smart or stinted stunt casting

[Bwayornoway]

We are never going to get rid of stunt casting but sometimes...it revives a dead horse.  Brendon Urie in Kinky Boots and Reba in Annie Get your Gun were brilliant moves - what are some of your favorites that got your heart beating again?  And just for laughs, what were some of the worst?  (be kind)

[BroadwayConcierge]

Few things will be as bad as Taye Diggs in Hedwig.

[EllieRose2]

You can't be kind with that sort of question.  Taye Diggs was woefully unprepared for Hedwig.  It was the worst stunt casting I have ever seen.  

[dramamama611]

I only think it's stunt casting if the person isn't right for the part.  Celebrities CAN belong on Bway, it's not just for unknowns.

 

[BroadwayBear2]

The Legendary Mandy Pantinkin in The Great Comet.......... Both Smart and absolutely disastrous 

[Elegance101]

dramamama611 said: "I only think it's stunt casting if the person isn't right for the part. Celebrities CAN belong on Bway, it's not just for unknowns.

"

I disagree. I think it's stunt casting if the person is known outside of the Broadway community and is being used for the marketing or their run is being used to sell the show. I don't think stunt casting is inherently bad; you're right that celebrities can thrive on Broadway and I've seen brilliant performances from people who don't only exist in the Broadway community. Doesn't make it not stunt casting.

[Elegance101]

That being said, Sara Bareilles was fabulous in Waitress.

[bwaylinds]

Brendon Urie was phenomenal in Kinky Boots and he's said his dream role is Elder Price in Book of Mormon which I would love to see him come back to broadway (but maybe not bring his fans this fine) and do. As for bad stunt casting, I disliked Ricky Martin in Evita and Rosie O'Donnel in Grease and Seussical. 

[KathyNYC2]

Elegance101 said: "That being said, Sara Bareilles was fabulous in Waitress."

Simply fabulous and amazing. 

[Bwayornoway]

@bwaylinds - AGREE - about Rosie - love her but not on the stage -let's not forget about "Fiddler!"  

Never saw Taye Diggs in Hedwig -sounds like a 'classic' now   LOL

[bwaylinds]

Bwayornoway said: "@bwaylinds - AGREE- about Rosie - love her but not on the stage -let's not forget about "Fiddler!"

Never saw Taye Diggs in Hedwig -sounds like a 'classic' now LOL"

Oh I completely forgot! That was also simply awful! Also forgot to mention Billy Ray Cyrus in Chicago.

[Alex Kulak2]

Best: Sara Bareilles in Waitress

Worst: Jason Mraz in Waitress

[Alex Kulak2]

Best: Sara Bareilles in Waitress

Worst: Jason Mraz in Waitress

[Lot666]

Call them whatever you like, but I thoroughly enjoyed:

Daniel Radcliffe in Equus 

Ricky Martin in Evita 

Jake Gyllenhaal in Sunday in the Park with George

Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard

Everyone in The Boys in the Band

Armie Hammer in Straight White Men

[AC126748]

I don't consider Taye Diggs in HEDWIG stunt casting. He's an actor with extensive theater experience in both musicals and straight plays. Casting him, at least on paper, didn't seem like a huge departure. There's a difference between "stunt casting" and someone just not being very good in a certain role.

[JSquared2]

Most of you seem to have no idea that there is a difference between "star casting" and "stunt casting". 

Casting a famous actor in a play to help sell tickets = Star Casting

Casting a Real Housewife and/or a Kardashian = Stunt Casting

[Rainah]

I call it stunt casting if an actor got the role at least in part because of their celebrity status, whether or not they got it ONLY based on their celebrity status.


Josh Groban was an incredible Pierre, my favourite of anyone who's played the role, really brought a depth and some fantastic characterization to the role.

[JSquared2]

Rainah said: "I call it stunt casting if an actor got the role at least in part because of their celebrity status, whether or not they got it ONLY based on their celebrity status.

So then you would consider Denzel Washington in ICEMAN COMETH (or anything else for that matter), and Nathan Lane in ANGELS stunt casting"?  Patti Lupone in WAR PAINT?  Bette Midler in DOLLY? Bryan Cranston in NETWORK?  etc etc
 

[starcatchers]

Alex Kulak2 said: "Best: Sara Bareilles inWaitress

Worst: Jason Mraz inWaitress"

I don’t know if I’m in the minority here, but I found Mraz an absolute delight in Waitress. 

Among the worst stunt casting I’ve ever seen was Jordin Sparks in In the Heights. 

[starcatchers]

Alex Kulak2 said: "Best: Sara Bareilles inWaitress

Worst: Jason Mraz inWaitress"

I don’t know if I’m in the minority here, but I found Mraz an absolute delight in Waitress. 

Among the worst stunt casting I’ve ever seen was Jordin Sparks in In the Heights. 

[michaelhale]

JSquared2 said: "Rainah said: "I call it stunt casting if an actor got the role at least in part because of their celebrity status, whether or not they got it ONLY based on their celebrity status.

So then you would consider Denzel Washington in ICEMAN COMETH (or anything else for that matter), and Nathan Lane inANGELS stunt casting"? Patti Lupone in WAR PAINT? Bette Midler in DOLLY? Bryan Cranstonin NETWORK? etc etc
"

I always thought stunt casting was just for replacements, not originators in a production. So those examples are just casting, but if any of them has been replacements, stunt casting. What's the origin of the term?

Anyway, I loved Ingrid Michaelson in the Great Comet. Gorgeous voice that suited the character and it was exciting to see her as I'd been a fan! 

[Wee Thomas2]

Taye really was terrible in Hedwig.

But i heard Wayne Brady as Burr in the Chicago production of Hamilton was worse.

[haterobics]

Were it not for Hedwig, I wouldn't be able to randomly drop that Taye played with my nipple once whenever he comes up in conversation

[Rainah]

JSquared2 said: "Rainah said: "I call it stunt casting if an actor got the role at least in part because of their celebrity status, whether or not they got it ONLY based on their celebrity status.

So then you would consider Denzel Washington in ICEMAN COMETH (or anything else for that matter), and Nathan Lane inANGELS stunt casting"? Patti Lupone in WAR PAINT? Bette Midler in DOLLY? Bryan Cranstonin NETWORK? etc etc"

 

Someone like Lupone I may not because she is known for being a theatre actress, but yeah, most of 'em I would. 

The issue with differentiating between "stunt" and "star" casting is that the difference rests in how much you personally like the performance. 

What if I hated Bette Midler in Dolly, I thought she was a terrible actress and couldn't see why she would get the part beyond the fact that she's famous? I'd call it stunt casting. Someone who liked it and was blown away would call it star casting. I don't find definitions useful when they're that subjective. 

So to me, stunt casting is when a person gets the role because they want to sell tickets on the name. Their casting is a stunt. "Come and see NAME for THREE MONTHS ONLY". When it's not about seeing the show itself with talented and capable actors, the show is marketed as seeing a star. 

So by that definition, I don't remember any "SEE PATTI LUPONE" banners hanging in times square, so I'd not count her. Comet was basically marketed as The Josh Groban Show, to its detriment, so I would count that. Hello Dolly wouldn't have happened had Bette not been lined up to star, and an enormous deal was made out of her performance (to its benefit).

By this definition then, stunt casting isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bette, Josh, Jake in SITPWG,  Sara Bareilles, Neil Patrick Harris, the list of top notch and acclaimed stunt casting is a long one. But it does mean that tickets are being sold on the name, not the show.

[Gizmo6]

AC126748 said: "I don't consider Taye Diggs in HEDWIG stunt casting.He's an actor with extensive theater experience in both musicals and straight plays. Casting him, at least on paper, didn't seem like a huge departure. There's a difference between "stunt casting" and someone just not being very good in a certain role."

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