Chip Zien going into Les Miz

[Sykes24]

Heard last night that Chip Zien (Into the Woods, Falsettos, A New Brain) is going to be filling in for a vacationing Gary Beach at Les Miz this summer! Great idea!

[Steve2]

And he was great in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang too.

[amalou]

Thank. God.

Gary Beach annoyed the hell out of me in this role. But since I've grown up watching the Into the Woods dvd, I should really try to see him.

[desiree armfeldt]

YES! I love Chip Zien....I love Gary Beach too...but YAY! CHIP ZIEN!

[desiree armfeldt]

speaking of les mis cast changes....what is going on? are they replacing mandy bruno? harada?

[TLKfan]

When is Beach out of the show for? I'll be seeing Les Mis soon.

[NathanLaneStalker]

I love Chip! Although I like Gary as a performer more.

Chip will be great!!!

[scott68]

Wonderful! I love Chip, and I'm happy to see him on Broadway anytime.

[JKlock]

Gary's going to be out July and August

[being.jeremiah]

From Lea Salonga's blog, 15 June 2007 at 7:30pm:

"Over the next many days, there will be numerous cast changes and shuffles... one actor is going from his current track to another and being given an additional role to understudy, another actor is being given a brand new understudy position, three people are leaving this Sunday, two people are leaving next weekend, one is coming in as a replacement for another who's going on medical leave, and so on and so forth. That means a seemingly endless train of rehearsals and put-ins, costume alterations, and little to no sleep for the stage management and wardrobe departments who, I'm sure, are praying to STOP THE INSANITY.

So yes, our constant state of flux will remain, and I don't see an end in sight for this condition. As exciting as things can be when changes come, it's also nice when things finally settle in, and we can all enjoy some sameness for a good enough time.

At this moment I am not at liberty to make any public announcements of who's coming and going, but once I know, so will you. Please stay tuned."

[LizzieCurry]

Holy cow! There's going to be a new vacation swing, too, from what I understand. Don't know when, though.

[C is for Company]

Did the announce that this show is open ended, or does it have a closing date, or are they just silently shuffling the status of this show so nobody complains?

I think that Antonijan is an impersonator for Antoonijan, a far more useful poster. Mods, might wanna check into that.

[millie_dillmount]

What day in July exactly? I'm going in July 4th.

[catstagestud]

I hope that the changes to the cast are all good. Chip Zien would be great!! My friend who's currently playing the foreman and has been understudying Javert recently got assigned to understudy Jean Valjean. I hope I get to see him next time I'm in the city.

Cheers,

Christopher

[LizzieCurry]

Oh, wow, Ben Crawford? They haven't had a double cover for Valjean/Javert in a loooong time. Pretty cool. :)

[desiree armfeldt]

That's exciting. I wonder who needs a "sick cover"? Mandy Bruno or Ben David.....or both?

[Marianne]

Ben Crawford as... Valjean? Isn't he a bass-baritone? And, y'know, in his early twenties?

*scratches head*

[Weez]

Alex Gemignani isn't exactly the oldest Valjean either. S'called acting.

[millie_dillmount]

Hey, it can be done with the right makeup and stuff.

[LizzieCurry]

Everyone wants to be the next JOJ!

[ThankstoPhantom]

^But they can't quite get there.

[jennyish]

I just got back from NYC -- saw the Les Mis matinée and loved it. Bruno and Harada weren't actually that bad -- nothing to write home about, but they didn't ruin it either (although for the first time I DID NOT cry during 'A Little Fall of Rain'). Gary Beach . . . well, that man makes my life.

[HumATune]

Who else has doubled-covered Valjean & Javert on Broadway? (I know they do it in London and that Philip Hernandez played has played both but not as a double-cover.)

Honestly I'm not a fan of double-covers for roles which I feel should have as much vocal contrast as possible, but oh well. :)

[catstagestud]

Yes Ben is in his early twenties. I'm pretty sure he can sing Valjean and I don't think that the powers above would put him as an understudy if they didn't feel that he could handle the role. I hope that he does well with the new understudy assigment; he's got a great beautiful voice!

Cheers,

Christopher

[Marianne]

Yes, well, the powers above also made Drew Sarich understudy Javert, and while he's quite good acting-wise, it's very obvious that he doesn't have some of Javert's low notes. He also looks really young no matter how much makeup they put on him. I'm afraid the same thing will happen with Ben. He does indeed have a beautiful voice, but it's a beautiful low baritone voice, and the Powers That Be haven't exactly shown flawless judgement in choosing the right ages and vocal ranges for the understudies so far.

(If they're making Ben the new Valjean cover, does that mean Jeff Kready or Victor Hawks is leaving?)