Andrea McArdle Career Question

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:12pm

I 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?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:14pm

She took time off when she had a baby, and has always been very selective of her work.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:18pm

I can't imagine what ANNIE has done to her.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:23pm

Allowed her to originate a role on Broadway at age 14, made her a star, garnered her a Tony nomination...

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:24pm

she was 14?????? I thought she was a couple of years younger

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:25pm

She was born in 1963. ANNIE opened in 1977. 14.

[CapnHook]

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!"

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:29pm

And 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.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:42pm

I 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.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:43pm

I adore Andread as well, but she was dreadful as Belle. She strained repeatedly and was way too old for the part.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:53pm

I am surprised she never played Grizabella in Cats. Her "Memory" would have been amazing.

[Rathnait62]

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.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:07pm

First 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.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:07pm

Updated On: 4/21/05 at 11:07 PM

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:15pm

Well 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.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:26pm

No, 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]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:39pm

She was arrested for smoking dope while picking up her daughter, I think.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:45pm

How did she lift her daughter and smoke dope at the same time? Didn't she run out of arms?

[JKM2159]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:20am

she 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"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:24am

I 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.

[ticenewyorkcity]

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

[MTVMANN]

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

[LizzieCurry]

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/

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 7:42am

As 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]

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.