Have you ever been at a show where a cast member had to leave mid-show?- Page 3
Have you ever been at a show where a cast member had to leave mid-show?
#50Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/23/12 at 9:11pmRagtime in the mini-Chicago-sitdown that reopened the Ford/Oriental theater; maybe 1999? The actor playing Coalhouse was replaced for the 2nd act... First and only time I've seen it happen myself.
sorano916
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/6/08
#51Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:09pm
Early in the Broadway run, when there was only two male swings, ensemble member Brian Charles Johnson left about 1/3 into the show. This was around the times of the Tonys so their schedules were unusual. For this particular show, it was at 7 pm with a call time was at 6 pm. Unfortunately, Josh Kobak, who was a swing, got the times mixed up and that the show started at 8 pm so when he wasn't at call time, the company manager just called him that they would be fine and he didn't need to come in.
Omar Lopez-Cepero, the other swing, was on for Declan Bennett, one of the ensemble members, from the start. Then after "St. Jimmy," Brian told their company manager that he wasn't feeling well, so she called Josh to get over to the theatre ASAP. Brian sat out of "Give Me Novacaine" and Josh was in Brian's track by the following group number, "Last of the American Girls/She's A Rebel." Luckily, Josh lived close by & rode a motorcycle.
Then, since Omar was more familiar with Brian's track, he switched and Josh took over Declan's track for the rest of the show.
#52Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 12:48amWhen I saw 'Lestat' on Broadway, Hugh Panaro left at intermission and Drew Sarich played the role in Act Two. And then Drew's wig fell off in the final scene. I felt so bad for him!
ZiggyCringe
Leading Actor Joined: 5/16/05
#53Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 1:06am
Three Times.
Phillip Officer in "Shogun" when the scenery fell on his head and knocked him unconscious.
Anne Reinking in the "Sweet Charity" revival where she drank from the champagne glass during "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and the cleaning people had left detergent in the glass, and she puked all over the stage and then was rushed to the hospital. Bebe Neuwirth, who was in the cast (and won a Tony for playing Nickie), filled in without missing a beat.
Strangely enough, the third is Gwen Verdon during a Lincoln Center "Sweet Charity" concert, where the scenery during the closet scene collapsed on her head. Fortunately, that was "Night of a Thousand Charitys", and Chita Rivera was on hand to fill in.
Updated On: 8/24/12 at 01:06 AM
Far From Home
Understudy Joined: 4/8/12
#54Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 1:50am
After Richard Burton left Camelot, Richard Harris took over the King Arthur role. The show was playing the Masonic Temple in Detroit in September, 1981. During one of the shows, the second act had started and Lancelot had just finished singing "If Ever I would Leave You". Mordred had entered and said his lines before Richard Harris was to enter. The guy playing Mordred started looking into the wings and you could tell someone was telling him to leave the stage, which he did, and then the curtain was dropped. Someone, probably a stage manager, came out in front of the curtain and said that Richard Harris would not be able to finish the show, and that there would be a pause while the understudy got ready. William Parry did the second act, and he was wonderful! Apparently, Richard Harris thought he was having a heart attack. I always wondered why they didn't just put the understudy on at intermission.
#55Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 2:13am
Next To Normal in January of 2010. Alice started the show and, having heard clips of her gruff voice I wasn't sure about what to expect.
It was clear from her dialogue in the first scence and toward the end of "Just Another Day" that she was struggling. But she worked her ass off during that first act.
As we all settled back in the house for Act II it was announced that "...due to an illness the role of Diana will now be played by Jessica Phillips." Some audience members growled under their breath but no one got up to leave.
Phillips' performance was utterly beautiful, hypnotic, and charming. Within 5 minutes of Act II starting the audience rallied and was totally behind her all they way. I've worked in theatre a long time and I have never witnessed an ovation like what Jessica Phillips got.
Leadingplayer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#56Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 2:42am
Hey bestbars,
Was Patricia Hemenway an alternate or an understudy? I compiled a list of the Bway Evas and alternates but her name is new to me....It is not on IBDB...was she in it late in the run?
Griffin2
Chorus Member Joined: 11/11/11
#57Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 1:25pmWe were in the audience June 13, ???? when Idina Menzel left Wicked after Act 1 and Eden Espinoza replaced her. Have never seen anything similar happen since.
#58Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 4:00pm
At Billy Elliot we got a new Billy for the second act. In Act I he was played by an Australian actor, in Act II by an Asian actor. The actor playing the MC of the Christmas show at the top of Act II walked the new Billy out and introduced him in character. Charming.
This past summer, at Ghost, I saw Oda Mae replaced at intermission. Da'Vine Joy Randolph was giving it everything she had during Act I, but you could tell her voice wasn't all there. I wish I knew which one of her unterstudies went on, but she tore it up!!
#59Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 4:35pmWhen I saw The Pirate Queen in previews, Stephanie J. Block left mid way through the first act. I think this was the last performance before opening (where she took steroids to go on). I got to see her do the whole show later in the run.
PitPro2004
Broadway Star Joined: 2/15/04
#60Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 6:53pm
"Phillip Officer in "Shogun" when the scenery fell on his head and knocked him unconscious."
Phillip Officer? Oh, I thought it was Philip Casnoff, same guy who was in Chess?
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium!"
#61Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/24/12 at 8:11pm
One of the last times I saw Hairspray, Constantine Rosouli was Link and seemed fine, but after "Welcome to the 60's" ended leading into the dodge ball scene, on walked Curt Hansen, leaving the audience confused when Kate Loprest (as Amber) addressed him as Link.
Apparently, Constantine had food poisoning, but had family coming to see the show and had tried to stay as long as possible, but couldn't continue on. At intermission, they made an announcement that for the remainder of the performance the role of Link Larkin would be played by Curt Hansen, but for the better part of the end of Act One, the audience had no clue who this new Link was.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#62Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/25/12 at 12:48am
In Rock Of Ages an US came in when Adam Dannhaisser's (I think) wife went into labor.
& once Constantine cut his hand and was replaced.
"Forget regret or life is yours to miss."
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#63Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/25/12 at 4:49amTwo or three times, most recently in April at Newsies. I have no idea who it was, (I couldn't hear the announcement well) and I couldn't see any difference on stage. (Too damn many pretty boys on stage -- they blend.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#64Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/25/12 at 4:37pmWicked 2NT in Pittsburgh on Sept 24,2011 evening show. During One Short Day Anne Brummel ran back to do the costume change and Christine Dwyer ran on. Never saw one before then and never want to see one again.
Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!
robinycus2
Understudy Joined: 5/1/09
#65Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/25/12 at 9:17pm
I saw Angela Lansbury in the 1st Act of Sweeney Todd in '79, and came back after intermission to find that Milton Berle had replaced her.
Then again, I may have been on something that night.
TMR
Swing Joined: 5/27/10
#66Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:08pm
I saw Donny Osmond in "Beauty and the Beast" and he had to leave mid-show due to vocal strain or something. They made the announcement at the beginning of Act 2, and there were loud audible groans from the audience, many of whom I'm sure traveled great distances to see him. That's what happens with stunt casting.
WeeThomas2, I loved your "Heaven on Earth" comment! LOL!
MrJNLong
Featured Actor Joined: 6/20/08
#67Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:22pmI was at a matinee of the "All My Sons" revival a few years back when John Lithgow decided he couldn't go on for Act 2 because he was having some throat health issues and there was a lot of yelling in Act 2. He felt he needed to save his voice for later shows. I know this because he came out at the top of Act 2 with the entire cast and explained it to us while introducing the understudy. Since the show was directed in that quasi-Brechtian style that incorporated Lithgow reciting the stage directions to the audience at the top of the show, it made sense to have him explain it to us.
WestCoastActor/Director
Stand-by Joined: 2/8/05
#68Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/26/12 at 1:04am
I saw Dracula on Broadway many years ago and the actor playing Renfield got ill and the understudy went on for the final act. Since he covered more than one part he was not the same size. Suddenly Renfield was almost a foot taller but had the same red hair which I hadn't realized was a wig.
On the tour of Aida there has been some illnesses in the cast. Patrick Cassidy took ill mid show and the understudy took over. Patrick was very muscular in the show with many costumes showing off his chest. The understudy wasn't so it was like a new character was in there.
I have been in shows where people took ill or got injured and didn't finish the show. That's live theatre.
wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
#69Have you ever been at a show where someone had to leave mid-show?
Posted: 8/26/12 at 3:22pmNot Broadway, but opera. Decades ago at the MET, in a production of CONTES d"Hoffmann, the scheduled American tenor playing Hoffmann failed to show (unfortunately something that he became known for). At the beginning of the opera, the general manager came before the curtain and made the announcement, giving the name of the second cast tenor who would sing the role. The tenor began the opera but was clearly in vocal difficulties by the end of the first act. Long intermission, much buzz. Announcement before the second act: First Act Tenor is in vocal difficulty so HIS cover would sing the role from the orchestra pit while First Act Tenor lip synched, because the cover was not familiar enough with the blocking to sing and act the role. This became known as the night of three tenors.
Videos