Gavin Creel, Jared Gertner to open Mormon in West End

[ACL2006]

kudos to them. I wonder if their standbys will take over the roles on tour or if someone new will come in.
Creel, Gertner to open West End's Book of Mormon

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Crap. That means I won't get to see Gavin when the tour gets to D.C.

[Bettyboy72]

That totally blows. I was looking forward to Creel on our tour stop.

[TheatreKid3]

Do you think they will make them go through the entire new rehearsal process seeing as they are just leaving the national touring production? I mean, I understand it is a new company, new production, etc., but it wouldn't surprise me if they don't come in until after the rest of the cast has finished, or is close to finishing, music rehearsal and ensemble dance work - and then go straight into the show with some scene work and runs, then tech.

[iabwayfan]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for January 27 in Des Moines! Not that the replacement actors won't be great, but I'd really like to see Gavin and Jared.

[ACL2006]

I now also wonder if their standbys will also be american actors??

[sbflyfan]

Not happy about this AT ALL. Was very excited to be seeing Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. A few of the promoters were making a big deal about Gavin being one of the stars of the tour.

Seems like an awful lot of unnecessary cast-shuffling going in the various companies of this show...

[JohnyBroadway]

Yeah, It's been quite the headline day for Book Of Mormon. I wonder if new name actors will come in?

[ACL2006]

so by the time the West End production opens, the two male leads will be:

Broadway: Doyle & Krise/Blum
National Tour: possibly standbys
Chicago/2nd Tour: Rouleau & Platt
West End: Creel & Gertner

[DAME]

Oh whoever you see in it will be great. I saw it last weekend in Los Angeles and the two leads are fine. Saw it in NY with the original and they were about the same. This show is SO not about who is playing what part.

[JohnyBroadway]

I figured it's an event that I wouldn't want to miss for the world.

[Bettyboy72]

Dame. You're missing the point. I've seen the show before. I'm a Gavin Creel fan and wanted to see him. I love his voice. Don't be so dismissive.

[DAME]

So sorry Bettyboy. I do understand your frustration. All these boys seem the same to me. One long continuous wet dream.

[Bettyboy72]

Dame. You crack me up! :)

[UKtheatrekid]

It's a good job the uk has no talented unemployed actors who need jobs.

[ReggieonBway]

Please let this mean we'll be getting a cast recording featuring Gavin.

[FireFingers]

Cast recording is unlikely, unless the show has a different vibe. Shows that go from London to to the US tend to get a new recording, but rarely do US shows coming over here get one. Legally Blonde got one because the show had a different vibe, and the album was recorded live, not in a studio. Not saying impossible, but unlikely.

I'm happy for this, but mainly because I live in London. Feel sorry for the people who though they were going to get them. Happened to me with the recent Olivier! tour.

[MattDe]

Why is ALEXIA KHADIME in it

[FireFingers]

Mark Evans and Chris O'Niell briefly appeared on the Book of Mormon 1st tour page but were taken down, so looks likely they will take over in January. Print screen below.

EDIT: previous link didn't work. Credit to BAGibb on the Whatsonstage board.

[themonkeybananaking]

Oh Book of Mormon...I do not see the logic in moving some of these people to different places/countries seems rather unnecessary!

I mean moving Gavin and Jared to Europe then bringing Mark Evans who is ALREADY in Europe, to the US, just seems a bit unnecessary? But idk!

Don't get me wrong I don't disapprove of Mark Evans or Gavin or anything, I think they are sensational (actually Mark popped up into my head when they announced the West End Production), it's just the movement of these people seems really strange...LOL

But I guess it was their choice to move as well...IDK...I think I'm just rambling now...

But anywho...congrats to them all! :)

[greeny11]

It's only a guess, but the producers probably want a pair of safe hands to open the show in London, and train Mark up in America and make sure he's perfect for the role before he goes into the show in London.

[JohnyBroadway]

I do find it quite ironic, that they would ship out two US actors, replacing one with a performer from the west end, for they said they had no luck finding UK actors. I did listen to Evans's album, and that score will do wonders with his voice. I look forward to seeing him play the part in January.

[*Alice*]

Oh America, I feel for you. But please keep him!

I do not understand what Mark Evans manages to impress with in auditions to keep getting roles, because he doesn't manage to show the same on stage. I really hope they've put a clause in his contract, so when they see him not able to act at all, and he struggles to ever perform a full week because he has lost his voice again, they can cut the transfer to London part. We don't need him ruining another show over here.

Seriously, book a Saturday night, he only manages to do about 20% of those. Although this isn't as big a sing as Ghost, so you might be stuck with him stumbling all over the stage, not showing any emotion or reaction to anything, for every show of the week.