Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child joining OOTI Nov. 30

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:11pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpXghqFHgXl/?taken-by=broadwayblack

BREAKING: Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and Broadway fame (Aida, The Color Purple) will join the cast of @onceislandbway as Erzulie starting NOV. 30th @michellewilliams says “I am totally overjoyed to return to Broadway and excited to join the cast of Once On This Island,” exclaimed Michelle Williams. “Taking on the role of Erzulie, the Goddess of Love, speaks to my heart. The musical is such a moving, inclusive, spiritual journey that is needed in these times. It feels just right to represent love.” ???????????????????? We are SCREAMING!!!! ?????? #broadwayblack

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:15pm

Kinda random, but cool. I wonder who they will stunt cast once Hailey leaves.

[BroadwayBear2]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:19pm

LET THE STUNTS BEGIN!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:21pm

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/193823/destinys-childs-michelle-williams-will-join-the-cast-of-tony-winning-once-on-this-island/?fbclid=IwAR067sOrO_Tafz8IeVlRMo1WyGmClPTfzIWYltLzPPvyaniyavxxn_Gf958

Williams will continue in an engagement through June 2, 2019.

Unless something happens, Hadestown may not take CITS.

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:23pm

Unless they have a big name coming in, Williams wont sell it to june

[Elegance101]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:23pm

It’s not Hadestown that we were thinking would take CITS. If Hillary and Clinton was betting on getting CITS for the spring, clearly OOTI is putting up a tough fight.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:28pm

This won't make a substantial difference.

However... the production surely won't post a closing notice prior to November 30, which will be challenging for CITS' next tenant (Hillary & Clinton?). And it could mean that OOTI hangs around til mid-January or February. Davenport vs Rudin!

[VotePeron]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:44pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "https://www.broadway.com/buzz/193823/destinys-childs-michelle-williams-will-join-the-cast-of-tony-winning-once-on-this-island/?fbclid=IwAR067sOrO_Tafz8IeVlRMo1WyGmClPTfzIWYltLzPPvyaniyavxxn_Gf958

Williams will continue in an engagement through June 2, 2019.

Unless something happens, Hadestown may not take CITS."

 

Hadestown has not been interested in CITS for 2 years. It is only considering proscenium houses.

 

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 3:48pm

Elegance101 said: "It’s not Hadestown that we were thinking would take CITS. If Hillary and Clinton was betting on getting CITS for the spring, clearly OOTI is putting up a tough fight."

I know a lot of people were saying North Country would take the Kerr, but I could def see Hillary and Clinton going there instead. Roth is nothing if not political, and that play seemingly fits him to a T.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 4:02pm

OOTI will be kicked to the curb whenever the next show is ready. Until then it will continue to waste money. There is no fight involved. 

And the tenor of the press release notwithstanding, MW is not Beyoncé.

Updated On: 10/25/18 at 04:02 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 4:14pm

Michelle Williams was in the “Fela!” tour a few years back when it came through the venue I worked at, and even with giving away tickets, the house was not even half full for the two show run. She’s not going to impact sales for this at all.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 4:40pm

SomethingPeculiar said: "This won'tmake a substantial difference.

However... the production surely won't post a closing notice prior to November 30, which will be challenging for CITS' next tenant(Hillary & Clinton?). And it could mean that OOTI hangs around til mid-January or February. Davenport vs Rudin!"

 

If Rudin wanted CITS for anything, he has it.  Davenport has ZERO leverage.

 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 4:47pm

She was awful in Aida years ago. The wood on the stage floor had more acting ability.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 5:08pm

Dolly80 said: "She was awful in Aida years ago. The wood on the stage floor had more acting ability."

 

THIS! she won't sell tickets and by no means the show will stay open until June.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 5:09pm

Now if they announced Beyoncé was going to replace that’ll sure sell tickets. This? They might have to sell their goats to keep the show afloat.

[busylizzie238]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 5:33pm

If I remember correctly she was stunt casted in the Jesus Christ Superstar Tour which didn’t sell out the venues as intended? Anytime I think of her I’m reminded of this video .

https://youtu.be/BKXZ_uw8WVE

[GreeneStreet]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 5:41pm

Bwayfan292 said: "Unless they have a big name coming in, Williams wont sell it to june"

I almost feel like if a “big name” was interested they would have been already in the production by now. Williams wont sell tickets, they should just post a closing notice for January and get some last minute/holiday profits.  

[Br0adway]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 6:40pm

Hillary and Clinton is taking The Golden and if Hadestown isn’t interested in CITS, then maybe OOTI will be around until June.

[tjjster]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 7:27pm

The same company handles the marketing for both OOTI and Be More Chill. I heard a rumor that they are actively trying to keep OOTI in CITS so as to prevent Hadestown from coming in. Be More Chill does not want that competition during awards season.

[Catsbroadwayfan]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 7:38pm

tjjster said: "The same companyhandles the marketing for both OOTI and Be More Chill. Iheard a rumorthat they are actively trying to keep OOTI in CITS so as to prevent Hadestown from coming in. Be More Chill does not want that competition during awards season."

The fact that Be more chill thinks they have a shot come tony time is what I find funny. Tootsie and Beetlejuice will blow them out of the water. 

[EthelMae]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 9:23pm

I really hope Darlesia Cearcy’s contract is up and she’s not being forced out by this new casting. I thought Ms. Cearcy was way better than Lea Salonga in the role and, as others have noted, I don’t think this casting will boost sales.

Updated On: 10/25/18 at 09:23 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 10:18pm

She was hideous in Aida, even vocally. Her phrasing, breath control, everything was off. Her line readings were terrible, too.

I didn’t see her in Chicago, but I hear she was much better. She was serviceable in The Color Purple.

Even if she acquits herself well here she’s not going to sell many tickets.

[Elegance101]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 10:20pm

EthelMae said: "I really hope DarlesiaCearcy’s contract is up and she’s not being forced out by this new casting. I thought Ms. Cearcy was way better than Lea Salonga in the role and, as others have noted, I don’t think this casting will boost sales."

I wouldn't really bet on it, but November will mark a year in the show (not that role specifically, though), so maybe? But I think she's been bought out.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 11:32pm

tjjster said: "The same company handles the marketing for both OOTI and Be More Chill. I heard a rumor that they are actively trying to keep OOTI in CITS so as to prevent Hadestown from coming in. Be More Chill does not want that competition during awards season."
 

Agency overlap doesn't mean a thing. That same advertising agency (AKA NYC) that handles Island and BMC also represents Tootsie and The Prom. Two years ago, they repped 7 new musicals. In 2014, O&M Co. press-repped 3 of the Best Musical nominees and consulted on the 4th. It's their job to market the best qualities about each of their shows, and to try to make them run as long as possible, regardless of "competition."

The producers of Be More Chill have zero control over any of the other shows on Broadway. Ticket sales are the only thing that will keep OOTI or any show running. (And if we are to believe the people on here who say Hadestown hasn't been considering CITS for 2+ years, then your OOTI/BMC rumor doesn't make sense.)

Updated On: 10/25/18 at 11:32 PM

[EthelMae]

Posted: 10/25/18 at 11:56pm

I hope you’re not right, Elegance, about Ms. Cearcy being bought out-unless she’s OK with that decision. After a year, maybe. Still why can’t producers and casting see sometimes what we folks here see. So many instances where a “name” will be brought in to keep a show open and it fails. Don’t get me wrong, I love OOTI and if this casting keeps it open, great. Better than closing it.