Ryan McCartan is Wicked's Next Fiyero

[lightsarebrightonbroadway]

Just found out from one of my friend's who is in the cast that Heathers' own Ryan McCartan will be making his Broadway debut as Fiyero! Don't really know if this is considered a stunt cast or not. Thoughts? 
 

[Bwayfan292]

and now the heathers fans will be on broadway!

[bwayrose7]

Meh. I don’t know enough about him as a performer to have an opinion as to whether he’ll be a good Fiyero or just a pretty boy-band Fiyero. But the fan base he brings is exactly what we don’t need more of: shrieky, obsessive teens with no boundaries (proof in point: when you google him, the second video suggested is a conspiracy-style video claiming “PROOF!” of something between him and his ex). Between Disney and Heathers... yikes.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Who?

[WayTooBroadway]

ZOMG RYANNNNNNNNNN MCCARTANNNNN LOLZ

[Elegance101]

...no.

[haterobics]

lightsarebrightonbroadway said: "Don't really know if this is considered a stunt cast or not. Thoughts?"

Not unless the stunt is getting us to Google who this is...

[Dave28282]

Hi Ryan,

Are you worried that you didn't get the role fully based on talent but because of a supposed name, or are you just checking if people on this board actually think you are a name?

Either way, don't worry, you will be fine in the role.

[SweetLips22]

I did---not worth the effort.

[darquegk]

He was perfectly fine in Heathers and perfectly fine in Rocky Horror- he'll be a more than adequate Fiyero, but I don't think this is going to be a star-making performance. He's just a talented and hard-working jobber, like 90% of the Fiyeros.

[Whateverjsays]

Seems like a pretty quick turnaround, didn’t Curt just start at the end of July?

[Elegance101]

Whateverjsays said: "Seems like a pretty quick turnaround, didn’t Curt just start at the end of July? "

Curt is acting as the interim between APA and Ryan. Ryan was cast a few months ago, but couldn’t start immediately.

[HamilHansen]

I'm very excited. Don't know his work in Heathers but his Brad was quite good. 

[Call_me_jorge]

http://www.playbill.com/article/heathers-star-ryan-mccartan-will-make-broadway-debut-in-wicked

Hes definitely on the young side. I wonder if he might be the youngest full time Fiyero. He’s nearly a decade younger than Jessica.

[natashalost]

Does anyone know when Amanda Jane Cooper (Glinda) is leaving?

[bdn223]

Wicked hasn't "stunt casted" since arguably 2006?

After Menzel and Chenoweth  left there were a series of "stunt castings' of former TV stars (Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba, Rue McClanahan  and Carol Kane as Madame Morrible) , former teen idols  (Joey McIntyre as Fiyero, Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose, and Randy Harrison as Boq) , and Broadway legends (Ben Vereen and George Hearn as The Wizard). This all appeared to stop in 2007, which if I had to guess was when Wicked's producers believed they had finally dug themselves out of The Producers Broderick and Lane problem, and was no longer in the shadow of Menzel and Chenoweth's iconic performances. This is compared to the current model of selling out a SRO show 6 months past the original leads contract without informing the buying public as Book of Mormon, Hamilton, and Dear Evan Hansen all did. 

The only other instances of 'Stunt casting' in Wicked  are possibly Carol Kane's second run as Madame Morrible in 2013, which could be seen more beneficial to Kane then Wicked as this was before Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt  made her relevant again. Then there is also possibly Justin Guarini and Ashley Parker Angel's stints as Fiyero, but neither performance was advertised as such. Wicked was Guarini's 4th broadway show in 4 years, and Parker Angel came to the Broadway production from the tour. 

As such I wouldn't consider McCarten as 'stunt casting' .

[Elegance101]

At 25, I doubt he’s the youngest Fiyero.

[Call_me_jorge]

nvm

[BroadwayConcierge]

I don't think people on here know what stunt casting is. Stunt casting is what happens at Chicago like every week, where they announce NAMES, and market the show based on the limited engagement of that NAME in the show. Waitress has been doing the same. 

Wicked doesn't stunt-cast.

[uncageg]

Saw him in HEATHERS and he will be just fine in the role of Fiyero.

[kelsey1389]

Interestingly, a lot of people on twitter (theater kids, not fans of whoever this is) are not happy about his casting. Something about his relationship with Dove Cameron ? People are really upset about the casting.

[Bwayfan292]

According to twitter, Ryan abused Dove or something like that. Theres already a petition to get him removed from wicked. You can find it with the hashtag, #noonemournsmccartan.

To be honest, I hope this doesnt blow into some big thing, I want everyone to see how great Jessica Vosk is.

[Ryantheatrekid]

kelsey1389 said: "Interestingly, a lot of people on twitter (theater kids, not fans of whoever this is) are not happy about his casting. Something about his relationship with Dove Cameron ? People are really upset about the casting."

 

I asked one of the people on Twitter how they found out because I could find anything about that and they said there is no proof so I don’t know if I should take this serious or not

[Elfuhbuh]

The only thing I could find about this guy being abusive was that Dove Cameron vaguely said he was “terrible” to her in some Instagram post. I think the Stan Twitter crowd just wants something to get outraged about now that James Barbour in Phantom isn’t a thing anymore, so they’re clinging to any little scrap they can find to make it out like the Next James Barbour Situation is happening. 

[Elegance101]

Basically, when asked about the breakup, Dove said Ryan "was terrible to [her]" on Instagram. He also tweeted some very questionable things a few years back that were about "fat" people and calling girls ugly.