After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews "Let go"
After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews "Let go"
#1After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews "Let go"
Posted: 9/1/11 at 2:10am
Cameron Macintosh decides to not renew the contract of George Lee Andrews, who has been with the Broadway company of Phantom for 23 YEARS... by reasoning of wanting to keep the show "fresh". Andrews is to be replaced to be replaced by his OWN son-in-law.
Fresh? Really, Cameron? You serious?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/theater/george-lee-andrews-to-leave-phantom-after-23-years.html?_r=1
Updated On: 9/1/11 at 02:10 AM
TheatreFan4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/12/09
#2After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 2:42am
So many friendly people on these threads. :|
I realize the news isn't NEW, but the rationale from Mackintosh - which was new to me - in the article seems a bit absurd... which is what I thought was striking in it's absurdity.
#3After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:04amI can't imagine anyone's job performance after 23 years isn't going to become somewhat stale.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#4After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:27amI totally get that Lizzy and agree... but one would have thought Mackintosh, wanting to keep the show fresh, would have sought new talent at maybe... I dunno, the 13 year mark or earlier than 23 years into the run. And the fact that Hal Prince felt Andrews should keep on keepin' on in a part he clearly does well with... well, I guess it's a moot point.
#5After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 5:28amSounds like he has a good attitude about it though. How wonderful it must have to have steady employment in a Broadway show. I worked at Phantom when the show first opened in 1988.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#6After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 6:56am
The nice thing is that George is very talented, and if he wants work, he will find it. It may not be Broadway, but this guy is kind of a "legend" now, and I'm sure most regional theatres around the area (even the country) would love to have him do a show or two.
To quote a Sondheim show: "Best thing that ever could have happened."
And wow, what a hell of a run!
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#7After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 7:07amPHANTOM has also been very generous to George over the years, allowing him time off to pursue other projects, such as A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at NYCO and PARADISE FOUND in London, among others.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#8After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 7:46amI thought his Frederick Eggerman was wonderful.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#9After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 8:26amHe was. I treasure my grainy old tape of the PBS telecast.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
figaroindy
Understudy Joined: 4/30/08
#10After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 9:33amSame here, AC! Lisa Saffer throwing off that high E in the sung overture (so often cut) began a very joyful evening...I wish someone would put that on DVD! Many of the cast members were just wonderful. Regina Resnick...what a voice!
#11After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 9:50amIt's my favorite production of "A Little Night Music" that I've ever seen, live or taped, either one. (And I've seen several of each.)
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#12After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:26pmI saw Andrews in Phantom three times, and he was always solid. Cheers to him on a great run.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#13After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:31pmI love his voice on the STARTING HERE/NOW recording.
showchoirguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/14/10
#14After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:35pmSo glad I got to see him before his leave. Very surprised. Wish him the best last days on stage!
figaroindy
Understudy Joined: 4/30/08
#15After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:43pm
Night Music is one of my favorites, Best...my problem is I always like SOMETHING from each one I've seen, and it's high on my list of favorites, so I've seen it numerous times...I played Frederick Egermann about 5 years ago...not a great production, but worth it to get to play the part (community theater, and I was too young, but oh well!....still time to do it again later!)
The NYCO is by far the most consistently sung across the board though...and one of the best Henriks I've ever heard - wasn't screaming the Bb, just singing it full out....Kevin Anderson, wasn't it? What happened to him?
Updated On: 9/1/11 at 01:43 PM
phantomvegas2
Stand-by Joined: 1/24/08
#16After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:58pmIf anyone is interested in the Night Music video, PM me
#17After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 2:03pm
Kevin Anderson, wasn't it? What happened to him?
He was just in the revival of Come Back, Little Sheba a few seasons ago. I'm not sure what came after that, though.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#18After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:04pmAnderson just finished the LA premiere run of Neil Labute's THE BREAK OF NOON a few months ago, playing the role David Duchovny played in New York. Before that, he played the Tim Robbins role in the London stage production of THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. He's still very much involved in theatre and film on both coasts and in London.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#19After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:16pmI could be mistaken, but I think the Kevin Anderson AC and givesmevoice are talking about is a different Kevin Anderson than the on that was in A Little Night Music. The one you guys are talking about is the one who was in Sleeping with the Enemey and Sunset Blvd, right? I thought the one in Night Music was a different person.
#20After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:21pmYou're right, Phyllis--I just checked and the "Kevin Anderson" of that production is actually Kevin Paul Anderson, an operatic tenor. I guess I've had him fused in my brain with the other Kevin Anderson for years.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#21After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:23pmI just knew it because I used to have a crush on the Kevin Anderson you guys were talking about and I thought I would have remembered if he was the guy in Night Music.
#22After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:25pm
He's still pretty easy on the eyes; at least he was in his undershirt a few years back in LITTLE SHEBA. 
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
SondheimFan5
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/10
#23After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:34pmAndrews is really the luckiest guy ever to set foot on Broadway -- he has had a steady (yet flexible) job for over 20 years. But everyone needs to do something new once in a while, so now Andrews can go audition and do different shows to stretch his talents.
figaroindy
Understudy Joined: 4/30/08
#24After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews
Posted: 9/1/11 at 4:21pm
Well, Kevin Paul Anderson (thanks for clarifying) from "Night Music" wasn't anyone I'd kick out of bed, either...
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