[Gavin Lee Debut] Oliver! Curtain Call 5/7/2023 7pm

Curtain call from Gavin Lee's debut last minute debut as Fagin in the Encores! production of Oliver! Before the show started, the vice president and producer of musical theatre from NYCC came out to announce the change in cast. This included the fact that Gavin was the very first understudy to play a lead role in an Encores! production!

[@ManuelIgrejas]

Saw Gavin Lee last night. He was terrific.

[@user-wk5xy8uo9t]

By Tuesday night they had the inserts ready but Lear deBessonet, the artistic director, still came out before the show to make the announcement. We were disappointed that we didn’t get to see Raul but Gavin was also fantastic. The entire performance was superb! ❤🎉

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

I just realised that he's gonna be out for the rest of the run... I don't think it's confirmed, but given that the run closes on Mother's Day for North America, it'll only make sense that Raul is given more time to recover. He's booked for other roles, as someone I spoke to also says. Edit: As of Wednesday, he's back in as Fagin for the rest of the run!

[@michaelbilgen2976]

Loved the piggyback ride at the end. So cute!

[@finnbrown08]

Why did they cast Gavin lee as a standby? He’s a big Broadway name and I would have never thought to cast him as a cover.

[@haydenpolsky995]

its not uncommon for city center shows to have a pretty well known star standby the lead role. they just did once upon a mattress, and the standby for sutton foster was kara lindsay!

[@Musicallsssssss]

Amazing

[@Musicallsssssss]

The oliver and dodger jumping at the end😢

[@williamfairchild7439]

I do like Gavin Lee from Mary Poppins, The SpongeBob Musical and Beauty and the Beast

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

Reasoning for Raul Esparza being out? Hope he's not sick.

[@bikinibottomday]

we're still not really sure. gavin is on for fagin again tonight and the switch on sunday was pretty sudden (enough that they didn't have any inserts and had to make a preshow announcement / speech). it looks like it's possible he's sick.

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

@@bikinibottomday Worst possible news. Happy for Gavin Lee, but this needs a Broadway transfer ASAP, especially BC Raul is one of the best stage Fagins, in my opinion. I love his personality, and his comic timing as well as his chemistry onstage with Julian Lerner and Benjamin Pajak. Hope he makes a speedy recovery in time for closing night.

[@youwontwanttowakeup]

@@dukeofrodtown1705 If it does get a Broadway transfer, I think Raul is booked and it'd probably be Gavin that transfers with the production instead.

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

@@youwontwanttowakeup I think you're right, but hopefully he recovers, has enough time to re-rehearse, and then simply do his thing once the Broadway run opens - if it ever happens.