Posted: 6/7/25 at 9:41am
AC126748 said: "Simard and Hilty are out of today’s matinee as well. Now that Tony voting has closed, why show up?"
So crazy.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 9:42am
They both were out for last Saturday's matinee, too.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 9:55am
I finally got around to seeing this. It's a good enough show for two expert comedic actresses to kill, but otherwise...For the Gaze (Gays)? Yep. They took a film satire and turned it into a musical farce with a forgettable score (Ernest's second act number was the only good song, at least it was catchy).
Both actresses were in the show when I saw it Tuesday but Seibert (not even nominated so who cares) was not. I may have enjoyed it a bit more with a third comic genius, as his understudy was not that good (though traditionally hotter, which made more sense why Madeline would steal him...)
Posted: 6/7/25 at 11:07am
I 100% understand that it's none of our business - AND I can't help but be very curious about why there seems to be unusually frequent absences of the leads in Death Becomes Her. It's a factor in my having not booked a ticket for it myself.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 11:15am
For Megan, I believe she is suffering from an injury. I don't think we know why Jennifer is often out, yet unless I missed it.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 12:31pm
I’m surprised tickets are still sparse and expensive despite the two leading ladies being out on a Saturday.
Has anyone had success going to the box office for cheaper tickets when this happens? Or do they ever “expand” their general rush inventory?
Posted: 6/7/25 at 1:00pm
Because they are not a draw.
We love to talk about their abscences, but they are not a breaking point to 95% of the people that sees the show.
Jennifer Simard in particular has never lead one. I did a rush line 3 weeks ago and talked with 4 women standing in the line and they didn't know any of the leading ladies.
The show is the star.
I would say Michelle Williams absence would make more people being let down (after all she was in the most successfull girlband of this century) and even her is not a thing.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 3:57pm
Owen22 said: "I finally got around to seeing this. It's a good enough show for two expert comedic actresses to kill, but otherwise...For the Gaze (Gays)? Yep. They took a film satire and turned it into a musical farce with a forgettable score (Ernest's second act number was the only good song, at least it was catchy).
Both actresses were in the show when I saw it Tuesday but Seibert (not even nominated so who cares) was not. I may have enjoyed it a bit more with a third comic genius, as his understudy was not that good (though traditionally hotter, which made more sense why Madeline would steal him...)"
1) She steals him because he is a plastic surgeon who can benefit her. Not for his looks.
2) Many people will care when a non-nominated performer is not in. A nomination is not everything, nor does it define who is good and who is not.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 4:08pm
iluvtheatertrash said: "Owen22 said: "I finally got around to seeing this. It's a good enough show for two expert comedic actresses to kill, but otherwise...For the Gaze (Gays)? Yep. They took a film satire and turned it into a musical farce with a forgettable score (Ernest's second act number was the only good song, at least it was catchy).
Both actresses were in the show when I saw it Tuesday but Seibert (not even nominated so who cares) was not. I may have enjoyed it a bit more with a third comic genius, as his understudy was not that good (though traditionally hotter, which made more sense why Madeline would steal him...)"
1) She steals him because he is a plastic surgeon who can benefit her. Not for his looks.
2) Many people will care when a non-nominated performer is not in. A nomination is not everything, nor does it define who is good and who is not."
Correction, she steals him to f*ck over Helen. Nothing to actually do with him.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 4:40pm
Owen22 said: "
Both actresses were in the show when I saw it Tuesday but Seibert (not even nominated so who cares) was not.”
Sieber elevates the whole thing . Tony nominated or not. The rest of the understudies are a mixed bag .
Updated On: 6/7/25 at 04:40 PM
Posted: 6/7/25 at 5:59pm
TheatreFan4 said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "Owen22 said: "I finally got around to seeing this. It's a good enough show for two expert comedic actresses to kill, but otherwise...For the Gaze (Gays)? Yep. They took a film satire and turned it into a musical farce with a forgettable score (Ernest's second act number was the only good song, at least it was catchy).
Both actresses were in the show when I saw it Tuesday but Seibert (not even nominated so who cares) was not. I may have enjoyed it a bit more with a third comic genius, as his understudy was not that good (though traditionally hotter, which made more sense why Madeline would steal him...)"
1) She steals him because he is a plastic surgeon who can benefit her. Not for his looks.
2) Many people will care when a non-nominated performer is not in. A nomination is not everything, nor does it define who is good and who is not."
Correction, she steals him to f*ck over Helen. Nothing to actually do with him."
I have always interpreted it to be more than that, even with the film. Regardless, it has nothing to do with the appearance, nor do I think it’s a decent thing to sit and compare people’s work based on their appearances. 🤷♂️
Posted: 6/7/25 at 7:30pm
Simard out of the evening show as well. Nothing on BroadwayDirect or Dee Roscioli's Instagram about Hilty being out/Dee being on, so seems like Hilty will most likely be on.
Posted: 6/7/25 at 7:37pm
MemorableUserName said: "Simard out of the evening show as well. Nothing on BroadwayDirect or Dee Roscioli's Instagram about Hilty being out/Dee being on, so seems like Hilty will most likely be on."
I’m exhausted with Jenn being out all the time
Posted: 6/7/25 at 8:28pm
WldKingdomHM said: "MemorableUserName said: "Simard out of the evening show as well. Nothing on BroadwayDirect or Dee Roscioli's Instagram about Hilty being out/Dee being on, so seems like Hilty will most likely be on."
I’m exhausted with Jenn being out all the time"
Why is it affecting you so? 
Posted: 6/7/25 at 10:36pm
Natalie is outstanding as Helen. I love Simard, but it shouldn't be that disappointing if Natalie is on. Only a matter of time before the show opts to have Roscioli and Ellis as the Wed/Sat matinee alternates.
Posted: 6/8/25 at 7:54am
WldKingdomHM said: I’m exhausted with Jenn being out all the time"
I suspect being the lead in a show is a much heavier lift than being a featured character who comes and goes, while stealing the show on occasion. Perhaps Simard is better placed in the latter moving forward because these absences are something else.
Posted: 6/8/25 at 11:24pm
It felt like some of the other lead actresses who took off yesterday or today were doing so to rest up for their performances tonight, but given that they did a number without Jennifer, that can't be the reason she missed the last three. I hope she's okay. (Maybe they specifically chose a song she wasn't in because they knew this was a possibility? Because doing a song one of your Tony nominated leads isn't in is...interesting.)
Posted: 6/10/25 at 1:44pm
Surprise, surprise: they’re both out tonight.
Posted: 6/10/25 at 1:47pm
The leads are both out tonight; Roscioli and Ellis on. That means Simard's has been out since Friday, so she may not have been available Sunday anyway and that song really was a good choice. I do hope everything's okay.
Updated On: 6/10/25 at 01:47 PM
Posted: 6/10/25 at 1:50pm
At this point, it’s a given that everything is “okay.” No one is dying.
I’m sorry, not to be unsympathetic, but the two of them need to either show up to their JOBS or the production needs to announce a formal schedule. I don’t understand how this has gone on for so long.
Sh*t like this makes me miss Michael Riedel, I fear.
Posted: 6/10/25 at 1:56pm
Oh my goodness ! Insane ! Megan and Jenn are not at all doing it for the gaze
Updated On: 6/10/25 at 01:56 PM
Posted: 6/10/25 at 2:30pm
Maybe they will announce an official alternate schedule now. Their names are still above the title. So until that also changes; you are entitled to a refund or an adjustment in price of your tickets.
Posted: 6/10/25 at 3:42pm
I haven't actually tracked this, but it seems they are both often out at the same time, no? I wonder how often that has actually happened / if any other show in recent memory has had a noticeable amount of performances without it's TWO leading stars on.
Posted: 6/10/25 at 3:45pm
SmokeyLady said: "Maybe they will announce an official alternate schedule now. Their names are still above the title. So until that also changes; you are entitled to a refund or an adjustment in price of your tickets."
Refund or exchange -- yes -- "adjustment" in price, no. There's no haggling involved in these situations.
Posted: 6/10/25 at 3:50pm
Odds are they start calling out more since the Tony's are done and neither Hilty, Simard or the show won.
