According to this NY Times article, Deana Dunagan would have extended if she were allowed to sit out matinees

The prodcuers know that the star truly is the play itself, not so much the people in it. And i think they're right - whoever the actress is in the part, as long as they are well-directed and well-cast, the material will carry her to a great performance.

Also, to be honest, I would be more likely to go back if Amy Morton stayed in the production rather than Dunagan. Dunagan has a flashier role, but it's Morton, I think, that compels most of the action throughout the play - she's on stage for all of the big, dramatic, turnaround moments and I honestly think that a lot of the reasons so many of the scenes are so staggering is because she's a really generous actor that plays world-class actions that are really easy for the others to react to. (LuPone, Murphy, and McDonald are like that as well - which is why it's so awesome when they get actors that react and reciprocate double, like Gaines opposite LuPone now, or Kazee opposite McDonald in "110 in the Shade".)

Not to say that Dunagan is a lesser actress than Morton, that's just my take on it. Regardless, the material is strong anough to carry whomever is in the show.

Updated On: 6/22/08 at 03:41 PM

I'm happy that Estelle Parsons is part of the production!

They'll all be gone soon and then will reunite to do the show in London in a few months. I think they all just want some time away. It must be exhausting.

I think Amy was supposed to be apart of Superior Doughnuts, Lett's new play but I think when August extended she stayed with that.

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Did Dunagan already leave? If so, I'd be quite upset as I never got her autograph.