Christian Borle, the two-time Tony winner for One thing Rotten and Peter and the Starcatcher, will change the beforehand introduced Andrew Rannells on this fall’s Broadway manufacturing of Tammy Faye, the Elton John-composed musical about televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.
“Christian is one in all Broadway’s most enjoyable main males and I’m past thrilled that he will likely be becoming a member of the corporate of Tammy Faye,” John mentioned in a press release. “I do know Christian will completely seize each the humor and the darkness written into the position and I, together with the remainder of the artistic crew, can not wait to see him and Katie convey this unforgettable couple to life this fall.”
Borle will play Jim Bakker reverse the beforehand introduced Katie Brayben, who will reprise her Olivier Award-winning West Finish efficiency as Tammy Faye Bakker. The musical begins Broadway previews on October 19 on the newly refurbished Palace Theater, with a gap evening on November 14.
Tammy Faye had its world premiere at London’s Almeida Theatre in Fall 2022 and was nominated for 4 Olivier Awards together with Greatest Musical.
Rannells had been anticipated to reprise his Olivier-nominated efficiency as Jim Bakker after producers announced his casting this previous March, however in a shocking Tony Award purple carpet interview with CBS earlier this month Rannells introduced he was now not concerned with the challenge and recommended that the producers’ casting announcement had been untimely.
“I’m really not doing Tammy Faye anymore,” Rannells said when requested on the carpet for updates. “I’m very unhappy to say. I used to be very excited. I’m an enormous fan of the present and sadly, we acquired right into a state of affairs the place we couldn’t fairly discover phrases that made everybody comfortable, which is actually disappointing. Which is why usually they don’t announce an actor earlier than the contract.”
Further casting for the Broadway manufacturing will likely be introduced within the coming months.
Borle, one in all Broadway’s busiest and hottest actors, acquired a Tony nomination for his efficiency as Joe/Josephine in 2022’s Some Like It Scorching. The present, for which he write further materials, received a Grammy Award for its solid album.
Borle’s further Broadway credit embody Jesus Christ Celebrity, Footloose, Amour, Totally Fashionable Millie, Spamalot, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, Falsettos and Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility. He most lately starred as Albert Peterson within the Kennedy Middle’s manufacturing of Bye Bye Birdie earlier this month, and performed dentist Orin Scrivello within the Off Broadway revival of Little Store of Horrors.
On TV, Borle has appeared in Smash, The Good Spouse and The Good Combat, Gilmore Women, and NBC’s Peter Pan Stay and The Sound of Music Stay. He additionally appeared in Michael Mann’s function Blackhat reverse Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis, and The Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Aniston.
The Tammy Faye synopsis: “It’s the Nineteen Seventies. As satellites broadcast brand-new cable programming into American houses, tens of millions fall in love with Tammy Faye Bakker – the charismatic spouse of pastor Jim Bakker. Collectively, they construct a nationwide congregation that places the enjoyable again into religion. However, at the same time as Tammy dazzles on display, jealous rivals plot behind the scenes, threatened by her dedication to guide with love.”
Tammy Faye options music by Elton John, lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, a guide by James Graham, music supervision, preparations and extra music by Tom Deering, choreography by Lynne Web page and course by Rupert Goold. Producing are Rocket Stage, Greene Mild Stage, and James L. Nederlander.
