Did judy mclane leave Mamma Mia?

[poppinslionking]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 5:17pm

Did Judy Mclane (she plays Tanya) leave Mamma Mia? The past several weeks, I have seen an understudy for Tanya. I havent seen any press releases about getting a new Tanya recently. There is still a photograph of her outside the winter garden theatre.

I think she is the best of the Mamma Mia cast.

[Stevenyc11101]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 5:25pm

Judy's been out on medical leave for a couple of months now. Not sure when she'll be back since she fractured her back or something.

I do agree she is one of the best things in that show! Her Carolee, and Gina Farrell make a GREAT trio of Dynamos!!!

[Viola2]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 5:25pm

My goodness! She's been in it a long time, hasn't she?

[poppinslionking]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 5:42pm

I hope she gets better soon.

In my opinion, the quality of the show decreases if she is not performing.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 5:48pm

Judy was recently replaced by Christine Baranski.

[poppinslionking]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 5:54pm

Is that a permanent replacement?

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:16pm

in february, i saw her understudy(jen burleigh-bentz) was on, and she was GREAT. i really loved her in the show. very funny

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 8:42pm

Jen has been playing Tanya for awhile. A friend of mine is friendly with her from back in Minnesota and said she was great. A lot of people I've talked to said her performance was amazing, and one of the better parts of the show.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 8:56pm

Carolee Carmello is the best part of MAMMA MIA!

[ILoveWicked330]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 8:59pm

Saw it on Sat- she was out but her replacement was in the playbill so I guess it's a known extended absense.
Her replacement was eh. Her wig was extremely fake & looked horrible. Her comedic timing was also alittle off. But she was alright.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:09pm

I still think one of the best Donnas was Dee Hoty.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:15pm

carolee carmello IS SO AMAZING!!!! im so sad that she left : (. id see it agian just for her. her "the winner takes it all" was really moving.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:19pm

"Her wig was extremely fake & looked horrible."

Was this understudy Jen? I remember it was someone with a hyphenated last name.

Anyways, I thought she was really good, but I also thought her wig looked fake...

[zepka102]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:20pm

Carolee is always going back to that show. I thought she was supposed to be returning after this show she's been working on... the religious one I think.

Updated On: 5/29/07 at 09:20 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:22pm

Carolee is back in the show right now...I saw her at the stage door on Saturday afternoon.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 10:35pm

Last I heard, Judy McLane is suppose to be back from her medical leave tomorrow May 30. Don't know if that's changed.

[Stevenyc11101]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 11:26pm

I just found out from a friend who works at the theatre as an usher that Judy McLane will be back in July. Joan Hess is taking over for a month from Judy's understudy Jen Burleigh-Bentz who's been doing the role for months.

I wonder if they want to give Joan a "test drive" to see how she does before they hire her to replace Judy if she decided not to renew her contract again.

I hope that helps...........

[Hope3]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 5:26pm

Oh, of course I had to post here. Allie, you're wonderful (she basically sends me any thread with Jen in it so I can spam it.) Went to see the show on Sunday May 20 because of Jen of course. Now, seeing as I'm not the biggest fan of the show, we won't discuss that part. But Jen was fabulous.

And with the wig, I think there may be a new wig? Because this one looked nice. I think she used to have a shorter, more bleached blonde wig... am I right? Now it looks more natural.

Jen is done June 3rd, was the last I heard, so if anyone is planning on seeing the show, I'd go before then. Because her Does Your Mother Know is the greatest. She added a higher belt note towards the end. She's been on for a couple months now, so I'm wondering why there aren't pictures or why her bio on the site hasn't changed, but that's ok.

And I'll stop now.

[Hope3]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 5:26pm

And sorry, double post.

Updated On: 5/30/07 at 05:26 PM