781 posts
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Post by latefortheoverture on Dec 16, 2019 10:52:30 GMT
Just announced! Sophie Isaacs will be Katherine Howard from 21st Jan This is welcome news. Will deffo bring swarms of heathers fangirls who don't already fangirl this show!
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Post by ahaz on Dec 16, 2019 10:58:54 GMT
She doesn't start till 21 January after her panto run, so I assume a cover will be on until then?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 11:01:41 GMT
I assume Zara and/or Collette for a month.
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240 posts
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Post by wicked on Dec 21, 2019 15:36:07 GMT
Well that didn't last long- Vicki is returning tonight to play Howard.
Doesn't bode well only a week into the month of alternate cover!
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36 posts
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Post by hamiltonstradition on Dec 30, 2019 19:48:42 GMT
Collette Guitart (who has been on every day since Vicki left) is on vacation this week, so it should be interesting to see what happens this week. Cherelle Jay has been on for Cleves since the 8th so they have basically 2 alternates to cover the remaining 5 queens.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2019 22:56:46 GMT
Lexi said on Instagram that she has a knee injury so she’ll be out for a bit longer.
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728 posts
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Post by sophie92 on Dec 31, 2019 0:24:54 GMT
Collette Guitart (who has been on every day since Vicki left) is on vacation this week, so it should be interesting to see what happens this week. Cherelle Jay has been on for Cleves since the 8th so they have basically 2 alternates to cover the remaining 5 queens. With Collette now on holiday, Lexi still off injured for the time being, and no official Howard, they’re essentially down to 1 alternate to cover 4 queens until Collette is back
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2,678 posts
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Post by viserys on Dec 31, 2019 5:53:45 GMT
Does that increase likelihood to see the first casts? I'm finally seeing the show on Friday and I would LOVE to see Danielle Steers. I had already resigned myself to disappointment due to their erratic schedule, but this makes me hopeful.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2020 20:07:41 GMT
Jennifer Caldwell of the UK tour has made her way to the West End tonight to play Anna of Cleves. I must say this is happening far more often than it should with this show, and perhaps goes to show that 3 alternates for 6 roles is not enough. It might not help that Lexi is still out and Collette is on holiday.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2020 20:09:45 GMT
Jennifer Caldwell of the UK tour has made her way to the West End tonight to play Anna of Cleves. I must say this is happening far more often than it should with this show, and perhaps goes to show that 3 alternates for 6 roles is not enough. It might not help that Lexi is still out and Collette is on holiday. Makes you think Dear Evan Hansen do indeed have it right having twice* as many understudies as main cast lol. (*ish)
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240 posts
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Post by wicked on Jan 3, 2020 20:13:41 GMT
Jennifer Caldwell of the UK tour has made her way to the West End tonight to play Anna of Cleves. I must say this is happening far more often than it should with this show, and perhaps goes to show that 3 alternates for 6 roles is not enough. It might not help that Lexi is still out and Collette is on holiday. Not to mention thinking it was a great idea to have no lead Howard for a month during 10 show weeks in cold/flu season...
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2,678 posts
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Post by viserys on Jan 4, 2020 11:17:23 GMT
Well it was my first time seeing the show and I didn't notice any weak link. Was sad to miss Danielle but what a fab show, understand all the hype and love for it now and it blows the recent Broadway imports clean out of the water. Count this old lady among its fans now.
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 4, 2020 18:58:38 GMT
Well it was my first time seeing the show and I didn't notice any weak link. Was sad to miss Danielle but what a fab show, understand all the hype and love for it now and it blows the recent Broadway imports clean out of the water. Count this old lady among its fans now. Shame you missed Danielle, she was phenomenal when I saw her in it. Her voice is unbelievable! I for one can't wait to see how it goes on Broadway. I am hoping it'll be a smash while also hoping the ticket prices don't put people off with the top price tickets being almost 3 times the price they are in the U.K. I think they should've lowered tickets prices a bit and over stocked the merchandise counter to the hilt instead, considering that is where they make a lot of their money over there. I think it'll hit big time as there is nothing really in it's path atm. Moulin Rouge and Hadestown are really the only things vying for the same market. But only the first 2 weeks seem to have decent pre sales, it's looking pretty bleak for them after that. Fingers crossed!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2020 19:22:02 GMT
I think sales will pick up over there once it opens and word of mouth spreads. Perhaps some TV performances (e.g. American Idol, Dancing On Ice) for publicity. In my opinion, it was after the BGT performance over here that it really became a mainstream hit.
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240 posts
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Post by wicked on Jan 5, 2020 18:40:22 GMT
To add to the mess, Jennifer is still on for Cleves from the tour and Maiya has returned again to play Parr. Vicki also seems to be back in the building as emergency standby, so Cherelle must be off too.
If this continues it wouldn't surprise me if they get Courtney Stapleton in from down the road where she's a standby for DEH- or is there rules against them performing in different shows?
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Post by dontdreamit on Jan 5, 2020 18:52:50 GMT
To add to the mess, Jennifer is still on for Cleves from the tour and Maiya has returned again to play Parr. Vicki also seems to be back in the building as emergency standby, so Cherelle must be off too. If this continues it wouldn't surprise me if they get Courtney Stapleton in from down the road where she's a standby for DEH- or is there rules against them performing in different shows? I’m sure I saw somewhere on Twitter that it nearly happened!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 19:13:21 GMT
They can’t go on like this. It’s so unfair on their cast. As someone mentioned upthread, DEH has 2 covers for each role. Six is a similar scale show so I think they can afford to do the same.
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 5, 2020 19:36:23 GMT
They can’t go on like this. It’s so unfair on their cast. As someone mentioned upthread, DEH has 2 covers for each role. Six is a similar scale show so I think they can afford to do the same. It's not like they can just throw someone on stage to do one or two song like most other shows, they are all onstage the full 70 minutes and the whole show is choreographed. Surely they need at least 6 weeks rehearsal? No doubt they are training people up. They also need to get it out of that theatre into somewhere bigger with proper dressing rooms etc for the girls. It is pretty much the only long running show in London that is sold out weeks/a month in advance. They are literally throwing money down the toilet keeping it there.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jan 5, 2020 19:45:27 GMT
It hasn’t helped with this month long gap of having no Howard and then Lexi being off injured I think for the last few weeks? Having had a quick look on Instagram tonight, it seems like Vicki is there on standby too!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 20:02:12 GMT
They also need to get it out of that theatre into somewhere bigger with proper dressing rooms etc for the girls. This I agree with. The tour venues must seem like palaces.
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240 posts
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Post by wicked on Jan 5, 2020 20:39:09 GMT
Does anyone know if the leads scheduled shows off are mandatory/written into their contracts? I've seen a couple occasions where they've got someone in (e.g. Maiya) and had a lead backstage on their show off. To me it would make more sense to just give them another show off in lieu if they really have to which made me wonder whether they have no choice but to give them that scheduled show off.
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344 posts
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Post by sophizoey on Jan 5, 2020 20:41:47 GMT
Does anyone know if the leads scheduled shows off are mandatory/written into their contracts? I've seen a couple occasions where they've got someone in (e.g. Maiya) and had a lead backstage on their show off. To me it would make more sense to just give them another show off in lieu if they really have to which made me wonder whether they have no choice but to give them that scheduled show off. The show has a constant 9 show week, which means the weekly show off is written into their contract. There have been instances where girls do the show and take an extra show off later but that is at the discretion of each actress and their wellbeing at the time of their scheduled show off. Many of the girls feel like they need it due to the high energy nature.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 20:42:29 GMT
There was a situation last year where Millie had to do 35 shows in a row due to poor alternate provision. They're trying to avoid doing this as they go on with their new cast.
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268 posts
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Jan 5, 2020 20:42:45 GMT
They also need to get it out of that theatre into somewhere bigger with proper dressing rooms etc for the girls. This I agree with. The tour venues must seem like palaces. I saw Six over the holiday break and it was Vicki's "last night" and there were covers on stage. They unfortunately don't share the same costumes as the person they cover and they are tattered. I have video at the end if you say it's not true or need receipts. That's a sad situation, being an understudy or alternate and your costume is not maintained. I agree they need to move the show to a larger theatre. Maybe they are waiting until the Broadway production bows at an 1,100 seat theatre to test the waters. Is there a larger theatre available in London that doesn't have strings attached. Duke Of York?
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 5, 2020 21:10:19 GMT
This I agree with. The tour venues must seem like palaces. I saw Six over the holiday break and it was Vicki's "last night" and there were covers on stage. They unfortunately don't share the same costumes as the person they cover and they are tattered. I have video at the end if you say it's not true or need receipts. That's a sad situation, being an understudy or alternate and your costume is not maintained. I agree they need to move the show to a larger theatre. Maybe they are waiting until the Broadway production bows at an 1,100 seat theatre to test the waters. Is there a larger theatre available in London that doesn't have strings attached. Duke Of York? I agree re the costumes. You have one of the most successful shows in London, why do your understudies not have proper costumes? Why are the audience not getting the full show if the understudies are on especially when they are on at pretty much every performance? Fair enough when it was 'the little show that could', but it is now an International franchise, it is absurd and shoddy. I think the producers should be paying a little more attention to their cash cow. It is very telling that half the cast and all the understudies have left after their first year contracts are up. I have seen the show 7 times and seen the full cast once.
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