Christian Borle To Play Jim Bakker In Broadway’s ‘Tammy Faye’ Musical, Replacing Previously Announced Andrew Rannells

deadline.com:

Christian Borle, the two-time Tony winner for Something Rotten and Peter and the Starcatcher, will replace the previously announced Andrew Rannells in this fall’s Broadway production of Tammy Faye, the Elton John-composed musical about televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. “Christian is one of Broadway’s most exciting leading men and I am beyond thrilled that he will be joining the company of Tammy Faye,” John said in a statement. “I know Christian will perfectly capture both the humor and the darkness written into the role and I, along with the rest of the creative team, cannot wait to see him and Katie bring this unforgettable couple to life this fall.” Borle will play Jim Bakker opposite the previously announced Katie Brayben, who will reprise her Olivier Award-winning West End performance as Tammy Faye Bakker.

The musical begins Broadway previews on October 19 at the newly refurbished Palace Theater, with an opening night on November 14.

Tammy Faye had its world premiere at London’s Almeida Theatre in Fall 2022 and was nominated for four Olivier Awards including Best Musical.

Rannells had been expected to reprise his Olivier-nominated performance as Jim Bakker after producers announced his casting this past March, but in a surprising Tony Award red carpet interview with CBS earlier this month Rannells announced he was no longer involved with the project and suggested that the producers’ casting announcement had been premature. “I’m actually not doing Tammy Faye anymore,” Rannells said when asked on the carpet for updates. “I’m very sad to say.