"Under the advice of her doctor, Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti has to withdraw from the gala concert of A Little Night Music Jan. 12 in Manhattan.
Jill Paice of London and Broadway's The Woman in White and Broadway's Curtains will play the role Anne in the benefit for Roundabout Theatre Company, at Studio 54.
Benanti (who plays Gypsy Rose Lee n Broadway's Gypsy) has a vocal infection "that would be aggravated by adding rehearsals and a performance of A Little Night Music to her final eight-performance schedule of Gypsy," according to a statement released Jan. 5. Gypsy closes Jan. 11..."
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/124874.html
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
Bummer. But at least she's going to get through "Gypsy." Her voice seems to always be bugging her. Does her vocal technique suck or what? She sounds wonderful, but how can it always be bugging her?
Wow, that sucks. She and Victor Garber were the main reasons I got a ticket to the performance, I had to give up the ticket, so now I'm not so bummed that I'll miss the chance of seeing Benanti's Anne opposite her husband's Henrik. I'm not a fan of Paice at all either, ugh.
Agh. So that 'cold' that some people mentioned is more serious than it seemed to be.
At least Jill Paice is lovely, too!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
I have tickets to the Weds. matinee of GYPSY - hope she can make it.
She is doing all performances of Gypsy.
LauraBenanti.com
I saw GYPSY yesterday, and she was coughing throughout the first act. But she was really great, and the screaming during the dressing room scene was there.
BOO!
That sucks. But Paice might be great, too.
Not that I'll be there or anything, but I love Jill Paice and know she will do a terrific job!
Hope Laura feels better!
Not that I was going or anything but im so bummed. I love Benanti's voice but I suppose if its for her health it is better to withdraw. I liked Paice in Curtains however am not her biggest fan but wish her the best of luck.
I wasn't even going to get to see it and I am still devastated! Poor thing! I sure hope she gets well soon. The world is in need of her amazingness
I think she and Jeremy Piven have the same Dr.
I saw the show over the weekend and she was coughing on stage, and even blew her nose a couple times whenever she was able to.
Regardless, she still gave a tremendous performance, and if she weren't coughing, i wouldn't have known that she was sick.
However, I know from experience that it's very wise that she's not going to put any more exertion on her voice than she already is with the 8-show week. She could do a lot of damage to her voice by over-singing while sick.
The only thing that could make me happy is if this is a clever rouse & that they are filming GYPSY on the 12th.
I saw Gypsy when Laura was sick back in November and while she was coughing and blowing her nose during scene changes and between lines, her singing voice still sounded beautiful. She blew the strip sequence and dressing room scene out of park. I recommend people go catch her in Gypsy one last time. Her performance is always top-notch.
Oh **** this bull****!
This is the second time I've dropped over a hundred bucks for a benfit concert that she's dropped out of! She didn't show for that Ladies Who Sing Sondheim concert either.
Lame. Super lame.
TheActr, not that it gets you any of your money back or anything, but I'm so obsessed with your avatar, it's pathetic.
Thought it might at least cheer you up?
The chances of this concert being filmed would be....?
Featured Actor Joined: 9/4/07
Me too Time Square 3.
"ruse" just sayin'
Thanks theaterkid, I adore that photo! I'm still sad though. I'm a performer, so I can understand why she'd need to drop out. But as someone who dropped a lot of cash for a ticket, I'm none too pleased.
The chances of this concert being filmed would be....?
Bootlegged? I'd say high. Professionally? Slim and none. More none than slim.
While I think Benanti is a talented gal, I would never pay large amounts of money to see her based on her no-show/drop out record.
Aww, I'm not seeing it but as excited to hear how Laura did.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
I also was not going to this but all I can say is (as Stewie Griffin would say):
BLAST!
Well, I certainly wasn't going just for her. Thank God the rest of the cast is phenomenal.
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