Andrew Rannells Will Not Reprise Acclaimed London ‘Tammy Faye’ Performance On Broadway; Actor Blames Contract Issues
Andrew Rannells CBS Mornings/Instagram
Andrew Rannells, walking the red (actually blue) carpet at the Tony Awards yesterday for his nominated Gutenberg! The Musical had some disappointing news for fans: Contrary to previous reports, Rannells will not reprise his Olivier-nominated performance as televangelist Jim Bakker when the musical Tammy Faye comes to Broadway later this fall.
In a brief interview on the carpet with CBS Mornings outside Lincoln Center yesterday, Rannells blamed contract issues with his split from the Elton John-Jake Shears-James Graham musical about televangelists Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker.
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“I’m actually not doing Tammy Faye anymore,” Rannells said when asked for updates. “I’m very sad to say. I was very excited. I’m a huge fan of the show and 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.”
Laughing, Rannells added about the show’s apparently premature casting announcement, “I’m not a professional, but I thought that was odd.”
Rannells appeared in the London production opposite Katie Brayben, who apparently will be making the transfer to Broadway as Tammy Faye Bakker when the musical begins previews at the newly renovated Palace Theatre on October 19.
In March, producers Rocket Stage, Greene Light Stage, and James L. Nederlander announced that both Brayben and Rannells would come along with the Tammy Faye musical when it transfers from the West End to Broadway.
Watch Rannells’ interview below.