Is Laura Bell Bundy returning to ROCK OF AGES? — Page 2

When Savannah took over the role full-time she signed a relatively short contract that expires in Sept. She had begun negotiations to renew her contract when she was offered this other role which she has decided to take.

Now I'm curious what this other role is. Is it in a new show? Might she be Ragtime's new girl on the swing?

Updated On: 8/15/09 at 02:02 AM

I don't think the producers would have renewed Wise's contract anyway, even if she hadn't booked another job.

I'm sure they're hoping to bring in some sort of C-list "name" for Sherrie come the fall (probably along the lines of an ex-American Idol contest.)

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Updated On: 8/15/09 at 11:58 AM

"I saw LBB the second night of the Nashville tour stop of Legally Blonde. Frist (and last) time I've seen the show, and her voice was...well, not up to par. That could also be from the cast party they had the night before. From what one of the crew told me, she had fun. Who else was in ROA pre-broadway tryout? "

That would not be a surprise to me.

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Im a huge fan of LBB, and Rock of Ages is one of my new favorite shows. But if her voice is as distraught as people have said, I'm not sure I'd want to see her in this.

A little off topic, but I'd love to hear more about this new show Savannah is involved with though.. =)

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Updated On: 8/15/09 at 02:58 PM

I was actually surprised when I was told that the producers WERE looking to renew Savannah's contract and apparently she was going to ask for a LOT of money. Who knows if they would have come to an agreement? But she did decide to go with this other project.

somethingwicked, principals and ensemble members have the same base salary.. there is NO different.

If she is the lead female in ROA she would be getting paid more then being an ensemble member who understudies a lead in her next show. And when she goes on as the character she understudies, she will get a pay bonus. At least that is my understanding.

I don't pressume to know all the details of her salary with either show, so I have no idea if she will or will not be taking a pay cut when she leaves RoA. I just know she has decided to take the other show.

Yes, it is amazing that someone knows she is leaving ROA and is at liberty to give us that information, but can't tell us what show she is going to...lol!

Ensemble in some shows make more than the leads in other shows. Ensemble also offers more job security. Not to mentioned that she would get more press and recognition for originating a role in a production instead of replacing a stuck up third rate diva only stayed in a show long enough to get the press, do the publicity and perform on the Tonys, before leaving her much better understudy to assume the role and be the work horse.

I'm just going to pipe in here as someone who went in for the role myself... it's a KILLER on one's voice. I'm classically trained, and I was talking with other girls who either had my background (which means that we can typically do pop/rock belt *safely* and don't really scream it) or those who had just mainly experience in rock work, and it really just sits in a horrible place for your voice no matter what your background is. I personally know of a few *names* who turned down Sherrie just because of how they knew it would affect their voice in the coming months after rehearsing/performing. I'm not a personal fan of Amy's after having worked with her in a few instances, but I really strongly believe she left due to vocal health issues. I can't stress enough how much that style wares on your voice and how real the threat of nodes can be. I know Savannah and she comes from a more trained background and has very good technique, so I was relieved when she booked it. She's really going to show her versatility in this new role she's taking on in the fall, quite a 180 from Rock of Ages!