Sometimes stunt casting works and other times it kills the show. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times Broadway musicals cast a celeb worth our standing ovations and the times the choices felt like nothing more than a quick cash grab.
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00:00 "When the money keeps rolling and you don't ask how."
00:05 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times Broadway musicals
00:09 cast a celeb worth our standing ovations, and the times the choices felt like nothing
00:14 more than a quick cash grab.
00:16 We are also counting touring productions of shows.
00:19 "A bit more rouge, yes."
00:23 Number 5.
00:24 Worked - Wayne Brady as Aaron Burr - Hamilton
00:27 If you're familiar with Brady's work on Whose Line Is It Anyway, you'll know he can sing,
00:32 he can act, and he's quick on his feet in every sense.
00:41 Indeed, Hamilton wasn't even his first foray into theater.
00:51 Lucky folks may have caught him in shows like Chicago, Rent, Kinky Boots, and more.
01:03 As Brady put it, he's a quote, "well-qualified choice who happens to be known."
01:08 Critics and audiences alike clearly agreed, lauding the actor for his interpretation of
01:13 the show's antagonist.
01:14 Many enjoyed how he played the role differently from his predecessors in the way he delved
01:19 into the character's psyche.
01:21 Overall, we're glad the casting directors put Brady in the room where it happens.
01:28 Number 5.
01:29 Killed the show - Mandy Patinkin as Pierre - Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of
01:34 1812
01:35 Okay, so this one is a bit different from the others on our list because it isn't directly
01:39 Patinkin who caused the show to close early.
01:48 When Josh Groban left, Ocariete Onaldawan, known for Hamilton, took over as Pierre.
01:53 But then, since the show was having trouble selling tickets, the producers decided to
01:57 swap him out for Mandy Patinkin.
02:13 People were not happy.
02:14 Patinkin agreed with the criticism and backed out.
02:22 Around the same time, Onaldawan also made his official exit.
02:26 Dave Malloy eventually stepped in, but couldn't stop this comet from losing its sparkle and
02:30 fizzling out about a month later anyway.
02:37 Number 4.
02:38 Worked - Emma Stone as Sally Bowles - Cabaret - Before she waltzed through the stars in
02:43 La La Land, Stone was saying "Viens commenter" audiences in the 2014 Cabaret revival.
02:59 Taking over from Michelle Williams for a short stint, she left a lasting impression.
03:04 Folks couldn't get enough of her portrayal, praising her for nailing the character by
03:08 bringing an impressive depth to the role.
03:11 While you don't rack up all those acting awards for nothing, Stone admitted it was
03:15 one of her toughest gigs yet, saying she's not sure she could do it again.
03:22 Nevertheless, her portrayal left many believing that maybe this time, the casting directors
03:30 had hit the jackpot.
03:41 Number 4.
03:42 Killed the show - Ricky Martin as Che - Evita - Maybe he bangs in his music career, but
03:48 Ricky Martin's time as Che in Evita left many exasperatedly proclaiming "Oh, what
03:53 a circus!"
04:02 Despite having the pipes and the moves, some felt like his performance lacked depth and
04:06 emotion and didn't quite capture the complexities and subtleties needed for the role.
04:18 In Martin's defense, he practically had shoes the size of Buenos Aires to fill, and
04:23 his performance wasn't universally panned by any means.
04:31 But sadly, he didn't quite bring the house down as expected.
04:34 Many felt the casting choice was a bit off-key, probably agreeing that whoever picked Martin
04:39 for the role was living la vida loca.
04:41 Number 3.
04:43 Worked - Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierpont Finch - How to Succeed in Business Without Really
04:47 Trying - Ever wondered how to succeed on Broadway without really trying?
04:53 Well, how about by enlisting the services of a charming and charismatic actor like Daniel
05:10 Radcliffe, who can effortlessly cast a spell over audiences and ticket sales?
05:15 That's what this Broadway production did in 2011, and it was perfect timing too.
05:20 The last Harry Potter movie would be released later that year, and fans who weren't ready
05:24 to say goodbye could see The Chosen One live on Broadway.
05:28 Of course, this was also great for the production as it brought in a new crowd who may have
05:32 previously been unfamiliar with the show.
05:41 Despite mixed to positive reviews, Radcliffe's dedication and passion won hearts, proving
05:46 he could work his magic on stage and win over new fans.
05:59 Number 3.
06:00 Killed the Show - Fran Drescher as Madame - Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella - Fran
06:05 Drescher is talented, hilarious, and possesses a voice that could fill even the grandest
06:10 theater.
06:14 But have you ever wondered why Mr. Sheffield never cast her in one of his musicals?
06:25 Critics weren't exactly enamored with her as Cinderella's evil stepmother, picking
06:29 apart her over-the-top acting choices that they deemed to border on needless exaggeration.
06:34 However, it seems some audiences still relished seeing the screen star's comedic flair up
06:39 close.
06:56 Ticket sales did rise just a smidge during her run, but even so, not everyone was sold.
07:02 Many believe that, at most, Fran's performance was just fine.
07:05 That's one for you 90's kids.
07:11 Number 2.
07:12 Worked - Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig - Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Many of us know NPH best
07:18 from his child acting days as Doogie Howser, or as the suit-wearing, high-five-loving Barney
07:23 from How I Met Your Mother.
07:29 However, if you look at the actor's impressive stage credits, we'd say it's fair to call
07:38 him a stage and screen star.
07:51 He especially excelled in the original Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, earning
07:55 a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
07:58 Like Wayne Brady, Harris has all the credentials to be a surefire hit, and proved it night
08:03 after night.
08:15 His high profile was simply the cherry on top.
08:18 This translated to box office profits, with ticket sales basically rising as high as Hedwig's
08:23 deals.
08:32 Number 2.
08:34 Killed the Show - Cameron Dallas as Aaron Samuels - Mean Girls - This casting choice
08:38 proved that a massive online following and decent vocal skills don't necessarily guarantee
08:43 success on stage.
08:45 Many theater fans were skeptical when they heard the social media star would replace
08:49 OG stage Aaron Samuels, Kyle Selig, during his time off.
08:53 Unfortunately, their doubt was not misplaced.
09:05 Dallas' inexperience and lack of theatrical background stuck out like a plastic not-wearing
09:09 pink on Wednesday, especially compared to his co-stars.
09:23 This was an issue both when it came to performing the musical numbers and convincingly delivering
09:28 his dialogue.
09:37 Let's just say it's a good thing it was only a limited four-week run because, sadly, fan
09:42 reactions could have filled the burn book.
09:54 Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:58 Worked - Billy Joe Armstrong as Saint Jimmy - American Idiot - Who's more suited to smash
10:03 a Green Day classic than the group's frontman?
10:12 Worked - Brendon Urie as Charlie Price - Kinky Boots - We're definitely saying "yeah" to
10:16 this celeb casting.
10:26 Killed the Show - Rosie O'Donnell as Golda - Fiddler on the Roof - Do we love her in
10:31 the role?
10:32 Let's just say we're not raising any glasses.
10:40 Worked - Ariana Madix as Roxy Hart - Chicago - For every Jerry Springer, Christie Brinkley,
10:46 Wendy Williams, and Billy Ray Cyrus, finally the name on everybody's lips is worth talking
10:51 about.
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11:18 Number 1.
11:19 Worked - Reba McEntire as Annie Oakley - Annie Get Your Gun - Bernadette Peters may have
11:24 kicked off the show's 1999 revival, but it was Reba McEntire who really stole the spotlight
11:29 when she made her stage debut as Annie Oakley.
11:40 Fans fell in love with her powerhouse voice, captivating stage presence, and her ability
11:45 to bring the character to life with authenticity and charm.
12:02 She infused the role with natural warmth and humor, winning over audiences and earning
12:06 glowing reviews.
12:08 Plus, her position as a country music star probably drew in both fans of the genre and
12:13 theater lovers.
12:14 If she ever decides to reprise the role, you better believe we'll be first in line for
12:18 tickets.
12:32 Number 1.
12:34 Killed the Show - David Hasselhoff as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde - Jekyll
12:39 and Hyde - Stepping onto the Broadway stage for the first time can be nerve-wracking,
12:43 and taking on two different characters?
12:45 That's a whole new level of challenging.
12:56 Yet that's exactly what the Baywatch star did in his debut.
13:00 The Jekyll and Hyde musical was perhaps hoping to gain more widespread notice when it decided
13:04 to pull out all the stops with a big-name stunt.
13:07 Yet the role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde demands top-notch acting and vocal skills,
13:13 making you wonder if they should have gone for someone with more theater experience.
13:30 We're not totally panning Hasselhoff's performance.
13:33 Confronting yourself takes a lot of skill.
13:45 Still audiences saw right through the facade.
13:48 If anyone was hoping for a showstopper, well, this wasn't the moment.
14:06 Which instance of stunt casting would you give rapturous applause to?
14:09 And which would have you itching to leave at intermission?
14:12 Let us know in the comments.
14:30 [music]