Millie national tour crisis!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 5:39pm

I guess you can call it a crisis...lol. According to Bryan McElroy's (Jimmy) online journal, between sickness, injury, and cancelled flights, they were missing Diane Phelan (Pearl Lady/Lucille), Anne Warren (Miss Dorothy), Stephanie Pope (Muzzy), Renee Monique Brown (Cora/Ensemble, u/s Muzzy, Meers, Flannery), Laura Woyasz (Gloria, Ensemble), and Jessica Dillan (Ensemble)!

Since Muzzy and the Muzzy understudy were both missing, Robyn Payne (Miss Flannery, u/s Muzzy, Meers) had to go on for both Muzzy and Miss Flannery. That must have been difficult. They even had a stage manager go on for dialogue!

"Between sickness, injury, and cancelled flights we were missing Diane, Anne, Stephanie, Renee, Laura W. (for singing and dancing), and Jessica! There were no women in New York tonight. We had to whip together some sort of miracle with what we had and even had a stage manager go on in one of the roles for the dialogue! Erin went on as the pearl lady and she was nothing less than fierce. I was so proud of her. I know she's wanted to do it for awhile and I couldn't have been more pleased with what she did. Robyn did a combo of Muzzy and Ms. Flannery. AND it was John Ganun's first day back after a two month medical leave. When they did the announcement before the show it was like a monologue there were so many changes that they clapped afterwards, so they knew what they were getting."

Updated On: 3/9/05 at 05:39 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 5:42pm

oh god. that sounds like a tour gone wrong

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:02pm

From day one. The stop in Boston all but bankrupted the non-profit Wang Center for the Performing Arts where Millie hemorrhaged money for its engagement, leaving the place in a very precarious financial position. At least the show had artistic integrity, right?

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:05pm

the tour did very well in some markets, including Houston---but it was here over Christmas, and also featured Darcie Roberts, who had triumphed in a local production of FUNNY GIRL.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:19pm

Okay, who on the tour has been saying the M word?

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:23pm

Wow, that's crazy. Sounds like an interesting experience for everyone. I'm seeing the tour next week when it stops in Milwaukee. Can't wait!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:26pm

This tour went to the crapper the day Julianne left it.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:53pm

I saw it with Darcie last summer when it was in St. Paul. I really liked it. I'm sorry it hasn't been going beck.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:58pm

Darcie's great...too bad to hear things didn't go well. Now THAT would be one exciting performance to see.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 7:50pm

They're in Rochester this week! I have tickets for Friday. I'm frightened, mommy, hold me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 7:58pm

Wow, I hope that chorus boy who was bitching about the Hairspray tour reads this!

Way to go guys for pulling it together-- I guess. I can't imagine what it would be like to see this show with the stage manager reading a part! Why not cancel the show and make it up later when everyone is healthy?

[ckeaton]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 8:20pm

Tours really don't have that option. They're only set for 6 days, and there's an 8 show schedule in place. There's no time that could "make up" a show. It would be nice if they could.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 8:23pm

The tour is doing fine financially or it would close early.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 9:18pm

I saw the tour last Saturday, and it was great. I did notice 3 or 4 people out, which I thought was a lot. Apparently, it got worse.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 9:30pm

has Darcie left it?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 10:12pm

Derric, BELIEVE ME. The disaster that is the Millie tour had an effect on the not-for-profit theatre world in Boston that will be felt for years. They certainly could have cancelled the "stage manager reading a role" performance and given people tickets to another show that week. I'm sure there were plenty of seats available.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 10:15pm

I believe you, Namo...I am just saying it cannot be TOO bad or they wouldn't keep the tour going. Or would they?

Updated On: 3/9/05 at 10:15 PM

[ckeaton]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 11:24pm

I just got in from seeing the tour, and I have two words... "Circus Ponies".

No really, I enjoyed the show the first time I saw it, but this tour has really lost something. Every woman in the cast was out, with the exception of Muzzy and Miss Hannigan. I think they might have even been a girl short in the ensemble at the curtain call. There was a "person sized" hole in the line.

I give them credit for working through what I imagine is one of their darkest times. Basically with swings to the rafters and understudies up front the show had the look of a good non equity tour, it just wasn't tight. I was disappointed that Darcie was out, because I enjoy her. Her understudy did an admirable job... Some of the u/s outshone the guys that were in their regular parts. Well I hope that they are having a good time, but they need to tighten it up.

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 11:33pm

Sorry to hear it. I loved that show and I don't care what others think of it.
Millie is a cute show. I would have loved to play Meersy.