Posted: 9/12/15 at 1:48am
um, whats the deal here for anyone thinking about buying tickets for Shuffle Along this notice is on telecharge.
"*Audra McDonald will not appear in performances from June 20, 2016 through September 25, 2016. She will return on Tuesday, September27, 2016."
this seems like a TERRIBLE idea and what exactly is causing her to take THREE months off?
Posted: 9/12/15 at 1:54am
LightsOut90 said: "this seems like a TERRIBLE idea and what exactly is causing her to take THREE months off?"
Probably a case of her having something already booked and that being a stipulation of her being able to take the show at all.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 2:00am
just the timing of it seems awful, peak tourism season.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 2:01am
But post-Tony season...
Posted: 9/12/15 at 2:09am
not exactly sure of the connection.... i just think that doesn't bode well for the production.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 2:49am
Hell I might be seeing this in July and I will be so mad if I miss Audra!! AGAIN
Posted: 9/12/15 at 3:22am
Well, you've got months to prepare for your anger.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 3:36am
Mr. Nowack said: "Hell I might be seeing this in July and I will be so mad if I miss Audra!! AGAIN"
IF? Umm, seems pretty clear you're missing her in July...
Posted: 9/12/15 at 5:46am
The if was in reference to the uncertainty I will see the show at all. I suppose no matter what I will miss her in this show but if I never see it at all I didn't really miss her in it but just missed it in general??
Posted: 9/12/15 at 7:30am
Considering the length of her leave of absence, I imagine they will bring in a performer of commensurate caliber for the duration. Also, there's no bait and switch here (a la Kelsey Grammer); they've announced this months in advance, and anyone who wants to see the show solely due to McDonald's participation can choose not to go during the 3 months she's off.
Updated On: 9/12/15 at 07:30 AM
Posted: 9/12/15 at 8:21pm
Hopefully they will announce someone of equal talent who fits the role to fill for the summer! And if not, the show might still sell well without Audra and they can give the chance to a newcomer or promote an understudy! Who knows? At least everyone gets a fair warning.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 8:45pm
"I imagine they will bring in a performer of commensurate caliber for the duration."
Is there such a person?
Posted: 9/12/15 at 9:16pm
LarryD2 said: "Considering the length of her leave of absence, I imagine they will bring in a performer of commensurate caliber for the duration. "
Beyonce!!
Updated On: 9/12/15 at 09:16 PM
Posted: 9/12/15 at 9:22pm
I wonder if she is doing an out-of-town or something at Williamstown again. That would be the right length of time for rehearsal away from New York, a tech, and performance period.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 9:33pm
Maybe they'll get Lachanze to replace her.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 9:36pm
Matthew Broderick!!
Posted: 9/12/15 at 10:21pm
Hunter Foster!!!
Posted: 9/12/15 at 10:36pm
I don't even know if I'm going to see it but I am angry in case I might have already bought tickets during her scheduled absence. Harrumph.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 10:50pm
Harrumph is damn right.
Posted: 9/12/15 at 11:05pm
Ask for a refund, you should be entitled to it (yep, opening this can of worms again).
Posted: 9/12/15 at 11:08pm
If somebody exceptional fills in for her, I may damn well see the show twice.
But who could it be? LaChanze? Tonya Pinkins?
Posted: 9/13/15 at 12:14am
qolbinau, no monetary amount can make up for the emotional damage maybe missing Audra in a year has caused!!!
Posted: 9/13/15 at 12:18am
I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. We can try to justify it all we want because we love Audra, but as much as we want to say it's an ensemble piece, this is really akin to a Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz if he'd done the show for three months, won the Tony, then immediately took three months off. They really just should've waited until next season.
I'll be interested to see if they jack up all the prices while she's in the show.
Posted: 9/13/15 at 9:44am
They announced her SCHEDULED absence the moment tickets went on sale. Everyone had the ability to choose a date she'd be there. Or not. She's an astonishing performer, but we don't even know how large the role is. Is it weird? Yes. Is it a crime? Nope.
Posted: 9/13/15 at 10:43am
iluvtheatertrash said: "She's an astonishing performer, but we don't even know how large the role is."
Or how good this staging of the show is...
