Andrew Rannells has dropped out of Broadway's upcoming Tammy Faye following contract disputes, the Tony nominee shared with CBS on the red carpet for the 2024 Tony Awards.
"Unfortunately, we got into a situation where we couldn't quite find terms that made everyone happy, which is really disappointing, which is why normally they don't announce an actor before the contract," he says in a video shared on Instagram by the outlet.
See Rannells share the news below:
Rannells had been announced to star as Jim Bakker in the upcoming Broadway musical in March after starring in the work's London premiere. No word on other casting changes. Fellow London cast member Katie Brayben was also announced for the musical's Broadway bow.
Previews are set to begin begin October 19 at the newly reopened Palace Theatre, with an official opening set for November 14.
Brayben is announced to be reprising her performance in the title role of Tammy Faye Bakker, which previously earned Brayben her second Olivier Award. Read what London critics had to say here. Full casting is still to be announced.
Tammy Faye features music by Tony winner and five-time Grammy winner Elton John, lyrics by the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, and a book by James Graham (Dear England). Olivier winner Rupert Goold (Patriots, Dear England) will again direct after staging the London bow. The world premiere earned four Olivier Award nominations, including Best Musical.
Based on the life of American evangelist Tammy Faye Messner, Tammy Faye tells the story of Messner's rise to national recognition atop a Christian television empire. She and her then-husband and fellow televangelist Jim Bakker founded The PTL Club (Praise the Lord) in 1974, a platform they used to preach to millions. Messner, who died in 2007, was noted for her compassion for the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS epidemic, despite conflict between the community and the church.
Goold is reuniting much of his London creative team for the Broadway premiere, including choreographer Lynne Page (Ink), orchestrators Tom Deering and Mark Dickman (Deering is also music supervisor, arranger, and has penned additional music), scenic designer Bunny Christie, costume designer Katrina Lindsay, lighting designer Neil Austin, and video designer Finn Ross. Joining the team for the Broadway run is sound designer Nick Lidster for Autograph.
Rocket Stage, Greene Light Stage, and James L. Nederlander are producing the Broadway run.
Visit TammyFayeBway.com.
