Ever went to a show to see a specific actor...- Page 3

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 1:59pm

I'm in England so you might not know all these people.
When I saw The Woman in White the first time both Michael Crawford and Maria Freidman were out (I didn't know Michael was ill).
I have seen Wicked a few times so it is understandable to see standbys. I have seen Shona White when i wanted to see Kerry Ellis (who I later saw) and the other way round have gone on purpose to see Cassidy Janson (u/s Elphaba) and Annalene Beechey (standby Glinda)
The only one that upset me (I soon got over it) was missing David Badella in The Rocky Horror Show tour. He was ill so i can't blame anyone but I was so so happy when I saw the show again with him in it.
Overall I have seen a lot of understudies (including those in place of 'star' names) and I have a great deal of respect for them. They have a hard job, often having to know several roles.

[Hiram]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 3:20pm

I went to see TABOO and both Raul Esparza and Boy George were out. I didn't care about missing Boy George but I was so bummed that I missed Raul E. His cover was fine but I have a feeling Mr. Esparza was amazing in the role.

When I was a kid, I adored the Original Cast Recording of PIPPIN and was so looking forward to seeing the Original Company. Leland Palmer, who played Fastrada, was out. Her understudy was weak. About six months later, I went back for my second time. She was out again! How's that for lousy timing?!!!

Posted: 5/19/07 at 4:48pm

Sutton Foster. Thoroughly Modern Millie. I saw the show FOUR times and missed her every single time and I don't live at all near New York. It stunk because I was actually her fan before Millie and wanted to see her in her big break. Four times. Unreal. Did she miss a lot of shows during her Millie run or was I just incredibly unlucky?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:17pm

lfae, you didn't miss much in the Huey Lewis department. I saw him twice and can guarantee that he is the worst Billy to have ever been in that show. Be grateful you got an understudy!
-BJH

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:21pm

-Brooke Shields in CABARET (didn't go for her, didn't care that she was out)
-Deborah Gibson in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (same goes for this one)
-Polly Bergen in SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS. Bummer.

Other than that, I've had much luck. I even saw Donna Murphy in WONDERFUL TOWN!

[jg4892]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:34pm

Oh, I missed Sutton in Millie too, that sucked. I usually have pretty good luck, and when I don't it's ok because I love seeing understudies. I actually saw LaChanze on a wednesday matinee, when I've heard of people missing her on saturday nights and such.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:37pm

It's never happened to me (though I did miss John Lithgow one day before he came back, but I wasn't there to see him) though I hope this doesn't happen at Grey Gardens in the summer. I hope the full cast is in that day.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:39pm

went to see Zero Mostel in Fiddler ---- got Paul LIpson (who was great)


went to see Debbie Reynolds in Woman of the Year--got Louise Troy. Not so great.

oh well.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:53pm

Wiz-to increase your chances of seeing the full cast of GG, don't go July 7-14.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:54pm

I know, Ebersole's on vacation that week, right? I'm going the week after, the 21st. Hopefully the full cast is in.

[jennyish]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 6:22pm

Jon Pryce was out when I went to see DRS, which really disappointed me at the time, but his understudy was great, and in the end I'm just glad I saw Norbert. :)

I have tickets to the Sat. matinée of Les Mis on June 16, and I'm PETRIFIED that Lea Salonga will be out. On the other hand, I really want to see Megan as Eponine.

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 6:48pm

I went to see Antonique Smith as Mimi in Rent. The Board said she was in so I got my tickets at the B.O. When I returned for the show the updated board said she wasn't in. I was very unhappy. I talked to the manager and got free tickets to go back I was in Center ORC Row J. It pays to speak up

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 7:08pm

I try to never see a show for a particular actor unless it's a friend. I look at seeing the star as a bonus.

However, I have had some slight dissapointments...i.e. Michael Ball in The Woman in White, however, that wasn't the reason I went.

(However, I will admit I would've been a tad dissapointed if Friedman had been out.)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 7:30pm

This weekend I went to see Julia Murney in Wicked (and she is pretty much the only reason I'd see it again) and she was out...but at least the rest of the cast was pretty good. Especially Lisa Brescia.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 8:10pm

I went to see Flower Drum Song for Lea Salonga. Apparently, I saw the only performance she missed. It was Yuka Takara's first time going on as Mei Li. She was fine, but she's not Lea.

~Steven

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:24pm

WIsh I had been there. I wanted to see Lisa Brescia. I heard she's awesome as Elphaba.

[lfae]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:30pm

BJH, the Billy understudy was INCREDIBLE, so I got over it pretty fast I love when it works out for the best.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:44pm

I've been pretty lucky (?) with seeing the leads in the role when I saw the show. The only one I remember specifically going to see was Ute Lemper in Chicago. I got Nancy Hess. NOT HAPPY.

[theatregeek2]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 10:44pm

Lizzycurry......when did you see it? Because I too only wanted to see her in the show and went to the Saturday (5.19) 8pm show.....she was there and was absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 10:49pm

We saw the Sunday matinee. Oh well!

Updated On: 5/21/07 at 10:49 PM

[SondheimFan2]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 11:47pm

saw understudies of elphaba and glinda on wicked tour in october '05 i was disappointed before the show started, but they turned out to be pretty good. at least i didn't miss idina and kristin.

wanted to see tom wopat in annie get your gun in '99, not there. didn't really matter though since bernadette peters outshone the entire cast.

thought i wasn't going to see christine ebersole in grey gardens since it was a matinee, she was there though, and absolutely amazing

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/22/07 at 12:13am

I feel really spoiled.

I don't think I've ever seen understudies for major roles or people that I wanted to see. It's almost always ensemble roles.

[avab802]

Posted: 5/22/07 at 8:55am

"I may or may not be one of those who headed to New York for Idina's last 'Wicked'."

I had tickets for that performance too. I wasn't too broken up about it, because a) I didn't pay for them and b) I saw her a week prior at her originally scheduled last performance. I still went to the show though, so I witnessed the infamous red track suit appearance, lol.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:08am

I had tickets to Idina first reporting last show, but then she extended another week. So at least I got to see a full show. It ended up being Chris Fitzgerald's last day, though, if I recall.

I do remember seeing people out of Taboo all the time, but since I saw the show many many times, it didn't bother me. But I remember being there on my birthday - the night they told the cast the show was closing. It was weird. The show started late, Raul and George weren't in, and there was a strange feeling watching the show. Sure enough, when I got home and logged on...

[scooter38432]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 8:24am

I got slammed, all in one weekend.

THE PRODUCERS: Nathan was out. Saw Brad Oscar.

THE FULL MONTY: My beloved Patrick Wilson was out.

AIDA: Adam Pascal was out.


Needless to say, I was a disappointed puppy that trip.