year, and while I agree her voice is phenomenal - she is an underwhelming actress. I don't think she could do Eliza, even if her being caucasian was not a hardstop - which it is.

I'd love to see a bit more from Candice Glover - she won American Idol season 13 (I think it was 13), She has a phenomenal voice.

[gleek4114]

When the Pippin tour came to my city, Sasha Allen was out the entire run because of an injury. The entire week Lisa Karlin performed as the Leading Player and absolutely SLAYED every time I saw the show (3 times in one week). It's an easy choice, but I think she's a natural Elphaba. Also. She would be a different take on Jenna in Waitress, but one is be willing to see, and she would be an absolutely INSPIRED Velma in Chicago if they could ever pry that role out of Arma's hands. Basically she deserves to be doing something way more high profile than ensemble and Ursala understudy in the current crappy Little Mermaid tour. When I saw it, I was SHOCKED that she was in it after conquering the LP in several cities with Pippin.

[dianamorales]

Nick Rashad Burroughs was u/s Lola in Kinky Boots and is currently in the Something Rotten tour. I don't know if that qualifies as unknown, but I would kill to see him as a regular lead. His voice is unreal.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

There is this girl who I've so far seen on stage twice. The first time was as Natalie in North Carolina Theatre's production of Next to Normal, and the second was in the ensemble of the If/Then national tour. Her name is English Bernhardt, I've had the great pleasure of interviewing her last year, and here is the link to it...
http://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/BWW-TV-English-Bernhardt-of-IFTHEN-National-Tour-20160513

As for a currently-running show I'd love to see her go into on Broadway, Nessarose in Wicked. Though she would probably also make a great Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen.

[willrolandsframes]

Valentina3 said: "OP - I saw Hannah C as Evita last year, and while I agree her voice is phenomenal - she is an underwhelming actress. I don't think she could do Eliza, even if her being caucasian was not a hardstop - which it is."

I've heard very similar complaints about her Evita performance (also was this a touring production? I've heard a lot about her as Evita and I can't seem to find out where this was?). But then everyone I've heard from who's seen the Hedwig tour has said her performance is great on all ends. Obviously she's had some time since Evita to improve upon her acting, and from the reports I've seen, it seems like it has.

With that being said, considering you also admire her vocal abilities, what role do you think she would excel in?

[Soaring29]

ME... PLAYING EVERYONE'S ROLE