"Lloyd Webber said, "No Sarah? No Broadway engagement." And he was firm about it."
That was a huge bluff on ALW's part. Lloyd Webber would have brought Phantom to NYC regardless. Equity should have stood firm. Americans lost out on a cast recording because of it and Equity really lost face because of it.
"Don't forget the controversy over MISS SAIGON and Jonathon Pryce!"
That controversy was more that an Asian actor should have been found. Pryce was already a star by the time Saigon came to Broadway. The bigger argument was over Lea Salogna who was an unknown.
"I saw the brilliant production of THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE in London, starring the two performers it was written for, Alison Steadman and Jane Horrocks. American Equity would not let those two actors come over here, so the show was canceled for NYC."
I saw it in NYC and thought it was interesting, but a poor production. I think the London producers could have gotten around that by bringing the whole production over as a "limited engagement". But overall, I don't think it was worth a Broadway run. It really should have played off-Broadway.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
