After 23 Years at Phantom, George Lee Andrews "Let go"

[KylePKJP]

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]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 2:27am

You're about a month late.

[KylePKJP]

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.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:04am

I can't imagine anyone's job performance after 23 years isn't going to become somewhat stale.

[KylePKJP]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:27am

I 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.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 5:28am

Sounds 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.

[best12bars]

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!

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 7:07am

PHANTOM 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.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 7:46am

I thought his Frederick Eggerman was wonderful.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 8:26am

He was. I treasure my grainy old tape of the PBS telecast.

[figaroindy]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 9:33am

Same 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!

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 9:50am

It'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.)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:26pm

I saw Andrews in Phantom three times, and he was always solid. Cheers to him on a great run.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:31pm

I love his voice on the STARTING HERE/NOW recording.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:35pm

So glad I got to see him before his leave. Very surprised. Wish him the best last days on stage!

[figaroindy]

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]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 1:58pm

If anyone is interested in the Night Music video, PM me

[givesmevoice]

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.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:04pm

Anderson 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.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:16pm

I 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.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:21pm

You'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.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:23pm

I 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.

[AC126748]

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.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 3:34pm

Andrews 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]

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...