Andrea McArdle Career Question
#0Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:12pmI have a question about her. I really don't know too much about her right now, but I do know that I'm a fan of her voice. However, why hasn't she became a bigger star? I would expect her to star or even also star in many musicals......more that what I saw under her name from the ibdb.com list. She's got the voice, I'm don't really know about her acting(although I do have Broadway's lost treasures and she has some dialogue),but I'm sure after all these years she can handle it. Why hasn't see become a bigger star?
#1re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:14pmShe took time off when she had a baby, and has always been very selective of her work.
#2re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:18pmI can't imagine what ANNIE has done to her.
--Aristotle
#3re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:23pmAllowed her to originate a role on Broadway at age 14, made her a star, garnered her a Tony nomination...
#4re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:24pmshe was 14?????? I thought she was a couple of years younger
#5re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:25pmShe was born in 1963. ANNIE opened in 1977. 14.
#6re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:26pm
LOL yes - and after?
"Oh, you're that girl who was Annie!"
"Where's your red curly hair?"
"Sing 'Tomorrow' for us!"
--Aristotle
#7re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:29pmAnd albums, many talk show appearances, TV movies, a tv series, some more Broadway shows and some regional shows. Plus appearances in high profile special events such as The Leading Ladies.
#8re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:42pmI adore Andrea McArdle, and I too have often asked why she doesn't work more often. The response I've gotten is that she's difficult to work with.
#9re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:43pmI adore Andread as well, but she was dreadful as Belle. She strained repeatedly and was way too old for the part.
#10re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:53pmI am surprised she never played Grizabella in Cats. Her "Memory" would have been amazing.
#11re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:58pm
I enjoyed her as Belle.
And I have never heard anything about her being difficult. Plenty of difficult people work, anyway.
#12re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:07pmFirst of all, Andrea is the nicest is one of the nicest people in the business. Many people don't know but she was Sally in the Tokyo production of Cabaret for four years (that was a few years ago) and she reprised the role in late 2004. She is also doing a buch of concerts right now.
#13re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:07pm
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#14re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:15pmWell she certainly gained a rep around the Philadelphia area for being a little bit of a flake. She'd say yeah I'll come do this and then it doesn't happen..things to that effect. It's only been in my experience so I can't speak for anyone but me. She's a nice person to the fans. I could see her being difficult to work with, but I can't speak with authority. She wasn't a very good Sally though.
#15re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:26pmNo, I don't mean difficult in terms of being nasty -- No I don't mean that at all. The stories are more along the lines of her being flakey, having problems learning material etc. I'm sure she's a sweetheart.
Joshbstn
Chorus Member Joined: 7/28/03
#16re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:39pmShe was arrested for smoking dope while picking up her daughter, I think.
#17re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:45pmHow did she lift her daughter and smoke dope at the same time? Didn't she run out of arms?
JKM2159
Understudy Joined: 11/24/03
#18re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:20amshe was actually 13 when the show opened and when she was nominated for a TONY. I believe she was 14 when she did the original London run of "Annie"
#19re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:24amI didn't want to mention it, but since Josh did -- yeah, her offstage "hobbies" are part of what I heard makes her difficult to work with.
#20re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:45am
oh u people are sooooo quick to judge and to spread rumors. I know andrea and her brother very well. there is NOTHING to that rumor about her "off stage" hobbies.
I can't believe this board sometimes
who the hell are you to judge people
god
this girl has never done anything other than try to make a name for her self out side of ANNIE.
that is all people remember her for
she is soooooooo thankful that people remember her as that orphan however there is more to her than that.
we havent seen the last of her
people are sad
and she wasn't stopped for dope
she got into an accident while driving to pick alexis up after a performance of miz
Updated On: 4/21/05 at 01:45 AM
#21re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 3:04am
So she did Annie in London? Was this after her contract ended on broadway? How long did they keep her? Also, who would you guys have given the tony to.....Andrea or Dorothy Loudin......at first I wished that Andrea would have won, but now after listening to the album many times am glad that Dorothy Loudin won!
Updated On: 4/21/05 at 03:04 AM
#22re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 4:18am
Her name is spelled LOUDON.
And yes, Andrea played Annie in London. Check the link...
http://www.musicaltheatre.org.uk/musicals/annie/
#23re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 7:42amAs mentioned on a previous thread, I worked with Andrea back in the early 90s in Florida and she was the sweetest, most ingratiating person in the world - very kind, funny, got to know everyone in the cast - took time to invite us to do things with her - she brought her daughter and we all got to know them both. I rarely see her anymore, but for many years, whenever we'd run into each other in NY, she'd always take a few minutes to talk to me and ask me how things were going. I think she's definitely one of those stars that others should emulate - there's nothing fake or flaky about her at all. And - she's beautiful!
Feodor Sverdlov
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
#24re: Andrea McArdle Career Question
Posted: 4/21/05 at 7:47am
While Andrea made quite a name for herself as Annie, her career has never topped that experience (and what are the odds that it would?). She undoubtedly set the bar higher for child performances on stage. Her voice was truly unique at the time. Unfortunately, every little girl and their cousin Sally tried to emulate that sound and made the world cringe at every little girl singer thereafter. ANNIE, the musical, is a very well written piece of theater, but it gets a bad rap even to this day due to the over-exposure of Andrea's sound. She should certainly not be faulted for this!
As an adult actress, however, she has surely worked quite a bit, although difficult to shake the Annie thoughts in everyone's heads. Unfortunately, she has been miscast in so many roles and I think it may have taken it's toll on her reputation. She was dreadful (and dreadfully miscast) in both BEAUTY & THE BEAST and STATE FAIR. In the latter, she sang it well, but her acting was atrocious -- even groan-worthy at times.
Hopefully a role will come along soon that can showcase her vocal talents -- and allow her to shine as brightly as she did in the 70's.
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