"Replacement" cast members who were better than the originals- Page 2
"Replacement" cast members who were better than the originals
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#25replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 1:32pm
Heather Headley in The Color Purple and Rob McClure in Something Rotten!.
Also, as much as I love Anthony Ramos, I think both of his successors (Jordan Fisher and Anthony Lee Medina) are superior Laurens/Philips.
#26replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 1:43pm
I thought Nick Jonas was excellent in How to Succeed. He was far better than Daniel Radcliffe, who, in my opinion, should solely stick to plays. Nick Jonas really surprised me with his acting, his singing was incredible, and his dancing was very energetic.
I also think, with the exception of John Lloyd Young, that the 2015 cast of Jersey Boys was far better. Richard H. Blake, Quinn Van Antwerp, and Matt Bogart were the best 'Seasons' in my opinion. They were lively and their movements were more crisp and uniformed than the OBC's. Though John Lloyd Young was the best Frankie Valli in my opinion, Mauricio Perez did a stellar job when he understudied and alternated.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#27replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 2:00pm
Going back too many years for me to have actually seen for myself, Michelle Lee was almost assuredly a better Rosemary than Bonnie Scott in the original production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Michelle is that rare replacement who went on to play the role in the film version, albeit with most of her songs cut.
I second Jonathan Pryce in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and add David Dukes in M. Butterfly -- this despite the fact that I truly like John Lithgow.
#28replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 6:22pm
Definitely Emma Stone in Cabaret. Michelle Williams was...fine I guess, but she seemed like she was trying too hard. Emma nailed Sally in a way that I haven't seen since Natasha Richardson and Jennifer Jason Leigh. She was so effortless and there was a strange kind of joy to her performance. You could tell it was a role she'd always wanted to play.
The less said about Sienna Miller the better. I've never seen a Sally disappear into the background like she did.
#29replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 6:57pm
I agree that Emma Stone really nailed Sally. I thought that she was absolutely perfect.
I would like to add to the Heather Headley love. Had she been eligible for a Tony, should absolutely would have won. She was just so spidery in such a sexy way (yes she would be perfect in Kiss of the Spiderwoman).
#30replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 6:57pm
I'll second Nick Jonas in H2$ and Marin Maxim in N2N and Reba is a gimme No contest
adding in
Rita Marino (west end) in Sunset Blvd
Aaron Tveit in Hairspray
Cory Cott in Newsies
and Will Chase in Miss Saigon
#31replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 7:12pm
It's Marin Mazzie and Rita Moreno...
Darren Criss wasn't bad in H2$ either
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
thirtythirtyninety
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/05
#32replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 7:32pm
It wasn't on Broadway, but NPH was pretty incredible as Mark in RENT in LaJolla & LA
#33replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 8:38pm
An originator rather than a replacement, but Jeremy Jordan was far better than Matthew Morrison in Finding Neverland.
I saw Lauren Bacall, Raquel Welch and Debbie Reynolds in Woman of the Year and Debbie was by far the best Tess Harding.
sparepart973
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/12
#34replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 9:56pm
Betty Buckley replacing Patti LuPone and Glenn Close in Sunset (London/Broadway)
Siobhan Dillon as Ellen in the recent revival of Miss Saigon in London
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#35replacements
Posted: 6/8/17 at 10:15pm
"The less said about Sienna Miller the better. I've never seen a Sally disappear into the background like she did."
Couldn't agree with you more.
#36replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 12:33am
I don't think Lenora Nemetz was better than Chita Rivera in CHICAGO. But at the time, I liked the show better with Nemetz as Velma. Rivera was so brilliant and so dark, I rather wanted to slit my wrists by the end, where Nemetz handled the role with a slightly lighter touch. Still the same point, but it was easier to swallow.
But that was 40 years ago before the entire culture caught up with the show. I might feel very differently if I were seeing CHICAGO for the first time today.
#37replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 6:42am
I think the entire replacement cast of Waitress is superior (Bareilles, Houlahan, Dawson, Diamantopoulis).
#38replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 9:23am
Really? As I said, I liked Bareilles more, but I thought Diamantopoulis was far inferior to Drew Gehling. Diamantopoulis struck me as a little bit sleazy, and he struggled vocally with some of the higher stuff. Dawson, Houlahan, and Swenson I liked about the same amount as their predecessors.
#39replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 9:29am
Carly Jibson in Hairspray.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#41replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 1:11pm
HamilHansen said:
"Javier Munoz for Lin Manuel-Miranda in Hamilton"
^^^ This ^^^
Also (tho it's a close call):
Kyle Dean Massey over Michael James Thomas in Pippin
#42replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 1:52pm
He hasn't really replaced, but Joshua Henry as Aaron Burr
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#43replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 4:36pm
Marin Mazzie - Next to Normal
Betty Buckley - Sunset Boulevard
Liza Minnelli - Victor/Victoria
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
BakerWilliams
Leading Actor Joined: 2/1/16
#44replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 4:38pm
Lois Smith in Dividing the Estate.
#45replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 4:49pm
Ann Miller - Mame
Ethel Merman - Hello, Dolly!
Harry Groener and Bob Gunton - Follies - L.A.
Elaine Paige - Sunset Boulevard
Laurie Beechman - Cats
George Hearn - Sweeney Todd
Keene Curtis - La Cage Aux Folles
Raquel Welch - Woman Of The Year
Liza Minnelli - Chicago
Stephanie J. Block - Anything Goes
Ann Miller - Anything Goes - (Tour)
Laura Osnes - South Pacific
#46replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 4:55pm
HeyMrMusic said: "I love Jessie Mueller and pretty much think she can do no wrong, but I preferred Sara Bareilles in Waitress.
I thought that I was the only one who felt this way. As good as Mueller was I really preferred Bareilles.
#47replacements
Posted: 6/9/17 at 6:29pm
Stephanie J. Block - Anything Goes
Vocally: Shoshana Bean - Wicked
mamaleh
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
#48replacements
Posted: 6/10/17 at 11:51am
Betty Buckley in SUNSET BLVD
William Daniels in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (though I also enjoyed Len Cariou's softer Frederick)
Andrew Samonsky over Matthew Morrison in SOUTH PACIFIC
Plannietink08
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/11
#50replacements
Posted: 6/10/17 at 1:46pm
Marin Maze - Man of La Mancha.
ETA: in the recent revival.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
Updated On: 6/10/17 at 01:46 PM
