How come Jodi Benson doesn't do any theater work anymore? — Page 2

Oh, I certainly understand it from an artistic standpoint, but not from an economic standpoint. I know if I had a role on Broadway, I would want to keep it as long as possible- even 15 years. There are ways to keep a role fresh, but not as many ways to get another role on Broadway.

"She played the Queen in a concert version of "Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella" last year in Nashville."

She is doing it again this year. It's a benefit for Steven Curtis Chapman's religious ministry "Show Hope". Maybe she is only doing religious stuff now.

There are people like George Lee Andrews and a few of the "Cats" were in their shows for ages and were happy. But, I guess it's different if you're just supporting or in the chorus and not the one who's name is selling tickets.

Back to the topic at hand: I saw her in the "Joseph" tour and waited at the stage door to have her sign my "Smile" Playbill and a "Joseph" for a friend of mine who lives in Wisconsin. She signed both "God Bless, Jodi Benson". After I sent the one to my friend, he emailed me: "Now that I have Jodi Benson's blessing, I'm sure that when I die I'll go STRAIGHT to Heaven!"

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All this talk of Crazy For You... Now that's a show that could use an A+ revival. Great music, feelgood show and amazing tap-dancing with the right cast.


I still remember seeing Jim Walton at Papermill as Bobby. He was simply stunning.




BN

Stroman's choreography for C4U is all documented in a book (similar to Robbins' staging for Fiddler and West Side Story). When licensing the show for regional/amatuer/school productions, you have the option of paying an extra fee to use her staging, or creating your own.

Therefore, a revival could be done with the Stroman staging, even if she herself was busy doing something else. An assistant could teach all the coreography.

"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?"

Absolutely true!

I had the good fortune of working with Jodi and her husband on the Euro tour they did right after she left CFY back in 1994. She told us many stories (most of which I can barely remember to save myself).

To the best of my recollection; she really didn't want to do CFY, her bread and butter was voiceovers (natch!). Boy you can bet Karen was miffed when she got passed over! She had a few problems trying to nail down Stroh's choreography (well, gee whiz, considering how technical the first act Finale of CFY was, who can blame her?) I remember her saying how hard it was to finally learn the dance she did with Harry when Bobby woos Polly in the first act...the back step part she had to do while he sashays towards her. Took her forever.

She mentioned something about a vacation she finally earned while she was Polly; flew to the Bahamas and while there, the producers of CFY frantically called her to come back to the show. Apparently, the understudy had had a nervous breakdown and they couldn't get a replacement in time. Oy vey.

She also mentioned a time when poor Harry Groener got food poisoning so bad they had to stop the show and hold the curtain for his understudy to jump in. Yikes!

Jodi was always gracious to me. Yeah, the Christian part of her was a bit extreme sometimes and we don't keep in touch, but considering out of nowhere she bought me a birthday cake and left it sitting on my dressing room table when I didn't even think she knew I was alive speaks volumes. I am very happy to have known her.

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I always thought it was cute they got her to voice Aquagirl some years back.

"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 God directs their steps and they are so intelligent, then why do these millions of such people feel the need to shove their beliefs down other people's throats? Just accept the Sky Bully is moving you towards your destiny and keep it to yourself. Change the conversation, because it is getting old. Like mildewy. /rant

And, please, I totally believe Jodi's connection to Menken through SMILE had NOTHING to do with her being cast as Ariel. /sarcasm

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Howard's talent was immense. He is missed greatly.

Look, any performer of faith who believes in any sort of intervening god will think god helped them get the part or set that challenge before them as part of a divine plan.

I admit to often being less tolerant than I'd like about religious "nuts"--ie when I hear stuff about God's plan I do role my eyes. But with Jodi (and to be fair most performers who feel that way) it doesn't bother me. She was outspoken about AIDS fairly early on, and has never seemed to be judgemental in her beliefs. So my take on her is more just whatever works for her. (and really, read the bios for the chorus in a big musical and more often than not you'll see at least a good 1/3 have a little message to God thanking them for getting there--I especially noticed this in shows with a big Black chorus like Show Boat and Ragtag... *is hoping *that* statement won't get him in trouble*)

Disney wanted her for Belle in BatB but I believe it was Ashman who fought against it arguing Belle should be more European, whereas for Ariel they wanted someone who sounded like an "all American teen". (I admit her performance in the Bluth/Barry Manilow animated mess Thumbelina is a guilty pleasure of mine--of course with Barbara Cook and Carol Channing also singing on the soundtrack).

She makes mad bank singing those Mermaid songs a few times a year. She doesn't have to bust her hump on a Broadway stage anymore. It's not about religion. She has a great life.

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Hopefully, not to reprise his role in The March at Steppenwolf. One of the most tedious and dull plays I ever tried to watch.

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