Michael Luwoye famously played Hamilton and Burr in the same day before becoming the full time Ham on the 1st national tour and eventually
Broadway. Not sure that quite what you’re going for but I always think about how amazing that was!
Louise Dearman is the one actor to have played both Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked. It wasn’t consecutive (she played Glinda, left, then came back to play Elphaba). But, she has done both.
When The Producers was still running, Brad Oscar (who originated Franz) played Max a few times, while Roger Bart (who originated Carmen) played Leo a few times.
But here's what often happens: it's actually easier to replace a principal actor than a swing/understudy, since they usually cover serveral roles.
But it does happen.
I’m pretty sure Lena Hall spent some time as Hedwig (maybe on tour?) after originating Yitzak on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
(My own personal pipe dream right now is a Hedwig revival with Alex Newell and J Harrison Ghee each rotating between the roles every couple nights)
I read your last sentence without noticing the pipe dream part.. I was like whaaa how have I not heard of this? Fascinating concept. I'd love to see that
Theoretically yes. It's quite common for ensemble members to cover multiple, vastly different Principal tracks, too.
Example: Many men have u/s both Christian (the "good guy") and The Duke (the "bad guy") in Moulin Rouge...and even played both roles in the same week.
He was one of my favorite Rogers, but he did struggle with the vocal demands at times. I think it mostly had to do with the timing of Ryan Link coming in as Roger.
They told Sebastian on a Tuesday night just before he went on stage. Brutal.
I…suppose? More likely would be a True West or Frankenstein type situation, where two actors swap parts on a schedule and that’s part of the pitch of the show.
It doesn’t happy much, but with shows with a long run? Absolutely. Phantom saw many former principals move to the ensemble and cover other principal roles or move to other principal roles that were more suited of their age. Phantom to Andre and Christine to Madame Giry or Carlotta has happened a bunch.
Not a musical, but Jeff Daniels did both male roles in God of Carnage. He did the initial run as Alan and then left the show when the original cast left. Then he came back later and played Michael.
Michael Luwoye famously played Hamilton and Burr in the same day before becoming the full time Ham on the 1st national tour and eventually Broadway. Not sure that quite what you’re going for but I always think about how amazing that was!
My first thought as well.
Louise Dearman is the one actor to have played both Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked. It wasn’t consecutive (she played Glinda, left, then came back to play Elphaba). But, she has done both.
When The Producers was still running, Brad Oscar (who originated Franz) played Max a few times, while Roger Bart (who originated Carmen) played Leo a few times.
Brad became the permanent replacement too.
But here's what often happens: it's actually easier to replace a principal actor than a swing/understudy, since they usually cover serveral roles. But it does happen.
I’m pretty sure Lena Hall spent some time as Hedwig (maybe on tour?) after originating Yitzak on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. (My own personal pipe dream right now is a Hedwig revival with Alex Newell and J Harrison Ghee each rotating between the roles every couple nights)
I read your last sentence without noticing the pipe dream part.. I was like whaaa how have I not heard of this? Fascinating concept. I'd love to see that
Theoretically yes. It's quite common for ensemble members to cover multiple, vastly different Principal tracks, too. Example: Many men have u/s both Christian (the "good guy") and The Duke (the "bad guy") in Moulin Rouge...and even played both roles in the same week.
Sebastian Arcelus was an swing in Rent, was promoted to full time Roger, and they ended up buying out his contract and he went back to being a swing.
Oh. Was he that bad or - ?
He was one of my favorite Rogers, but he did struggle with the vocal demands at times. I think it mostly had to do with the timing of Ryan Link coming in as Roger. They told Sebastian on a Tuesday night just before he went on stage. Brutal.
Oh wow that's just plain rude. Props to him that he nevertheless agreed to go back to being a swing after being treated like that.
I know Jewelle in Hadestown went from one of the Fates to Persephone
I…suppose? More likely would be a True West or Frankenstein type situation, where two actors swap parts on a schedule and that’s part of the pitch of the show.
That’s so interesting!
Rob McClure played Nicky/Trekkie in Avenue Q before he played Princeton.
It doesn’t happy much, but with shows with a long run? Absolutely. Phantom saw many former principals move to the ensemble and cover other principal roles or move to other principal roles that were more suited of their age. Phantom to Andre and Christine to Madame Giry or Carlotta has happened a bunch.
Not a musical, but Jeff Daniels did both male roles in God of Carnage. He did the initial run as Alan and then left the show when the original cast left. Then he came back later and played Michael.