Betty Buckley is out again? Question - Page 3

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:16pm

qolbinau said: "When is the last time Betty had a long run in the starring role of a musical? At 70, it can't be easy. Maybe she wasn't up for the job? Sad for her, the producers, and audiences.

 

I'm 72 and "I ain't down yet!"

"

 

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:51pm

Box office says she’ll be out tonight. Will check tomorrow as I’d like to see her, but have more interest in the show than her.

Updated On: 1/25/19 at 07:51 PM

[BwayLB]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:56pm

^ I Have more interest in the show itself too. I dont go until next week.

[Skip23]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:57pm

SweetLips22 said: "Hello Dolly--Direct from Broadway, starring for one night, tonight[or tomorrow or the next day] Tovah Feldshuh"

Uh no....trust me.....she's already done Dolly at Papermill.

 

 

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 8:00pm

Bernadette will be performing a concert at on of the other Segerstrom venues. Maybe she can pop over for the matinee.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 11:10pm

To Skip23--my comment was VERY tongue in cheek as I was[un]lucky enough to see her Roses Turn on YouTube before being Whipped off forever. Pity, as it should be compulsory viewing in every acting studio.

To her credit she was excellent as the President in something I binged recently. She 'died' and came back to life--a bit like all of her performances obviously.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 5:39pm

I hope she is feeling better.  I guess if she is out tonight then she was out the entire Orange County run?

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 6:39pm

She was out today - not sure about tonight yet. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 6:47pm

Did she even open the show in Orange County?  I know she was out Sunday in San Diego. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 7:39pm

Just spoke to the box office and she is going on tonight.  My tickets are for tomorrow night. 

[DAME]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 7:43pm

nealb1 said: "Just spoke to the box office and she is going on tonight. My tickets are for tomorrow night."

Have fun Neal!   Full report please.

[WestCoastActor/Director]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 11:21pm

Betty was out Wednesday night when I went to see the show. I saw all three Dollys on Broadway and really only wanted to see the show again so I could see Betty's turn at the role. I have a ticket to see it at the Pantages next month so maybe I can see Betty then. Ironically Bernadette Peters is appearing in concert next door to Hello, Dolly! tonight.

[bear88]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 3:34am

I have been perplexed about this whole thing. It is rare indeed for a touring production to tout an above-the-title star. It doesn't even happen in San Francisco. The only exception that comes to mind was the promotion of Darren Criss and Lena Hall in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and even that was comparatively low-key. 

It seems like there is little more promotion of stars in LA, because it's LA and actors often want the exposure. Buckley was promoted heavily when she was in Grey Gardens at the Ahmanson, and she got entrance applause. 

The tour schedule looks like the usual grueling tour schedule. There are two Sunday shows at the Pantages in Hollywood, and the musical opens in San Francisco two nights later. 

As for Hello, Dolly, I am curious to see the musical because I've never seen it. The only thing I'm curious about is what people think of the understudy Dolly, because it sounds like there's a good chance I will end up seeing her.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 7:16am

https://hellodollyonbroadway.com/bios  There are two Dolly understudies:  Jessica Sheridan (Ernestina, Dolly u/s) and Beth Kirkpatrick (Mrs. Rose, Ensemble, Dolly u/s).  

Updated On: 1/27/19 at 07:16 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 8:52am

I wonder if Kirkpatrick has gone on as Dolly yet considering Buckley's attendance?

[DAME]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 10:34am

bear88 said: "I have been perplexed about this whole thing. It is rare indeed for a touring production to tout an above-the-title star. It doesn't even happen in San Francisco. The only exception that comes to mind was the promotion of Darren Criss and Lena Hall in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, andeven that was comparatively low-key.

It seems like there is little more promotion of stars in LA, because it's LA and actors often want the exposure. Buckley was promoted heavily when she was in Grey Gardens at the Ahmanson, and she got entrance applause.

The tour schedule looks like the usual grueling tour schedule. There are two Sunday shows at the Pantages in Hollywood, and the musical opens in San Francisco two nights later.

As for Hello, Dolly, I am curious to see the musical because I've never seen it. The only thing I'm curious about is what people think of the understudy Dolly, because it sounds like there's a good chance I will end up seeing her."

She is being promoted the same everywhere .  The show is being packaged that way in every stop.  But I wonder if it has really affected sales at all.  It’s really not selling that well to begin with .  And I don’t think tourr audiences are so hooked on Betty that they would demand a refund . 

Updated On: 1/27/19 at 10:34 AM

[DAME]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 10:42am

DAME said: "bear88 said: "I have been perplexed about this whole thing. It is rare indeed for a touring production to tout an above-the-title star. It doesn't even happen in San Francisco. The only exception that comes to mind was the promotion of Darren Criss and Lena Hall in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, andeven that was comparatively low-key.

It seems like there is little more promotion of stars in LA, because it's LA and actors often want the exposure. Buckley was promoted heavily when she was in Grey Gardens at the Ahmanson, and she got entrance applause.

The tour schedule looks like the usual grueling tour schedule. There are two Sunday shows at the Pantages in Hollywood, and the musical opens in San Francisco two nights later.

As for Hello, Dolly, I am curious to see the musical because I've never seen it. The only thing I'm curious about is what people think of the understudy Dolly, because it sounds like there's a good chance I will end up seeing her."

She is being promoted the same everywhere . The show is being packaged that way in every stop. But I wonder if it has really affected sales at all. It’s really not selling that well-to begin with . And I don’t think tour audiences are so hooked on Betty that they would  demand a refund ."

 

Updated On: 1/27/19 at 10:42 AM

[David10086]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 11:24am

I was able to see Buckley in "Sunset Boulevard" back in August, 1996 on Broadway, and would like to see her in 'Hello Dolly' when it comes to Boston this summer.  

My question - when she was in SUNSET for that long run, did she miss many performances back then, aside from her scheduled vacations? 

[scampsweep]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 12:17pm

David10086 said: "I was able to see Buckley in "Sunset Boulevard" back in August, 1996 on Broadway, and would like to see her in 'Hello Dolly' when it comes to Bostonthis summer.

My question - when she was in SUNSET for that long run, did she miss many performances back then, aside from her scheduled vacations?"

Don’t know the answer to your question, but in the days before social media/the Internet, it was clearly difficult for audiences to know how reliable or unreliable a star was in terms  of turning up for 8 shows a week. Nowadays, I guess the reputations of performers can be easily dented if they consistently miss shows. There’s probably a lot more at stake now, particularly for up-and-coming stars. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 2:07pm

scampsweep said: "David10086 said: "I was able to see Buckley in "Sunset Boulevard" back in August, 1996 on Broadway, and would like to see her in 'Hello Dolly' when it comes to Bostonthis summer.

My question - when she was in SUNSET for that long run, did she miss many performances back then, aside from her scheduled vacations?"

Don’t know the answer to your question, but in the days before social media/the Internet, it was clearly difficult for audiences to know how reliable or unreliable a star was in terms of turning up for 8 shows a week. Nowadays, I guess the reputations of performers can be easily dented if they consistently miss shows. There’s probably a lot more at stake now, particularly for up-and-coming stars."

Good point.  When I was growing up, we had season subscriptions for 12 years to the Broadway touring series.  Our tickets were for Saturday matinees, and after a couple years, we just stopped getting excited about seeing whatever star would be touring.  Most of the time, they would not be in for that matinee.  Nowadays, those actors would be crucified on social media.

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 1/27/19 at 5:09pm

Instagram indicates understudy on this afternoon?

[BPstan]

Posted: 1/28/19 at 10:42am

Can anyone confirm?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/28/19 at 10:44am

It'd help if people would link to whatever instagram story/post they're referring to.

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/28/19 at 11:57am

Saw the show last night.  Loved it!  Betty was very "throaty" last night.  She must have been getting over a bad cold as she had a handkerchief in her dress pocket that she used quite a few times, and coughed during applause, or would turn upstage during "Dancing" and other moments to cough.  She was much better sounding and had a burst of new energy for Act 2.  

Her Dolly was very fragile - similar to her Norma Desmond.  If this doesn't work out, that she can't nab Horace for herself, she's at the of her rope and will have nothing left.  I never got that from Betty or Bernadette.

She commanded the stage, and looked fantastic.  The dinner scene with Horace was very different from Bette & Bernadette.  It wasn't played to the hilt, and was very low key.  I was quite surprised as it's quite the show stopping moment.  The scene of her eating in the courtroom was very funny.  When she starts to eat the puffs, she let out an almost orgasmic OH MY GOD.  You could hear her munching & chewing on the turkey leg.  Very, very funny.  

It's a smaller ensemble cast, and there is no top tenor singing all of those glorious high notes during "Sunday Clothes."  In NYC Christian Dante White's beautiful tenor voice just soared into the heavens when he sang.   I'm so surprised that was missing as it's such a beautiful musical number.  



 

Updated On: 1/28/19 at 11:57 AM

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 1/28/19 at 12:02pm

nealb1 said: "Saw the show last night. Loved it! Bette was very "throaty" last night. She must have been getting over a bad cold as she had a handkerchief in her dress pocket that she used quite a few times, and coughed during applause, or would turn upstage during "Dancing" and other moments to cough. Her Dolly was very fragile - similar to her Norma Desmond. If this doesn't work out, that she can't nab Horace for herself, she's at the of her rope. I never got that from Betty or Bernadette.

She commanded the stage, and looked fantastic. The dinner scene with Horace was very different from Bette & Bernadette. It wasn't played to the hilt, and was very low key. I was quite surprised as it's quite the show stopping moment. The scene of her eating in the courtroom was very funny. When she starts to eat the puffs, she let out an almost orgasmic OH MY GOD. You could hear her munching & chewing on the turkey leg. Very, very funny.

It's a smaller ensemble cast, and there is no top tenor singing all of those glorious high notes during "Sunday Clothes." In NYC Christian Dante White's beautiful tenor voice just soared into the heavens when he sang. I'm so surprised that was missing as it's such a beautiful musical number.



"

So glad she did go on last night.  I hope she continues to recuperate.