lesmiz | Update on the cast shuffle.

From Lea's blog:

Oh my goodness... there has been so much news coming out on message boards and other blogs that I guess it's time to straighten a few things out (without giving away news that hasn't already been delivered officially).

First... Ben Davis' last show was on Saturday, June 16, and Mandy Bruno's was today, June 17. As for their replacements, Robert Hunt (who was in the ensemble of this production and a Javert on the tour) will be rejoining the show in a couple of weeks. Understudies will be going in for both roles in the meantime.

As far as ensemble departures, Kate Chapman's last show was today as well... replacing her will be Lucia Spina. J.D. Goldblatt's final show is this Thursday, but because he's been out sick (he had surgery on his foot last night and is now recovering), I don't know that he'll be able to play his last 5 shows. I hope he comes back though, he's great. That's it, as far as I know. Mike Evariste will be taking over. Don Brewer will be doing the Courfeyrac track while Ben Crawford will now be Brujon, as well as a Valjean understudy. Victor Hawks will be leaving the show on Saturday, June 23. Christy Faber will also be coming in as a vacation swing for the girls, and Jeremy Hays, currently in Dan Bogart's track, will be covering a myriad of roles this coming week. Whew!

Gary Beach will be having surgery, so he'll be out for a while. Chip Zien (Into the Woods) will be performing in his place. Gary and Chip are old friends, so Gary's really thrilled that Chip will be joining us. I think he'll be a great addition to the show.

And that is all! Any other rumors of firings and cast changesthat isn't written here are all untrue. If I didn't write about it, it didn't happen.

So rumors that Ann Harada and Marya Grandy are leaving were untrue, JD Goldblatt and Victor Hawks are leaving, Ben Crawford is changing tracks to Brujon, and the poor swings must be at the end of their ropes.