I saw Hell's Kitchen Saturday evening 6/8 and Maleah Joi Moon was not in. The understudy Jade Milan played Ali (and she was incredible).
I read later that Maleah Joi Moon was replaced early in the performance on Tuesday evening 6/4 - reports say she was either injured during the second number or she was sick and straining with her voice.
Understudies go on all the time, scheduled and not for whatever reason. But, since Maleah was out for several days I wondered if it had been reported. Does anyone know if she is okay? Back in the show? Performing at the Tony's?
Hope she is okay... Ms Milan was incredible and I also read that the other understudy Gianna Harris was awesome proving today's understudies could end up being tomorrow's new stars.
I found that on Reddit but wondered if there was any news reporting on this. Not common for a rising star on the cusp of possibly winning a Tony award dropping out mid-perforance and then being out for several days.
You would think Playbill or Broadway World or Theatermania would have reported this, or reporting a statement from the production.
SFFrontRow said: “You would think Playbill or Broadway World or Theatermania would have reported this, or reporting a statement from the production."
You are entitled to your board in the lobby and a paper slip in the Playbill - or a midshow announcement if they swing someone in
While I get that COVID was an exception, we aren’t owed any further explanation of why someone called out. To that end, when the public begins to comment and scrutinize actors who are missing shows for health issues, it actually creates an additional stress on them that they really don’t need.
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quizking101 said: "SFFrontRow said: “You would think Playbill or Broadway World or Theatermania would have reported this, or reporting a statement from the production."
You are entitled to your board in the lobby and a paper slip in the Playbill - or a midshow announcement if they swing someone in
While I get that COVID was an exception, we aren’t owed any further explanation of why someone called out. To that end, when the public begins to comment and scrutinize actors who are missing shows for health issues, it actually creates an additional stress on them that they really don’t need."
Completely agreed quizking. Theater fans are so entitled that they think they need a play by play of everything when someone calls out. An announcement pre-show, or mid-show if a callout happens then a slip in the playbill. That's it. We are not owed anything else.
FWIW I saw Gianna and thought she was fantastic! Any disappointment in not seeing Maleah was purely for Tony reasons if she were to win; from a performance perspective I didn’t feel like I missed a thing.
Mid-show changes are rare, but they happen. Years ago saw the tour of Les Mis and Eponine's at that time completely unknown understudy had to step in at Intermission. Years later looked back and realized the completely unknown understudy was Sutton Foster.