How come Jodi Benson doesn't do any theater work anymore?

Has she been on Broadway since Crazy for You?

I read somewhere that she's one of those nutty far-right Christians. Is that true? If it is, it makes sense why she doesn't work in NY much.

She believes her role in The Little Mermaid was ordained by God.
What's nutty about that?

She might just be busy being a mom, she had a kid awhile back. I worked with her on a bunch of stuff. She and her husband are so amazingly talented and sane. They could sight read stuff off the page and be ready to record in almost real time.

Leave Jodi and her home schooling ways alone!

She was good in Enchanted on film. She was great in Smile, but that was pre-Mermaid.

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I saw Benson in Crazy For You and had NO CLUE who Karen Ziemba was. Then I went to see AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND and was introduced to what a true stage start Ziemba was. She makes EVERYTHING appear effortless. Not too long after seeing ATWGR, I was at FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE and Ziemba was in the audience. I talked to her at intermission and said "YOU should the the star of CRAZY FOR YOU." She smiled and said 'THANK YOU!!! That's such a great compliment.' It wasn't too much longer that she was touring in the role, took over on Broadway and I saw her in the role . . . . TRUE MAGIC!

I was just the other week that I found out the role REALLY should have been hers from the beginning.

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I only saw Ziemba in the role when it played Los Angeles, and she was fantastic in Crazy For You. I kept thinking she would have won the Tony if she had originated it. They went for a higher-profile name, I guess.

I do remember that both Benson and Groener were signed to run-of-the-play contracts. It's the last time I've ever heard of that happening, because the show became a big hit and started to run much longer than anyone (including them) thought. Benson in particular (but both of them, as I recall) BEGGED to be let out of their contracts. Jodi was "hot" at that point for other work (film, TV, more VO work), and she was stuck in the show and couldn't accept anything. Maybe that experience soured her. Who knows?

They finally agreed to let both of them out. Harry stayed a bit longer (probably with a pay hike) when Ziemba took over, but I don't know of any actor, especially in a musical (since it has the potential to run for years now), that has signed a run-of-the-play contract. It would be nuts.

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Updated On: 3/12/11 at 04:58 PM

Nutty, huh? As ever, the tolerance and openmindedness around here are just plain heartwarming.

I saw Benson and Groener in "Crazy for You" -- my first Broadway show -- and thought they were both amazing. Such a fun show.

I thought it went without saying.

Religious people generally do believe that God directs their steps. And there have been millions of such people throughout history, many of them exceedingly intelligent. If belief in God's direction alone makes a person nutty, you're going to have to declare a major percentage of the human race -- including Christians, Jews, Muslims, and people of many other faiths -- insane.

So, by that logic, God has something against those other women who auditioned for the role and didn't get it?

My biggest problem with Benson in CRAZY FOR YOU was her pitch problems. She seemed to have difficulty hitting some notes square -on.

I agree that Karen Ziemba was much better in the role.

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I'm pretty sure God wanted her to sign that contract.