B'way Stars who ARE reliable about showing up

[beacon1]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 8:35am

Okay, since I've heard alot about those who frequently fail to report for duty...who are the stars who are/were most reliable about appearing in productions. For example, I hear that Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are really reliable. Any others who stick out to you? If I make my fall trip to the City I'd like to pick shows where the odds are better that I'll see the principals who are advertized. (Nothing against understudies, at all. They are great, too!)

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 9:34am

Definetely Harvey Fierstein !!! He is well known to almost NEVER miss a performance ! Of all this time he has been in Hairspray he missed half a show that I know of and maybe one or two that i don't know about ! Hugh Jackman also has not missed ONE show in Oz yet, except for his vacation of course !!

Take care Updated On: 3/16/04 at 09:34 AM

[moljul]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 10:48am

I have to add Bernadette Peters to this group. She really is only out when she is VERY sick. Yes, that happened several times at the beginning of Gypsy's run but she has not missed any performances since the beginning of May (that's 10 months ago) except for a scheduled day off and a scheduled week off.

[magruder]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 11:01am

That is true. She got a bum rap for missing those shows during previews and shortly after opening, but between Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun, I think BP's attendance record has been pretty sterling. (Much better actually than it was for her 80s shows).

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 11:40am

La Menzel has not missed a performance.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 11:44am

I'd like to add Hugh Jackman to the list

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 3:36pm

Hugh Jackman's the only one I know for sure...I would like to see that show again to see if he's still as solid. I saw Boy From Oz during previews and thought he was outstanding, so it'd be interesting to see if he's gotten a little tired in the role after 6 months...imagine using all that energy night after night... Updated On: 3/16/04 at 03:36 PM

[moljul]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 4:39pm

From what I have heard he has not lost any of his energy in the part. I haven't seen it yet but it is high on my list of must sees.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 4:43pm

Antonio banderas and jane krakowski never missed a show in Nine. I DO hope that hugh jackman will be on when im there (june 10th)!! =D

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 4:49pm

A friend of mine was in the chorus for the last revival/tour for "Hello Dolly". Channing only missed one performance in a year and a half run, and that was only so she could go pick up a Lifetime Achievement Tony. At her age?! That's old-school professionalism, darlings.

Updated On: 3/16/04 at 04:49 PM

[cmleidi]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 4:59pm

I still think it's sad that perfect or near-perfect attendance is the exception these days.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 5:04pm

i know idina menzel never has missed a performance. in their run so far matthew broderick and nathan lane haven't missed a performance, or at least none that i've heard of.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 5:20pm

During the Funny Girl run in the 60's La Barbra got lyringitis and they called Lanie Kazan to go on for her. When she found out that Lanie had called in some press people she dragged herself to the theatre an hour before showtime and did the show:)

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 5:44pm

Idina and Harvey!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 6:43pm

Marian Seldes! (Read Vanity Fair). La Seldes would have much to say about the current ethic.

Merman. Robert Preston. Elaine Stritch. Kathy Bates in NIGHT MOTHER (0). Lauren Bacall in both APPLAUSE and WOMAN OF THE YEAR = like Harvey, 1/2. Brian Stokes Mitchell. (rare) And Patti LuPone.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 7:01pm

Let me set the record staright on FUNNY GIRL:

That Streisand Woman did come down with some illness and Lainie Kazan was her stand-by. True, there were reporters called and Kazan's performance was covered by The New York Times--ON ITS FRONT PAGE!!!!! Kazan may have gone on for one more performance, but That Streisand Woman was so furious with her for calling in the press that she had Kazan fired.

Briefly the show continiued without a stand-by orunderstudy for the title role.

Linda Gerard was then hired as That Streisand Woman's stand-by and was never called to go on until Mimi Hines took over the role of Fanny Brice.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 7:14pm

Whatever happened to Mimi Hines?

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 7:39pm

who is lainie kazan??? thanks :)

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 7:43pm

Thanks, Dollypop. I've always wondered if the Lanie K. story was legend; I didn't know the exact facts. For those of you who don't know Lanie, see BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING. She's the Mama. And she was in the somewhat charming MY FAVORITE YEAR at Lincoln Center in the early 90s with Tim Curry and Andrea Martin. The night I saw it -- she was out!

[johny0828]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 8:00pm

i saw mimi haines as miss lynch in grease a few years ago. i think she's in a touring company of nunsunse.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 8:40pm

Actually Dollypop let me set the record straight. Some of your facts are wrong. From the Streisand Biography:
Lanie Kazan says: "I got a call that Barbra was sick and that I should come right to the theatre so that I could rehearse with the real cast. Well, I was all dressed and ready to go when Barbra came in ten minutes before curtain. The headlines the next morning read :SHOW GOES ON BUT LAINIE DOESN'T:" Barbra was angry and her throat condition worsened from singing the previous night and Lanie got called to go on once again. Against Ray Starks advice she had her mother call the same people on the list.Kazan insisted " It was rumored that I was fired, and it has been reported in books that I was, but I never was" "A month later I gave my notice and in fact Ray begged me to stay untill they found somebody." and the person to take over for her as understudy was Linda Gerrard. Streisand eventually let down her guard and let Gerrard perform occasional matinees.

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 9:51pm

She also played the Good Fairy in Faerie Tale Theatre's Pinocchio. Carl Reiner was Geppatto and PeeWee Herman was Pinocchio. Michael Richards (That's Kramer's real name, right?) was also in that movie.

I loved those Faerie Tale Theatre movies. She will always be the Good Fairy to me.

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 3/16/04 at 10:13pm

I remember reading that when Adam Pascal was in RENT he said that he hated missing a performance because since the OBC was such a family that they all worked together so well and when someone was missing it wasnt the same. I dont know his record in attendance only that he "hated" missing performances and would do his best to be there. have no clue how he was in aida and cabaret. (amazing!! - but im referring to attendances lol)

Everyone else i know of that is good about this stuff people have already mentioned so i wont be redundant

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 3/17/04 at 11:21pm

wow, was pascal in cabaret? im so out of it Updated On: 3/17/04 at 11:21 PM

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 3/17/04 at 11:31pm

If I was being paid the sort of money thats being paid to Nathan and Matthew, I wouldn't miss a performance either..