Top 10 Broadway Scandals of the Century So Far
#10: “Beetlejuice” v. “The Music Man”
Don’t make us choose! “Beetlejuice” was such a fun musical, and it’s a real shame it was marred by controversy early in its run. The show hit the big stage in April of 2019, but didn’t get off to a hot start critically. But in this case, we don’t even know if that would have mattered. “The Music Man,” starring literal movie star Hugh Jackman, was slated to open in the same theater just a bit later. In preparation for the new musical, “Beetlejuice” was forced to announce they would close in June of 2020. Unfortunately for everyone, COVID-19 hit in March and “Beetlejuice” closed without a proper finish. The show was able to open again in 2022, but will close for good in 2023.
#9: “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”
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It’s a rare occasion when we get a show that is a complete hot mess scandal all on its own. “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” was a monumental undertaking from the jump. The show – literally about a superhero who can swing from webs like a spider – featured technical stunts that were incredibly hard to nail down. Leading up to opening night – a long lead up, that was delayed multiple times – many actors were injured while doing the stunts. After the show finally premiered, it received terrible reviews, causing producers to call the whole thing off and try again. When the show opened AGAIN, the reviews were better – but not by much.
#8: “Hamilton” & Slavery
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Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” is no stranger to controversy. Sometimes, it stands on the right side of things, like when the cast called out then Vice President-Elect Mike Pence during bows. But in this case, people had some rightly deserved criticism – just ask Miranda himself. When “Hamilton” premiered to an audience past the Broadway stage with a pre-filmed release on Disney+, a lot of viewers took issue with the show’s portrayal of slavery. The criticisms ranged from saying the show glorified slave owners throughout American history, to saying it erased the era’s horrors altogether. To Miranda’s credit, he publicly welcomed criticism of his work. It just goes to show when more people see something, more points of view come to light.
#7: Okieriete Onaodowan & Mandy Patinkin Casting
“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” was one of the most inventive shows of the 2016 season. Unfortunately, a casting controversy spurred this musical to close much before its time. The show initially starred Josh Groban as Pierre, but in July of 2017, Black actor Okieriete Onaodowan took over in the lead role. Onaodowan had a limited run, but fans were surprised when it was announced Broadway veteran Mandy Patinkin would be taking over the role three weeks before Onaodowan was initially supposed to leave. Fans worried, rightly, that the instance was another case of replacing a Black actor with a white actor to try and increase ticket sales. Patinkin later announced he would withdraw from the show, and it ended up closing.
#6: “Jagged Little Pill”
When it was announced that a new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” album would be hitting the Broadway stage, 90s kids rejoiced. But the show quickly became mired in controversy. Before “Jagged Little Pill” went to Broadway, one of the main characters, Jo, was clearly portrayed as non-binary. Then, when the show moved to the bigger stage, all references to the gender queerness of the character – including the use of they/them pronouns – were removed. The backlash to this trans and nonbinary erasure was swift and strong. The show closed in December of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but fans still feel the sting of this one.
#5: Alice Ripley Accusations
For decades, Alice Ripley has been one of the most beloved and enduring figures in the musical theater community. Her starring role in “Next to Normal” especially helped shed light on the prevalent issue of mental health. So, casual and hardcore fans alike were understandably devastated and angry when this next controversy came to light. In 2021, multiple fans accused Ripley of taking advantage of their connection to her, showering them with affection before pulling it away. These fans were often young and queer, calling into question Ripley’s intentions and alleged manipulative tactics. Ripley has denied these allegations, but they won’t be soon forgotten.
#4: Justice For Swings
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If there’s one truth about musical theater, it’s that swings and understudies are instrumental to the success of any show. The COVID-19 pandemic only made this truth more obvious, with swings taking over roles at the drop of a hat when someone tested positive. So it’s baffling to us that someone in the community, much less the president of the Broadway League, would say something so inane. In 2021, President Charlotte St. Martin blamed a slew of canceled performances on young swings and understudies who weren’t as “efficient in delivering the role.” Understandably, St. Martin’s comments drew considerable backlash from the Broadway community.
#3: “Funny Girl” Drama
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If there’s one thing Rachel Berry’s going to do, it’s play Fanny Brice on Broadway. No matter the cost or the drama. But initially, Lea Michele was not the casting choice for the famous musical’s 2022 revival. Instead, Beanie Feldstein of “Lady Bird” and “Booksmart” fame took on the role. When the show opened, Feldstein’s comedy chops were praised, but her singing voice apparently left much to be desired. After a slew of criticism, Feldstein announced she would be leaving the show early –leaving the door wide open for Michele. Who would have thought that “Glee” could predict the future?
#2: Scott Rudin
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With so many terrible stories about Scott Rudin, it’s a wonder his departure didn’t happen sooner. But before a 2021 exposé in The Hollywood Reporter, Rubin’s alleged abusive behavior was just an open secret. The article mentioned multiple allegations of abuse towards his employees, including throwing things, other instances of physical harm, and hurting people’s careers after they quit. After the article, “Moulin Rouge!” star Karen Olivo announced they would leave because of Rudin’s behavior. Later, Broadway superstar Sutton Foster threatened not to star in “The Music Man” if Rudin didn’t step back. We’re happy for this show of solidarity, but we wish it came sooner. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Bye Bye Patti Oh What a Circus, She’s No Longer A Part Of “Hadestown” Hearing Impaired Audience Member Continuing the Accessibility Conversation on Broadway Jesse Williams Photos Whoever Leaked These Nude Photos, You’re Gross “West Side Story” Casting Bernardo, Fired For Sharing Explicit Photos Without Consent
#1: Fraudulent Investors
Odds are, you’ve never seen a production of “Rebecca.” In fact, we’re willing to bet a lot of you haven’t even heard of the much-maligned musical, an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel. There’s a very good reason for that. The musical started in Vienna in 2006, and was slated to come to Broadway in the early 2010s. But you can’t really bring a musical to New York City with fake investors. That’s right. A 2012 New York Times investigation revealed that four of the musical’s “investors” had never existed. A man named Mark Hotton had made them up, and made $60,000 in fees in the process. Producers tried to bring the show to Broadway afterward, but lost the rights in 2017.
