Jojo in Seussical

[JBroadway]

okay this is a really random question which maybe no one knows the answer to, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway.

Seussical was my first Broadway show. out of curiosity, I'm trying to figure out if I saw Andrew Keenan-Bolger or Aaron Carter as Jojo, but I don't have the Playbill anymore. so my question is: does anyone know/remember the schedule for who went on when, or what the schedule usually is when kids have alternates in Broadway shows?

[CATSNYrevival]

This should be pretty easy to figure out. Just think back. Did you see someone who can actually sing and act or did you see Aaron Carter?

[JohnyBroadway]

Did you see a performer that did a lot with his hands?

[bwayphreak234]

I saw Seussical once. I have fortunately been able to forget it completely.

[JBroadway]

haha, I was very young when I saw it. I don't remember anything about him.

[followspot]

Do you remember who you saw as The Cat in the Hat? (David Shiner, Rosie O'Donnell, or Cathy Rigby.)

According to ibdb.com, Aaron Carter only appeared with Cathy Rigby:
Aaron Carter - Mar 30-May 13, 2001
Cathy Rigby - Mar 15-May 20, 2001

Outside of Carter's dates above, Anthony Blair Hall is listed in the role of JoJo, with Andrew Keenan-Bolger listed as "JoJo alternate."

[JBroadway]

I know that Aaron Carter was the main Jojo when I saw it. I know I saw it on a thursday night, so I'm trying to find out which performances Andrew did.

[Wynbish]

Did Jojo have some killer abs?

[followspot]

Gotcha. Good luck!

[bwayphreak234]

I do remember I saw Rigby. Rigby and the opening number are the only thing I remember.

[mikey2573]

By the time Carter appeared in SEUSSICAL, Keenan-Bolger was long gone. He left the show shortly after it opened, having outgrown the part (he was a very young looking 15 at the time of the show). Jojo was being played by Anthony Blair Hall (who was also growing too big for the role) and Cameron Bowen when Carter was hired, replacing Bowen, who was unceremoniously reduced to "Understudy". Carter was horrible in the role! Jojo is supposed to be the smallest Who, yet Carter was taller than Rigby and many other cast members. He also had some very "contemporary" mannerisms. I believe they would be referred to as "Gangsta" in today's vernacular. The score was also adjusted to make it easier for him to sing. You can check him out in the role here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qLkMhcdTQI

I think his mannerisms are on full display in the short clip from the show. He's practically grabbing his crotch.

[CATSNYrevival]

LOL Wynbish. You'd think someone would remember seeing this guy play Jojo.

[JBroadway]

mikey2573, I didn't totally follow that. are you're saying Carter didn't have an alternate?

[mikey2573]

Because Carter was the "star" he played all performances during his limited run. I believe Hall and Bowen were both "understudies" for the role, though Hall left the show shortly after Carter, as he had grown too big for the role. Bowen played Jojo for the final weeks of the show, though the producers tried to bring Hall back for the final performance so they could have all the original cast members (minus Shiner)reunite for the final show. Bowen's family, who were not pleased at the way the producers bumped him for Carter, refused to give up the final show, and I believe Actors Equity backed them; after all, Bowen was signed to play the role and Hall had left the show. So Bowen got to do the final show. I may be misremembering some of the specifics.
Interesting that IBDB does not list Bowen as ever having appeared in SEUSSICAL.

[JBroadway]

see the mistake I made was that IBDB never listed a replacement for Andrew, which lead me to believe he was there the whole time, but now I see that the alternate was eliminated. gotchya! thank you!

[JBroadway]

see the mistake I made was that IBDB never listed a replacement for Andrew, which lead me to believe he was there the whole time, but now I see that the alternate was eliminated. gotchya! thank you!

[FlowerChild67]

I'd imagine you can find the information on Wikipedia or another site like that. I found every replacement and when they began for quite a few shows by just Googling it! :)

[ClydeBarrow]

I was really hoping you were referring to this JoJo.

[keb2]

Aaron Carter is sounding a bit rough in the Fantasticks, judging from Broadway in Bryant Park.