Andrea Mcardle

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 10:20pm

What are the chances of her return to Broadway and why hasn’t she been on Broadway in a while? Heard her on SiriusXM singing “Wherever He Ain’t.” She’s got such a great voice .

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 6:31am

She doesn’t have the charisma or acting ability that would make any director or casting person think ‘Andrea McCardle would be perfect in this role!’

It may seem harsh or blunt but there are numerous other actors who are better and have more marquee value and at the age she is, she’s competing with these numerous other actors for fewer roles.

She works a lot regionally.

[bryan2]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 8:26am

I have to very strongly  disagree with this , having seen Andrea in numerous regional productions and her cabaret act, She still has the "it" factor and the voice has aged beautifully and is crystal clear.... She is funny and very warm in her cabaret act...and she was a great DOLLY and MAME.

She also is a take no crap kind of person which is to be greatly admired and I think that can hinder you in the business...  How many Broadway people have a signature song....very very few and she is one of them...often imitated never as good!  

 

Updated On: 10/23/18 at 08:26 AM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 8:47am

The voice hasn't held up particularly well. The last time I saw her, a couple years ago in a regional gig, she sounds screechy and was off-pitch a lot. She faked whatever notes she couldn't actually hit. As an actor, I'd say she's fair at best. 

[markypoo]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 11:35am

In 1982 and 1985 respectively, she made a pair of appearances at the Milwaukee Melody Top; firstly in a charming and well-sung Meet Me in St. Louis, and then 3 years later as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
Many years later, in 1995, she was part of a rehashed ensemble - several too old for their roles - in DOA State Fair.
She still sang well, but too old for the ingénue.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 12:29pm

It was taken off of YouTube years ago but I wish I could again see Andrea as Madame Rose in GYPSY again. It's the only production of GYPSY that I know of that had back up dancers alongside Madame Rose during Rose's Turn.

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 1:41pm

bryan2 said: "I have to very strongly disagree with this , having seen Andrea in numerous regional productions and her cabaret act, She still has the "it" factor and the voice has aged beautifully and is crystal clear.... She is funny and very warm in her cabaret act...and she was a great DOLLY and MAME.

She also is a take no crap kind of person which is to be greatly admired and I think that can hinder you in the business... How many Broadway people have a signature song....very very few and she is one of them...often imitated never as good!

"

My point is, she is never going to be a director or casting directors first choice. 

Who is she going to play? The roles for her age bracket are in small supply and she simply isn’t going to beat out the competition. She’s not going to be further up the list than a Nancy Opel or Jackie Hoffman for the off the wall characters. She also won’t win any of the showbiz diva roles from the Bernadette Peters, Christine Barandkis, Patti Lupones, Christine Ebersoles or the gone too soon and wonderdul Marin Mazzie.

Having a signature song from when you were a ten year old, doesn’t sell tickets. 

Wonderful that you are an admirer. I’m not slighting the woman, I’m simply stating why she doesn’t work on Broadway (which she doesn’t and has said publically that she wants to) so there is nothing to agree or disagree with. Lorna Luft, can generate more publicity and yet she can’t find work on Broadway either and will tell you so herself. 

[Fetus]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 1:50pm

Did she ever pay her taxes?

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 2:02pm

Her cabaret act is a frequent show on the Atlantis charter cruises.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 2:17pm

LarryD2 said: "The voice hasn't held up particularly well. The last time I saw her, a couple years ago in a regional gig, she sounds screechy and was off-pitch a lot. She faked whatever notes she couldn't actually hit. As an actor, I'd say she's fair at best."

 

I’m surprised to hear that, because I saw her in concert only about 5 years ago, and her voice sounded in great shape. But then again, she was singing songs that she handpicked for her voice, and she had the freedom to alter or transpose them to her needs. Still though, she did sound very good. Also, since you saw her in an actual show, I wonder if she has difficulties sustaining 8 shows a week, particularly if the role is a vocal stretch for her. 

 

[Alessio2]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 6:17pm

I just saw her cabaret act at a place in Studio City in LA and thought she was great.  Funny, genuine, and in great voice!  Had never seen her before and really enjoyed her (saw her in State Fair when I was like 14)  Really enjoy her 54 Below live album 70's and Sunny

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 6:48pm

She’s playing Miss Hannigan at Axelrod Theatre Company in NJ starting (I believ) this week.

[And Peggy]

Posted: 10/23/18 at 10:01pm

morosco said: "It was taken off of YouTube years ago but I wish I could again see Andrea as Madame Rose in GYPSY again. It's the only production of GYPSY that I know of that had back up dancers alongside Madame Roseduring Rose's Turn."

I've never wanted to see anything as much as I want to see this. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/24/18 at 10:49am

For those curious ones, here's Andrea as Miss Hannigan singing "Little Girls" in the 2010 regional production of ANNIE at the North Carolina Theatre: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdcSZockL4U

And for your reading pleasure, here is a review of Andrea's 2004 stint in GYPSY that is for the ages.  Wow!: 

https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Review-Everything-s-not-coming-up-roses-in-1630814.php

[Patash]

Posted: 10/24/18 at 12:33pm

I love her voice, but I've seen her do a couple of things since Jerry's Girls, mainly an embarrassing production of Mame at Buck's County Playhouse is which she was only lukewarm in the acting department.  Also a regional production of Mack and Mabel in Florida and she was even less impressive.   I personally think she's best doing her cabaret act which is sensational.