Recently, I'm fairly sure that Morgan James didn't go on for Godspell's opening. I think she hurt her foot (broke it maybe?) a few weeks earlier, and management had the understudy that took over during previews go on.
Not exactly a principal role (at least I wouldn't consider it one), but Katie Micha went on as Baby June in LuPone Gypsy when Sami Gayle broke her pelvis (Gayle went on as the Balloon Girl, Micha's role).
yeah, an earlier version of the We Beseech Thee choreography had the cast jumping from trampoline to trampoline around the stage. Morgan broke her ankle and was out for a signifigant amount of time. If you look closely, the 2 minute teaser video for the show has Julia Mattison in Morgan's costume instead of her understudy outfit.
Bob Gunton for Christopher Lloyd in HAPPY END, 1975. Lloyd broke his leg during previews and was out for some time, and returned to the role on crutches. I believe he was on crutches for the remainder of the run.
Jeremy Kushnier when on as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar when Josh Young was sick for a couple of weeks. He did opening night and all of the critics' performances.
Young did some of the critics performances, which accounts for him being reviewed by certain outlets (including the NY Times).
Did LaChanze miss opening night of THE COLOR PURPLE? I know she missed a few critics previews, which accounted for Kenita Miller being reviewed by some.
Kevin Earley went on for Julian Ovenden during previews and on opening night and later in the run ended up replacing him full-on in Death Takes A Holiday.
In the 1989 production of The Threepenny Opera (starring Sting), Maureen McGovern (Polly Peachum) came down with the flu and missed all of the critics previews and opening night. Her understudy went on and was reviewed by the papers (not very flatteringly from what I remember).
I'm pretty sure LaChanze performed on Opening Night for The Color Purple. There are pictures of her at opening night curtain call in the Celie costume.
Not exactly the same thing, but it seems in the past few years there are more examples of cast members missing preview performances than before (or maybe they're just more widely publicized). A photo of her at curtain call
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joined:7/20/12
Posted: 11/9/12 at 06:45pm