Next Jenna in Waitress

[Call_me_jorge]

Every time I’ve seen JRB it’s referred to Jason Robert Brown and I’m sure that’s NOT who the op meant.... unless....

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Jason Robert Brown=JRB

[KathyNYC2]

Ok I thought of that but why would a composer/lyricist be playing Dr P? I thought it had to be someone else. Has he ever performed as an actor?

[WestEndGal]

Alice147 said: "WestEndGal said: "Mike Barrett said: "Im so confused... what drama is there? An understudy went on? If she's taking over for Kat McPhee when she's done and is her understudy she can still perform before her announced taking over of the role..."

Lucie’s not the understudy, but is apparently going to be the new Jenna when Katharine leaves on 15th June. It’s not been officially announced yet. But Lucie debuted as Jenna yesterday because Kat is on vacation for a few days without any sort of announcement (even though everyone had already worked it out) - sothat’s why people were not happy at what they felt was a disrespect towards the understudies. I guess it was like a Pretty Woman type situation where they had Adam Pascal fill in when Andy Karl was away, instead of the understudy.

Also, Lucie if you remember was the Jenna randomly on the posters in NYC with Joey McIntyre even though she never actually performed as Jenna on Broadway!

"

I was following all this on Twitter last night too! It feels like the worst kept secret if Lucie's actually going to take over soon. I saw that the reception to her first performance was positive though. I think a lot of us will be following developments over the next few days..."

Well they finally announced Lucie officially, but all that was overshadowed by the fact that they also announced that Ashley Roberts (Pussycat Doll) will be replacing Laura Baldwin as Dawn over the Summer, which caused mass outrage on twitter by fans and other west end performers! The whole thing is a mess, and all it’s doing is damaging the show. It feels a bit like  what happened with the Great Comet, although I know other factors were involved there too.

 

[qolbinau]

God I hate theatre fans sometime. Do they not realise this show is BOMBING terribly in London? It's shocking, and sad, and pathetic. I don't know if Ashley can save the show (Ashley who?) but it certainly can't be saved with Laura. 

[Alice147]

Yes, I saw the reactions online yesterday! The Ashley Roberts news had been leaked in the Metro last week, I believe? Definitely interesting reading everyone's comments - especially from other actors!

[WestEndGal]

qolbinau said: "God I hate theatre fans sometime. Do they not realise this show is BOMBING terribly in London? It's shocking, and sad, and pathetic. I don't know if Ashley can save the show (Ashley who?) but it certainly can't be saved with Laura."

Yeah the torrent of ~outrage~ from both west end theatre fans AND some performers who were sticking their oar in was so over the top. Waitress could have handled the situation a lot better in terms of how this news was released, but it’s business at the end of the day. Waitress isn’t BOMBING but it’s in a theater 50% larger than the Brooks Atkinson and so clearly needs a boost. If they don’t try then the show will close earlier than anyone hopes anyway. 

 

[WestEndGal]

Alice147 said: "Yes, I saw the reactions online yesterday! The Ashley Roberts news had been leaked in the Metro last week, I believe? Definitely interesting reading everyone's comments - especially from other actors!"

Yeah someone had leaked it so people knew it was coming. It feels like they waited to roll out the Ashley announcement at the same time as the Lucie announcement, but all that did was have people focus on the Laura situation, so once again Lucie got the short straw, lol! Also people were even shouting at Kat on twitter because someone spread a BS rumor that she had actually left the show for good without telling anyone, despite the fact she even said herself she was just taking a few days vacation and would be back. But apparently people in the know know more than Kat herself! *rollseyes* - such a mess. Feels like good content for a season 3 of Smash haha

[Zion24]

Not following any of this pettiness, but this did compel me to do some internet research and wow Lucie does some great stuff with She Used to Be Mine.

[DinaW]

alex814 said: "Just a thought: could they bring in Caissie Levy (who was apparently approached to replace) as Jenna? Gavin as Dr. Pommator and Will as Earl?

I’d pay regular price for a mini-Hair reunion like that."

I have been wanting Caissie to play Jenna for MONTHS, but because she did confirm she was staying in Frozen until February 2020, it unfortunately won't happen anytime soon. I'm definitely hoping for Waitress to be her next project though :)

[Mike Barrett]

While Im sure after a tony win she's focusing on newer projects, a run from Lindsey Mendez in this would make me buy a ticket :) 

[magictodo123]

Samantha Barks is leaving Pretty Woman. Could she be coming in, Shoshana will be out and Stephanie Torns will do a short stint until she comes in?

[WestEndGal]

magictodo123 said: "Samantha Barks is leaving Pretty Woman. Could she be coming in, Shoshana will be out and Stephanie Torns will do a short stint until she comes in?"

Depends whether Samantha wants to go from the original lead in Pretty Woman to what will now be the 7th Jenna (not counting understudies) in Waitress! Also from the show perspective I don’t think Samantha is really a name that will bring the  general public in, but I guess it depends on who they’re looking for.

 

[DinaW]

WestEndGal said: "magictodo123 said: "Samantha Barks is leaving Pretty Woman. Could she be coming in, Shoshana will be out and Stephanie Torns will do a short stint until she comes in?"

Depends whether Samantha wants to go from the original lead in Pretty Womanto what will now be the 7th Jenna (not counting understudies) in Waitress! Also from the show perspective I don’t think Samantha is really a name that will bring the general public in, but I guess it depends on who they’re looking for.

"

Waitress has been relying on big names and/or stunt casts for months now, so I wouldn't expect them to bring in anyone who isn't well-known. At this point, the only reason Waitress is still open is because people come to see the big names. If they can't find another big name for Jenna or convince a previous Broadway Jenna to return (like they've been doing with the Dr. Pomatters), I would expect them to close soon unfortunately

[JustinLovesSideShow]

not sure if new Jenna is cast but I’d love Samantha Barks