Top Ten...Replacements in a Broadway Musical

     Greetings, readers, and welcome to yet another post celebrating the business of show. As one may believe, so much work goes into creating a Broadway musical. However, just as much, if not more, work goes into ensuring that Broadway show enjoys a nice healthy run. Often times the work in preserving the show's success involves providing fresh faces to the cast. Today, we return to selecting some exemplary performances I have had the pleasure of witnessing in person.

1) James Barbour (The Phantom of the Opera in The Phantom of the Opera)

     Barbour, Broadway's fifteenth and current Phantom, Barbour proves why he is the master of telling a story through song in Andrew Lloyd Webber's mostly sung through masterpiece. Barbour can go from terrifying tormentor of the Opera Populaire to emotionally tortured teacher of Christine Daae from scene to scene with flair. Barbour's performance, to me, is immensely evocative of the first Phantom to terrify audiences across the nation to resounding success, that of the late, great Lon Chaney Sr. It is Chaney's iconic performance that drew me to see the Broadway show in the first place and Barbour comes the closest, if not a direct hit, to the Phantom that Chaney portrayed.

2) Billie Joe Armstrong (St Jimmy in American Idiot)

      I had the pleasure of seeing Billie Joe Armstrong in his first of many stints as the foil of the Green Day rock opera. Armstrong was perhaps the most electric performance I have ever seen in a rock opera. The Green Day front man gave life to this mischievous sidekick to the protagonist, Johnny. His twisted Peter Pan-like allure to the role provided a foil to the budding romance between Johnny and Whatsername.  A film version is planned, with Armstrong possibly reprising his performance on the screen.

3) John Owen-Jones (Jean Valjean in Les Miserables)

      Though he can seen in the current revival on Broadway through September 4th, I had the pleasure of seeing John Owen-Jones' perform Valjean in the first revival of the Boublil-Schonberg classic. What struck me the most about Owen-Jones' portrayal of the convict looking for redemption in the eyes of God was his voice. He is a vocal powerhouse, with phenomenal acting chops to boot.

4) Sierra Boggess (Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera)

      Boggess, who would star as the vocally gifted ingenue Vegas production of Phantom, Boggess would play Christine in Lloyd Webber's follow up to Phantom, Love Never Dies. In her Christine, the audience can find the ingenue with the chops to rise to stardom as well as the vulnerability of a woman unsure of what path to take, Boggess would also play Christine in the Royal Albert Hall 25th anniversary production of Phantom, and be the Christine later when the show celebrated 25 years on Broadway, a performance I was fortunate enough to catch. Boggess would later be brought back to play Christine in Phantom when Phantom made history with....

5) Norm Lewis (The Phantom of the Opera in The Phantom of the Opera)

     Lewis, the first black actor to play the title role in either the Broadway or London production of Phantom, could not have been a better choice. Lewis brought a soothing baritone to the role, while also acting this tortured soul, with a commanding presence to enthrall audiences on Broadway. Current Phans hope that Lewis' departure of the role in February of 2015 won't be the last time he dons the mask.

6) Chilina Kennedy (Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)

     It is rare for anybody stepping into a role when their predecessor won the Tony in a hard fought battle and completely nailing a role, but Chilina Kennedy is doing just that at the Stephen Sondheim Theater. Ever since succeeding Tony winner Jessie Mueller as the legendary Carole King, Kennedy takes only her second role on the Great White Way and delivers a high level of justice to the music icon. Kennedy is a vocal doppelganger for King's unmistakable sound and a terrific actress to boot, chronicling King's rise in the Brill Building while battling a turbulent personal life.

7) Christopher Sieber  (Miss Trunchbull in Matilda The Musical)

     I had the pleasure of seeing both Bertie Carvel and Christopher Sieber in the role of the villainous Miss Trunchbull in Matilda. It is still difficult to figure out who has, or in the case of Mr Sieber, is still doing the role best. Sieber would eventually take on the role that earned Mr Carvel a Tony nomination and play to perfection the sinister bully of a headmistress in Agatha Trunchbull. Sieber brilliantly delivers in acting and also has this chilling British voice down to a tee. Be sure not to miss his frightfully genius performance at the Shubert.

8) Jeremy Woodard (Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages)

    Broadway shows that have enjoyed long runs often utilize the talent they already have when it comes to finding replacements for the leads. Woodard's take on the rock icon that falls from grace in the '80s farce rock musical is one textbook example. Having understudied the role since the show's Off Broadway run, Woodard would take on his first principal role on Broadway with ease. He exuded charisma as well as the ego of Jaxx, a foil to the on-stage romance between Drew and Sherrie. Woodard also had a killer rock voice, currently on display at School of Rock on Broadway, that simply enthralled audiences at the Helen Hayes.

9) Stephanie J Block (Elphaba in Wicked)

      Originating Elphaba in the early workshop stages and the show's national tour, Block's Elphaba was perhaps on of the best acted Elphabas I have ever seen on stage. While also possessing the powerful voice that so many associate with the green woman on her way to become the Wicked Witch of the West, Block also acted the role charmingly well, giving Elphaba the pathos that she deserves and enables audiences to connect with her.

10) Justin Matthew Sargent (Peter Parker/Spider Man in Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark)  

     While many of the performances I have mentioned above occurred in shows that enjoyed, or are still enjoying, long runs on Broadway, the final performance I mention occurred in a show that did not do so well. Regardless, it was a performance for the ages. In fact, there is some chatter that Sargent, Broadway's final full-time Spidey, was only slated to play the famed web-slinger for matinee performances only but upon starting rehearsals realized that Sargent possessed unbelievable talent to play the role for six performances in lieu of the two contracted for. Sargent also possessed an amazing rock tenor that did Bono & the Edge's score immense justice. Sadly, it would be a performance only seen for a short time on Broadway

     Replacements often find themselves with big shoes to fill, yet, as only given a small sample of the performances above, Broadway performers continue to do that. Many then find themselves creating roles in Broadway productions and achieving great fame, if they haven't already. Much talk has been given to eventually giving replacements the credit they deserve. until then, go see a Broadway show, even if an acclaimed performer is no longer playing a role. You may never know who you may discover and just how they accomplish the assignment at hand. Have some favorite replacements you've seeen?? Feel free to use the Comments section below to share them!! Until the next time, this is Mike signing off, ghost light lighting on.