Jersey Boys.....They stopped the show and replaced JLY!!!!!- Page 3

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 11:39am

I used to do a lot of high singing in a doo-wop group. I was the guy with the killer falsetto... but let me tell you, it's the first thing to go if you get sick. You can't sing over it. It's either there, or it isn't.

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 12:06pm

Best 12 Bars is absolutely right. There is research to show that use of the falsetto requires great vocal health. Students at the University always know when their voice is fatigued-their falsetto disappears.

Experience with these issues in younger men suggests that JLY may have difficulty recovering the full use of his voice for a long time. So many elements impact on the vocal folds: weather, air conditions, other physiological factors, and the overuse or misuse of the chords. Too bad the producers didn't have someone on staff to see this coming.

They need to work out a schedule of alternating shows. In reality this is what has happened. It would be more honest to print a schedule for the public, and let these young singer/actors protect their vocal health for this show and future productions.


Discussion of Jersey Boys missed performances Updated On: 8/6/06 at 12:06 PM

[worrell4077]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 1:17pm

I really hope John feels better cause I'm coming to see the show in a couple of weeks and I would like to see it with everyone in but if he's out I wouldn't mind see Michael Longoria as Frankie Valli.

This is a weird story of mine, I was coming home from school singing along to the Jersey Boys cast album and I was on Bye Bye Baby and I've never been able to really execute a falsetto, but when I was driving I nailed it and I was like really happy for myself, but then when I tried to sing normally, my voice was gone. It was weird cause I would've thought with a sinus infection I wouldn't be able to sing at all, but I was able to hit falsetto, just not any regular notes.

Feel Better John
________________________________________________________________
"The music is the story, not the excuse for it."
-John Lloyd Young

[Craig]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 1:18pm

You wonder why people think you have an agenda, Chanticleer?

How can YOU possibly make a determination about the vocal chords of JLY? Are you his E.N.T.? You seem a bit doom and gloom about his ability to recover.

And as I stated earlier, it's not a problem with his chords (stress or otherwise), or singing falsetto. He is battling an infection. An infection is an infection.

Predictable? Hardly. People get sick. It's unfortunate. Some illnesses take longer than others to recover from. Sheesh.

[SCBWannabe]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 1:24pm

Thank you Craig. Now maybe he will shut the hell up.

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 1:51pm

Yeah... falsetto is the hardest thing to regain when you're sick... and it's almost impossible to sing through when you have an infection of any kind, especially sinus.

though falsetto is the healthiest part of the voice to sing in because it maintains position of the larynx, it can be extremely hard to use when ill.

i'm on the merch crew over at jersey boys and i know exactly the details of what went on yesterday. it was NOT john's decision to stop. that's all i'm saying.

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 1:54pm

The proof of his vocal health will be determinded by his performance record in future performances. As of late, it has been abysmal. The consumers of shows have a right to know the circumstances around the show.

The original poster of this thread stated that JLY was having vocal difficulties during the performance. Unless one of the posters has talked with a physician, they do not know the nature of a singer's vocal health. I was making a general statement which I firmly believe has a lot to do with the circumstances in this case. To say that "an infection is an infection" discounts JLY's own statements that he has needed vocal rest. Vocal rest makes sense when you have vocal fatigue.

Speculating on the reasons for the vocal fatigue of actors is not banned from this board is it? Responding to information presented by another poster is not anthema to you is it? Anyone with meager training in voice would know that the role of Franki Valli is vocally demanding. not every actor can survive eight shows per week of these vocal demands. LaChanze appears to be having the same problem. More than one Elphaba has struggled vocally with that role.

It is appalling the ways in which people on this board have an agenda to defend the practice of missed performances by performers.

We no doubt have an agenda, and it has been clear from the beginning: allow all of the information to be public and widely known.
Updated On: 8/6/06 at 01:54 PM

[Craig]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:12pm

Chanticleer. The demand on the role has NOTHING to do with one being ill. I understand your points, now try to understand mine. I (think I am) writing in english.

His absenses are not due to him not being able to handle the score. They are due to an infection in his body which if he DID sing, could cause damage. It's called being preventative. If he didn't have this virus, I'm 99.99 percent positive that he'd be able to do 8 shows a week like he has and had done for MONTHS prior.

Oh.. and here's the latest blog entry on HIS site:

"Sunday, August 6, 2006

An apology to the fans at JERSEY BOYS, yesterday afternoon. I decided I needed to leave the show mid-act, because my falsetto was not working properly. The week prior, I had fought a sinus infection with antibiotics. Antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria in the system and so can cause candida (not the play by G.B. Shaw, not our neighbor to the north: look it up, it's gross), and so there was buildup on my vocal chords and my voice doctor now has me getting rid of that. Great news is that there is not physical damage to my voice, it's just... well, candida getting in the way. Blame Candida!"

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:16pm

This means no more kissing people at stage doors. From now on it's air kisses and lots of hugs!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:20pm

"This means no more kissing people at stage doors. From now on it's air kisses and lots of hugs!"

And actor's using their own sharpie's

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:22pm

Exactly!

[worrell4077]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:27pm

If he still has a sinus infection, it doesn't necessarily mean he caught it from someone. I've had numerous sinus infections and they usually happen because of a high number of allergens in the air. So, maybe he's just allergic to something that there's a high concentration of.
________________________________________________________________
"The music is the story, not the excuse for it."
-John Lloyd Young

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:28pm

Fans?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:49pm

To be honest, it sounds more like a vocal problem than a recurring infection. I've sung through infections many times. That he keeps going out and coming back in only to go out really does speak to a possible bit of chord trauma. Given that he's a singer IN a Broadway show right now, I can only assume he's seen an ENT and they're looking into it.

[Craig]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:02pm

Bwaysinger. He has, and again, it's a recurring infection.

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:06pm

Ok, Craig. I can understand what you are saying. Your English was fine in the first place, and I understood it then. It was not a matter of understanding, it is a matter of interpretation.

Vocal health, and the diagnosis of vocal problems is not an exacting science. The Doctor can only do his best as well. I have no doubt that the Dr. is correct in this circumstance, but we are left wondering about the explanation JLY is offering for over forty missed shows (or more) over the run of this production.

Forty shows roughly averages about one per week for the run of this show. Wouldn't a rotating performance schedule afford all involved a win/win solution to this persistant problem?

Since there are so many capable and prolific advocates (even hysterics)for these pampered performers of Broadway, who on the BWW moderating board is an advocate for the audience members? While this is a fan site, it is also by nature an audience members site.

We wish JLY the best, and hope for quick recovery. Regardless of what may happen, the paying public may never have the full story unless the New York Post or anouther major outlet chooses to print the future story.

Updated On: 8/6/06 at 03:06 PM

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:20pm

Craig, I agreed with most of your posts up until now. Don't worry, I love John.

Vocal fatigue can develop into infections if one doesn't take the proper precautions. Singers at the Metropolitan Opera take approximately 4 days in between shows in order to make sure they do not develop fatigue. Even if John was NOT sick, at this point in the game it could be (not saying that he IS) very likely that his voice has had enough of this score and has developed a strong fatigue.

I know a LOT about anatomy of the voice, I study with two of the best voice teachers on broadway. They would both back me up with my statements.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:21pm

I'm not arguing about his going out of the shows. About that, I don't really care and, frankly, if he's really a "culprit" of missing shows, there are FAR worse people out there for blowing off performances.
It just really does sound like more than the official explanation. I enjoy his voice, I think he won his Tony award legitimately and hope he gets it all back in shape and working for him soon.

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:26pm

THANK YOU to bwaysinger. kenmarksnj, and best 12 bars for making very valid points on this topic.

It is good to see that we are not all forced to sing only in unison on these matters.

Singers and teachers of singing would uniformly agree with kenmarksnj.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:30pm

Well, I'd like to point out I'm not berating him for missing, which seems to be one of the issues here.
Acting, like any other profession, allows its workers to be off when they are ill.
Sometimes, people with sinus infections go to work. Sometimes, they do not. If he begins to miss beyond his allotment, he does get fined. And it's not as if people are missing anything by seeing Michael Longoria, who is absolutely fantastic and, with a whisper of a different ending, would have landed the role and be the Tony winner now.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:31pm

Are you saying that JLY is lying?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:32pm

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. He's lying and the real reason he left the show before intermission was so he wouldn't miss his plane to Rio.

[Craig]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:32pm

all valid points. Chanticleer- my only objection is your oliver stone type conspiracy antics. John has been very forthcoming on his website about the reasons for his absence - you don't need the post or other outlet to "get to the bottom of it". As another poster said - even a doctor might not be able to determine the chicken/egg element to his infection.

One thing to note is your statistic - that he's perhaps missed one performance a week. Well - that has been contracted apparently based on his posting on his website, no? The producers have given their blessing to miss one performance a week. So any allusion to the producer's being concerned or whatever about his abilities or track record, I would think are moot.

Sometimes it's not the message chanticleer, it's in the manner and language it's delivered :)

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:33pm

what? no one said JLY is lying.

i know for a fact that he's ill. i WORK at the theater. when he speaks regularly you can hear that he's all stuffed up and infected.

no one is saying that he's lying.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 3:41pm

Well, Craig, unless you are an agent, and specifically JLY's agent, you have NO idea what it specifically says in his contract. Unless you are a producer on the show you have no idea how the producers really feel.

If neither of these two things is true, that you are not his agent or a Jersey Boys producer, then you have no business commenting in this thread. By this standard, you should probably put yourself on block for everyone here and sit in silence from here to eternity.

Sorry, I was channeling Shantyqueer for a minute.

Love,
FindingNamo (LOL)