Diahann Carroll Withdraws From A Raisin In The Sun- Page 3

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 1:34pm

Sorry to hear that she has bowed out of the run. She was the reason my friend and I wanted to see the show when we go to NY in April. I called Telecharge this morning, and they refunded our tickets, no problem.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 1:48pm

Awww. So sad she had to withdraw. Now don't get me wrong. I love me some Denzel, but for me the draw was definitely Diahann Carroll who I have not seen on stage since she took over for Elizabeth Ashley in AGNES OF GOD.

I'm seriously re-considering going to see this now.

[bdboston]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 4:38pm

Interestingly, I just contacted Telecharge and they didn't let me refund my tickets. Not too happy about that....

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 7:34pm

^ Same

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 8:27pm

She was below the title, that's why. Tricky tricky!

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 11:16am

Denzel said this morning on "LIVE!" that she withdrew due to the "physicality of the show."

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 11:24am

Why? She couldn't slap him? She could do that better than anybody. If she slapped Joan Collins she can slap Denzel.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 11:29am

Everyone who has a ticket and can't get a refund that they want should raise hell and hound the producers. If I'd bought a ticket to see her and was refused a refund, I'd be PISSED.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 12:48pm

Why would you raise hell, iluvtheatertrash? The "no refund, no exchange" policy couldn't be more clearly stated on Telecharge's website, and as others have said, Carroll was not above the title.

[bdboston]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 12:55pm

An update: I did indeed get the refund. I was told by Telecharge to send them an email requesting the refund, which they would forward to the producers (as refunds were solely at their discretion). No hell-raising; just good old-fashioned common courtesy and politeness.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 1:06pm

I would raise hell if I was told a flat out no. Common courtesy by a producer would mean refunding someone who specifically purchased a ticket to see that performer.

I think that sometimes you look past the No Refunds rule for special circumstances. Glad to see this producing team is doing the right thing.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 2:26pm

Normally I agree with you on this, somethingwicked. But let's face it, the only reason she wasn't above the title is because they literally couldn't make Denzel's any bigger if they tried. And her name fills up just as much space as his so for all intents and purposes, she might as well be "above the title." So I'm glad to see the producers are granting dispensation.

[David10086]

Posted: 10/5/19 at 12:07pm

Bumping this up with news about Carroll's death yesterday.

Apparently, the reason she withdrew - or was 'dropped' - from 'A Raisin In The Sun' is because she was starting with dementia at the time, according to some obits being written and different discussions on various sites. She was first diagnosed around mid-2013, was still able to act (though not sing - she had trouble remembering song lyrics).  Yet things got worse when the rehearsals for this play started, as she was forgetting her lines and her blocking. The producers had no choice but to replace her.

She still did some acting on television, though. As it was explained in one article - she relied heavily on cue cards, and being fed line into her earpiece. Her dementia had gotten worse over the past few years, and she made rare public appearances since 2016. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/5/19 at 11:39pm

She attended the Chiller Horror Con in NJ In April 2018. She was signing autographs and posing for photos. A friend said she was kind but clearly a little out of it. I wonder who the hell trotted her out for a Con? An agent? Show business can really suck sometimes.