Jan Maxwell tore both hamstrings in FOLLIES

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:00pm

She said in this interview she tore both hamstrings and then they changed the choreo after opening night? Anyone know anything? First I've heard of this.
Interview Link

[julesboogie]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:16pm

Oh good lord. They changed it from her being lifted from one side of the stage to the other? Cause thats all it ended up being after the big change from dc. (which i didnt see, but heard was much more stellar)

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:21pm

The DC choreography was awful. It can be seen on Youtube.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:35pm

I've seen both the DC and NY productions, but she made it sound like they changed the choreo after opening night in NY. I saw it 5 days after opening in NY and the choreography was different/better than DC but was that the 2nd change that they made to it?

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:39pm

I was at this past Saturday night's performance, and I did not notice any major changes since previews.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:48pm

She needs to warm up (and eat a sandwich).
Saw her at the Flea Market, she's a stick.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:51pm

Poor talented Jan Maxwell, saddled with hideous choreography.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:57pm

Was she exaggerating to make the story more interesting?

I hope this won't get me banned from this board, but I'm a big football fan. Players who tear hamstrings don't come back for the very next game (even with new choreography)!

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 6:02pm

For what it's worth, I overheard her mention at the stage door during previews that she'd torn both hamstrings. I do agree with CurtainPullDowner that she looked a bit too thin to me.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 6:07pm

OK thanks.

Yes, I too spoke to her at the Follies table (and I had seen her in the show the week before but she was in a bulky coat at the stage door), she is a stick and at the flea market her face was chalk-white.

She's never been a 'big' person, so I'm guessing that with the dancing and rigorous schedule (remember she did do a play between the DC Follies and NY Follies) she just lost some weight. Would love to personally buy her a hamburger!

Side note: She looks VERY tall (and thin) onstage but in real life she's not all that much taller than Peters and Paige.

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 7:14pm

There was no way to tell if the choreography in DC was good or bad. The choreographer built the dance for a real dancer, and the poor thing could just not execute it. I was relieved to hear there were new Lucy/Jessie moves for Broadway, that number is one of the last things we see of an up-till-then phenomenal performance. It did Jan a disservice.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 7:16pm

She used to be a lot curvier, didn't she?

This gives some indication of why she is so thin: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/07/actress_jan_maxwell_loads_up_o.html

Rail thin or not, she is incredible.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:21pm

Guess that's why she's so nutty.
I still think she needs a Ham sandwich.
Everyone should bring her shelled nuts at the stagedoor.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:23pm

Oh my god, that is not the diet of someone working as hard as her!! I know Bernadette is not a meat-eater but she's always been curvy and a baby face.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:59pm

God, you guys are as bad as the Spring Awakening fangirls.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 11:26pm

I don't mean to be nasty but unless she "cut loose" for the opening and after, I really don't see how she did this. I saw the show the second week of previews and it was obvious that she was holding back in the Follies number. She was not extending and even when she had moves supported by the dancers, she kind of held back. She just looked stiff.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 11:32pm

JAN MAXWELL NEEDS OUR HELP! I think she is eating so little that her poor hamstrings just dissolved. That legit, right? I'm so worried for her. I just keep thinking that if something happens, she'll never win her tony, or be able to sign my Chitty souvenir program.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:10am

If Jan can't do it, no one can.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:16am

I'm worried she won't be able to lift a TONY Award if she wins.
She never mentions going to the GYM in that article.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:27am

No worries for Jan-it's in the bag.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:29am

There was no way to tell if the choreography in DC was good or bad. The choreographer built the dance for a real dancer, and the poor thing could just not execute it.

I disagree. That is exactly HOW you tell if the choreography is good or bad: If the choreographer can't make the star look scintillating in her big star number, the choreography has failed.

In DC the choreography for Lucy/Jessie was stupidly conceived and impossible for the star to execute. In the old days, that choreographer would forced to step aside while a more seasoned choreographer was brought in to "fix" or "doctor" or "re-do" the dance.

This guy got two chances. I'm going back three weeks from tonight. If that number doesn't dazzle, I may not be able to let it go.

http://youtu.be/AmexU4Qd0HM

[TracyLord]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:35am

But, with all the peanut shells, will there room for a Tony in Maxwell's bag?

In all fairness, I tore my hamstring while running up a flight of stairs, so I think it's quite possible that she could have sustained that injury, even from the limited amount of dancing that she does.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 1:07am

Come on, Joey, we KNOW nothing is gonna live up to the orginal!!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 1:14am

Joey, don't expect too much.
She still does the ridiculous, assisted front walk over, which is a good way to pull a hamstring if you eat too many peanuts and salad.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 1:17am

I love Jessie and Lucy, but I think Ah, But Underneath would have been far better suited to Maxwell's abilities.