Broadway star with the most absences?? — Page 3

Sorry about "dear." Thank you for letting me know about not being able to receive PMs -- I must have done something wrong when it was originally set up (I'm new to this board, more or less). I've contacted them and should receive a response in 24 hours.

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"I would rather see a healthy understudy than a sick person."

I totally agree with that.

Also, we have to remember that calling out sick to an office job and calling out sick for a broadway performance are two completely different things. Our product and our work is our body/voice, etc. If you already put more pressure on what's damaged/infected or hurting your only digging yourself a deeper hole.

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That's actually a very good point, Bettyboy. Many of us probably have the impression that all stage actors have to do is show up at the theatre at 7:30, do their show and go home. Actors, particularly stage actors, are very hardworking people who have to do a lot not only for their craft, but to make ends meet while doing it.

I think it's part of live theatre that things don't always go as planned, including that an actor may not be able to make every performance. It also gives standbys and understudies a real opportunity, and I've seen some wonderful standby/understudy performances. I believe this has been discussed at length in prior threads.

An actor has a professional responsibility to try to attend all performances and to make sure he or she does what is necessary to put him or herself in that position (i.e. by taking care of his or her own health), but actors are human, and sometimes it's just not possible. I would venture to guess that most stage actors do whatever they can to make sure they make their performances. I'd only add that I think it's a little unfair to automatically assume that because an actor has missed a number of performances that he or she is simply being unprofessional. We don't always know what's going on, and an actor's absences may be the result of something truly serious and legitimate. I think Donna Murphy and her ruptured vocal cord during "Wonderful Town" (which nobody knew about until much later) is a good example of that. Ditto for Benanti and her broken neck (yikes!).

That said, and without intending to cast any dispersions, I seem to recall that two wonderful musical theatre actors -- Nathan Lane and Julie Andrews -- missed quite a few performances during their respective runs in The Producers (initial run) and Victor/Victoria.

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Updated On: 10/19/07 at 03:55 PM

i believe laura bell bundy has been missing quite a lof of blonde performances in the last few months.

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Nell Carter was infamous for being absent for a performance...especially during "Ain't Misbehavin'."

dancing through life, I do perform 8 shows a week. And have been a for 12 years. I have only missed one show. So thanks for the quip back,but I do try it, i DO do it. but hairspray is a lot of jumping and "chorus line" is demanding, for sure, but back in the day, those kids did NOT miss a show Bennett would have had their heads. It's just a different world, now.

And I know for a FACT the ACL cast was rarely all in attendance.

I don't have much to add to the actual question at hand, except that sh-t happens, people miss work. They're entitled, to a certain extent. No, I don't think it's okay to have excessive, unwarranted absences. I know people who have been professional singers for 40+ years and have only missed two performances to date. That being said, it's also not a performer's job to work when they're very sick or are faced other personal problems.

Anyway, what I am wondering about is this, because I have never encountered it firsthand:

I think people would be much more understanding if it were announced "Donna Murphy has a bruised shin and will be taking 4 weeks of sick leave. During those four weeks, Linda Muggleston will be playing her role. Murphy is scheduled to return full-time August 4th." rather than "She was out Tuesday, Wednesday night and all weekend and went on Wednesday matinee, and Thursday night."

Do they not do the former if someone takes a leave of absence?

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I think so, Scotty. Opera singers typically don't perform 8 shows a week, and most musicals are just as vocally demanding as operas. I'm not sure why shows aren't doublecast, it seems to be sort of taboo

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Well, I must admit that I was a bit dismayed that Tony Yazbek was absent on the night I saw "A Chorus Line" on May 30, 2007. So, I tried the following day and was looking forward for him to sign the long ACL line poster. One of the cast members told me that T.Y. had been feeling under the weather.
I should have gotten his autograph the first time I saw him outside the Curran Theatre, when I saw ACL in SF on July 28, 2006. He was with his parents and didn't want to bother him. Oh well.
I think there are many who are too quick to judge artists who miss for very valid reasons. What's that saying :"Try walking a mile in my shoes"? I'm in absolute awe at the energy, the talent, the dancing... the effort that stage artists demonstrate. Two persons who come to mind are Tyler Hanes and Charlotte D'Amboise. Aside from being "easy on the eyes", I watched in awe as he performed those exceptional dance steps, along with the rest of the cast of course. Also, Charlotte is amazing during "The Music and the Mirror". She's graceful and majestic as she goes thru her dance and song.
We probably have no idea what strains, pressures and pains that these and other artists go thru during a performance (unless one is a performer). They are human beings... and as such... they need a "medical rest" every once in a while. I think there should be a documentary or show (like on Bravo) on "A Day In The Life" of a Broadway performer. Has this ever been done? Maybe then, detractors will realize the depth of the physical demands that performing puts on a person's body and voice.
Bravo, bravo to those wonderful singers, dancers and actors/actresses who "go on with the show" despite physical and vocal ailments..... and to those who need to rest their tired bodies / voices from time to time. Your efforts are appreciated by your loyal and understanding fans.
from RC in Austin, Texas

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even laura bell, as fantastic as she is, doesn't get that note every time..i don't really blame her though. In the MTV taping, she had to do it in two parts, and I actually think it's best that way.

i saw a clip on youtube of becky gulsvig doing 'so much better' and the note wasn't great, if i remember correctly.

For the most part, I think this thread relies on far too much speculation. The board was attacking Miss Murphy that summer. And now, after she goes on record and discusses how ill she was - and that theproducers didn't want her to talk about it - everyone takes her off the Stone-Them-To-Death List.

That said, I did find it interesting that the winners of 2006 Tonys for Best Actor and Actress in a Musical were both performers that weren't playing 8-show weeks, or playing them often. And in contrast, loser Michael Cerveris missed no performances and fellow loser Patti missed one or two during a year-long run. In "Sweeney"! As if Sweeny Todd is an easy role to play! I'm not implying anything more, I just thought it was interesting... new crop of stars, with a new ethic.

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 03:13 AM

I read on perez that fantasia had missed over 50 shows on color purple


http://perezhilton.com/?p=10388

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 12:42 PM

I say Anthony Rapp, due to him going home visiting his mom and whatnot.

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