Profile for Kensdad

PThespian: I agree with you whole-heartedly about time off. Broadway stars have a different job from you & me. I've been to plenty of B'way musicals and other concerts where singers are "gutting it out" because they have a sore throat (or some other malady), and yet they are still on stage because they do not want to disappoint their audiences. Your story about Rosie & Madonna sounds like quintessential Madonna. I would have been bummed, too, if I were in your shoes. I'm sure that Rosie proba...

cknick: Sorry you missed Emma. I don't know the circumstances, but it's always a disappointment when you go specifically to see a certain actor and they are not performing. As for film stars performing on Broadway, I have to say that Julia Roberts was more than generous with her audiences when she was in "Three Days of Rain." She drew huge crowds at the stage door every night. So much so that traffic could barely pass as the stage door overflow crowds spilled into the streets. Julia signed au...

Bright Star is a wonderful production. It has an enticing story, and the feel of a great musical from another era. Yet, the bluegrass music was a breath of fresh air that makes it something new and different. You do not have to be a fan of bluegrass to enjoy it though. I dare anyone who goes to see Bright Star not to fall in love with this show. It will make you laugh, cry, smile, and stomp your feet along the way.

Some stars feel a greater sense of responsibility to their audience than others. Did Salonga have a legal right to take off 4 days to attend a wedding in Florida? Yes, of course. Should she have? I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that many other top stars would not.

Wow, @z5! That is a great option. I would have been very pleased with that.

dwirth: I consider myself lucky to have seen Patti LuPone in Sunset Blvd in London before it opened on Broadway. ALW made a mistake to dump Patti for Glenn Close. I also saw Betty Buckley in Sunset on Broadway. Also, in my opinion, superior to Glenn Close.

Thanks, BdwayLife. In this case, I believe the actions of both Lea Salonga and her producers left something to be desired. These days it's a real financial commitment to bring a family to a Broadway production. Extra care should be given to theater-goers who support Broadway.

Dramamama: I guess my only issue is that you state:As to the appropriateness: just like YOUR days off, that's between her and her boss (the producers). Performers get X amount of days of (sick, vacation) just like "normal" jobs. I don't consider being the lead in a Broadway production to be a "normal" job. I think there's an additional responsibility/burden that comes with it. If that means that you run down to Florida for only a day or two instead of four days, then that is part of life in y...

We also saw Anne Runalfsson in Victor/Victoria in place of Julie Andrews. We were given the opportunity to get a full refund at the box office when we arrived at the theater. We chose to see the show. It was a major disappointment not to see Julie Andrews. The difference was that Julie Andrews was ill. Lea Salonga was in Florida for four days, and tweeting about what a wonderful time she was having...

I only heard about the possibility of an exchange via social media, and other ticket holders who had successfully exchanged their tickets. There was never any notice of the opportunity for a partial refund.

I'm wondering what is considered reasonable for a top star to take days off? I understand that they are human, and that they have lives outside of the theater. I would never question the need to take time off for illness. My question goes to "personal reasons" (e.g. wedding, birthday, anniversary, or other life events.) In these cases, I can see missing one or two days of performances if it is truly unavoidable, but is there ever an acceptable reason to take as many as four days, and to miss ...