Actors having their contracts terminated on their first Broadway show

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 5/29/23 at 11:15pm

Does anyone know of any actors ( in lead or ensemble roles) that have had their jobs terminated (with cause or without cause) as Broadway rookies? National tours can count as well. I understand this is an odd question but it’s for a thesis. 

Updated On: 5/29/23 at 11:15 PM

[NotThatSmart]

Posted: 5/29/23 at 11:23pm

I don’t know if this is what you mean, but the OBC cast of SIX. Production did not renew their contracts and hired six new queens, similar to London. Almost all were debuts. I predict it will happen again with the current cast, again almost all debuts. 

Updated On: 5/29/23 at 11:23 PM

[taragel2]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 12:58am

Joanna Pacitti won a contest/casting call to play the lead in Annie but got fired before it hit Broadway:

https://playbill.com/article/joanna-pacitti-the-ousted-annie-wins-right-to-appeal-com-83971

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 1:22am

Robert Stack/LA CAGE. https://nypost.com/2011/03/04/laurents-livid-stack-attack/

Jenna Elfman/NINE: https://playbill.com/article/call-waiting-jenna-elfman-broadway-debut-in-nine-put-on-hold-com-115596

The circumstances surrounding shows that were shut down pre-opening is probably a separate matter (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sing Street, Room, Nerds, Josh Grisetti in BROADWAY BOUND, etc)

Updated On: 5/30/23 at 01:22 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 1:25am

During previews for the 2004 Broadway production of THE FROGS, Chris Kattan was abruptly fired and quickly replaced by Roger Bart. Kattan has never attempted another try at NY theater since.  

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 1:32am

BrodyFosse123 said: "During previews for the 2004 Broadway production of THE FROGS, Chris Kattan was abruptly fired and quickly replaced by Roger Bart. Kattan has never attempted another try at NY theater since."

...and then Roger Bart was reportedly fired by Harvey Weinstein & Diane Paulus from the pre-Bway ART run of FINDING NEVERLAND after voicing "candid and astute" criticisms when encouraged to give opinions about the state of the show in a rehearsal. Michael McGrath replaced him, who was then replaced by Kelsey Grammer on Broadway.

Bullet dodged!

Updated On: 5/30/23 at 01:32 AM

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 7:48am

These stories are very insightful. Thank you everyone.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 7:53am

Matt Cavanaugh in the 2009 revival of WEST SIDE STORY: https://nypost.com/2009/11/06/west-side-whack/

And more recently, Beanie Feldstein in FUNNY GIRL: “The producers decided to take the show in a different direction and end Beanie’s contract on September 25th, 6 months earlier than anticipated,” they said in the statement.  Source: https://www.vulture.com/2022/07/lea-michele-beanie-feldstein-funny-girl-rumors.html

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 8:01am

Does anyone know, in situations like these, are the actors always bought out of their contracts/Severance  or do they not get paid for the shows they didn't do? Would these terminations technically be without cause or with cause?

[Seb28]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 8:52am

taragel2 said: "Joanna Pacitti won a contest/casting call to play the lead in Annie but got fired before it hit Broadway:

https://playbill.com/article/joanna-pacitti-the-ousted-annie-wins-right-to-appeal-com-83971"

Does anyone know what the true story behind this director is?

I know the public statement was something like "Joanna was missing chemistry with the other orphins", but other people involved contradicted that. All the footage from the show and rehearsals contradict that too. I heard that only the director suddenly turned against her and nobody else.

Did it have something to do with the parents of both "Annies"? Was it about money? Was the director in contact with the mother of "Brittny Kissinger" on a more personal level? Or does the director have a personal habit/problem of putting people on a pedestal for 2 months, completely adoring and praising them, and then feel an urge to belittle, destroy and replace them. Because it happened before and that is a serious and well known issue in general. Was he frustrated about something else? 

I have been wondering for years but don't know this man or the inside details well enough.

[Bryce 2]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 9:00am

Todd Buonopane was fired during the first week of the First National tour of Shrek. Not sure if a reason was ever given, but he was replaced by his understudy for the rest of the tour. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 9:15am

Chase Miller said: "Does anyone know, in situations like these, are the actors always bought out of their contracts/Severance or do they not get paid for the shows they didn't do? Would these terminations technically be without cause or with cause?"

Oh they get paid out.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 9:21am

I believe Marissa Perry’s contract may have been cut short as Tracy Turnblad at Hairspray. She joined the cast in April 2008. When the show announced it was closing in October 2008, they announced Harvey Fierstein would return in November. Then, they eventually announced Marissa Jaret Winokur would be brought back to close out the show with him. She returned for one month only, December - January

Updated On: 5/30/23 at 09:21 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 9:23am

Re: Martin Charnin/ANNIE — you’re talking about a deeply mercurial man who did as he wanted. There were stories like this dating back to the original production, and as lyricist and director he held a certain amount of influence.

Now, to give him a small benefit of the doubt: it’s always tough with child performers to get a proper sense of their performance in an audition. Sometimes what works in the room doesn’t work on stage. When hiring someone out of an audition, you are projecting potential onto them, and sometimes their talent doesn’t go much beyond what was done in auditions.

That also became much more public than it ever should have been because of the TV press.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 9:35am

LarryD2 said: "Matt Cavanaugh in the 2009 revival of WEST SIDE STORY:https://nypost.com/2009/11/06/west-side-whack/

And more recently, Beanie Feldstein in FUNNY GIRL:“The producers decided to take the show in a different direction and end Beanie’s contracton September 25th, 6months earlier than anticipated,” they said in the statement. Source:https://www.vulture.com/2022/07/lea-michele-beanie-feldstein-funny-girl-rumors.html"

I thought Hello Dolly was her first Broadway show,although Funny Girl was her first lead.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 10:06am

fosterfan2 said: "I thought Hello Dolly was her first Broadway show,although Funny Girl was her first lead."

Yes. But this thread has gone wildly off the original, narrow question. (Myself included)

[bholtzinger544]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 10:22am

Sam Primack signed to lead Dear Evan Hansen for a year after being with the tour for several years and only got to play the role for 12 days on Broadway due to the show closing. Considering they gave all of the understudies several month long contracts before Sams, I felt Sam got the short stick of the deal, even if he did get to close the show. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 10:25am

To get back to the original question, James Weissenbach  was let go from the role of Franklin Shepherd in the original "Merrily We Roll Along" and replaced by Jim Walton before opening night. It was his first and only Broadway show.

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 10:28am

Bryce 2 said: "Todd Buonopane was fired during the first week of the First National tour of Shrek. Not sure if a reason was ever given, but he was replaced by his understudy for the rest of the tour."

Interesting. I wonder why he got cut. 

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 10:59am

George in DC said: "To get back to the original question, James Weissenbach was let go from the role of Franklin Shepherd in the original "Merrily We Roll Along" and replaced by Jim Walton before opening night. It was his first and only Broadway show."

 

Does anyone know why he was replaced?

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 11:19am

Chase Miller said: "George in DC said: "To get back to the original question, James Weissenbach was let go from the role of Franklin Shepherd in the original "Merrily We Roll Along" and replaced by Jim Walton before opening night. It was his first and only Broadway show."



Does anyone know why he was replaced?"

Best Worst Thing goes into this pretty extensively. But in short- he was bad.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 11:33am

He was bad, but as with other cases like this probably was not the biggest problem with Merrily. Sometimes there are scapegoats, or the belief that one change on that level could elevate the show. A bandaid when open-heart surgery is needed. It makes the creative team & producer feel productive. So you fire the ad agency, or replace the director or star (or in the case of Merrily, the choreographer), or something else cosmetic.

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 12:39pm

Hairspray0901 said: "I believe Marissa Perry’s contract may have beencut short as Tracy Turnblad at Hairspray. She joined the cast in April 2008. When the show announced it was closing in October 2008, they announced Harvey Fierstein would return in November. Then, they eventually announced Marissa Jaret Winokur would be brought back to close out the show with him. She returned for one month only, December - January"

I don't think she was fired - she was moved to understudy for the remainder of the run so they could close with the original stars (like what happened with Jimmy Nail moved to standby for Sting in THE LAST SHIP)

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 12:53pm

Seb28 said: "taragel2 said: "Joanna Pacitti won a contest/casting call to play the lead in Annie but got fired before it hit Broadway:

https://playbill.com/article/joanna-pacitti-the-ousted-annie-wins-right-to-appeal-com-83971"

Does anyone know what the true story behind this director is?

I know the public statement was something like "Joanna was missing chemistry with the other orphins", but other people involved contradicted that. All the footage from the show and rehearsals contradict that too. I heard that only the director suddenly turned against her and nobody else.

Did it have something to do with the parents of both "Annies"? Was it about money? Was the director in contact with the mother of "Brittny Kissinger" on a more personal level? Or does the director have a personal habit/problem of putting people on a pedestal for 2 months, completely adoring and praising them, and then feel an urge to belittle, destroy and replace them. Because it happened before and that is a serious and well known issue in general. Was he frustrated about something else?

I have been wondering for years but don't know this man or the inside details well enough."

 

The answer to ALL of the above is "none of your business".

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 12:56pm

bholtzinger544 said: "Sam Primack signed to lead Dear Evan Hansen for a year after being with the tour for several years and only got to play the role for 12 days on Broadway due to the show closing. Considering they gave all of the understudies several month long contracts before Sams, I felt Sam got the short stick of the deal, even if he did get to close the show."

 

Huh?  How did he get the "short end of the stick"?  The show closed -- so EVERYBODY'S contract ended.  He wasn't singled out.