I had the same thought that Dolly had, she probably wants to be with her baby on Sundays. I was a fan of hers in Hairspray and Little Shop of Horrors, but after Xanadu I freaking fell in love with her. I am running to this after September 21st. I have been wanting to see this show, but now it is a definite. I am so sadly (poor grammar) stuck in the 80's anyways.
It is funny I happened to be trying to get tickets to 9 to 5 today and struck up a conversation with a guy who said he worked in the general manager's office for Rock of Ages and he said it was official. This is great news!
Clearly this role is vocally challenging and I know she had a "pre-nodular condition" at one point many years ago. I'm sure she's just responsibly looking after her voice, as the other actresses in this role have been, or should have been, all along. Good for her for getting her precaution negotiated into her contract, rather than just missing shows at random. I, too, agree that she also could use the extra time to be with her family.
While it's sad how much of a departure this is from the glory days of Merman never being off ("and that'll be the day"), I think this is a step in the right direction for actors who need to look out for and protect their greatly invested-in, though ultimately rather fragile, voices, aka meal tickets. Producers (and Alice Ripley), take note.
I agree with JP2, Constantine is not out as much as it may appear. I know off-broadway he missed 2 shows the day his brother got married. I don't think he missed any (could be wrong) prior to the Tonys and since then has missed maybe 6, due to allergies and other engagements. He posted on his Twitter that he will be out for Labor Day weekend, someone said he had a wedding to attend. He also said that his new contract allows for outs for other things.
"Sometimes on the strip, the dreams you come in with, ain't the dreams you leave with" ~Rock of Ages
"I'm a butterfly, trivial and small, and in the greater scheme of things, I don't mean much at all." ~The Story of My Life
"Forget Regret, or life is yours to miss." ~Rent
"um.... okay. I pass the concerns on to her reps for the fictional day she is rumored to be offered a role that is already cast with Kerry Butler."
Well, I know they already cast Kerry (duh). I was questioning the rumors prior to this announcement, especially after some felt Laura's voice got progressively worse playing Elle. We already saw what happened to Amy Spanger after she played Sherrie for a while.
Anyways, whatever, I am sure Kerry will do this role justice. Color, what did you hear about Emily Padgett's starting date with Rock of Ages, assuming this is true?
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
LBB and Amy have very different voices and vocal styles. I saw LBB play Sherrie and she killed it vocally... and according to people involved in the production, she never complained about the material being demanding and never missed a show. Amy struggled vocally with the role since previews. The show is not too straining if you sing it properly.
Since I heard she's joining the cast, I'm waiting til then to see it!
"For example, if I should paint my fingernails green -
and it just so happens I do paint them green. Well, if anyone should ask me why, I say: 'I think it's pretty!'"
It doesn't make sense to me to hire someone for 2 shows a week when the understudy(ies) could do it, but I guess they have their reasons. Emily Padgett posted on Constantine's FB "See you end of Oct".
And I'm still not thrilled about Kerry Butler, but I was willing to give her benefit of the doubt. But my plans to see the show in Oct have been cancelled.