Karen Olivo Out of "West Side Story" Tonight- Page 11

[ShowOff2008]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:02pm

Shameful isn't even the word for the number of understudies out this week. I went on Friday night and people were literally becoming physically ill in the lobby because Karen (and about 10 others) were out. They actually had to put a full page insert with all of the cast changes in it because there would have been like 11 little slips in it. Totally discgusted by the absence of these people after the Tony's - especially Karen Olivo who has been SEEN at bars all week long!! CD signings, interviews, etc. I mean really, singing, dancing, or not - you people work 24 hours a week!!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:18pm

Uhhh hate to break it to you but there is a full page insert regardless of whether or not anyone is out.

Totally discgusted by the absence of these people after the Tony's - especially Karen Olivo who has been SEEN at bars all week long!!

*blank stare*

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:25pm

1. We don't know who may have pre arranged absences.
2. If they are sick, they are sick -- whatcha gonna do???
3. It's just another work week. Most of the audience could care less about the Tony Awards. 1/2 of them didn't even watch.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:29pm

people were literally becoming physically ill in the lobby because Karen (and about 10 others) were out

Literally?

LITERALLY?

You mean, like, they were suddenly coming down with the flu themselves?

Or projectile vomiting on the other patrons and the ticket-takers when they saw the understudy boards?

Or suddenly going lame?

[g4rat]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:31pm

I really want to hear about Kat's performance. I see a fiesty petite Anita in her. Anyone go? Is she on tonight as well?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:36pm

"Shameful isn't even the word for the number of understudies out this week. I went on Friday night and people were literally becoming physically ill in the lobby because Karen (and about 10 others) were out."

Literally physically ill? Sounds messy - not to mention unlikely. Surely you hyperbolize.

" Totally discgusted by the absence of these people after the Tony's - especially Karen Olivo who has been SEEN at bars all week long!! CD signings, interviews, etc. I mean really, singing, dancing, or not - you people work 24 hours a week!!"

What in the world makes you think that only the hours spent at the theater constitutes a work day for an actor? You think the cd signings, interviews, not to mention the Tony rehearsals don't constitute work? Plus dance/acting classes. And probably some other little side project for the future, or have some other performance on a monday night. Their work is physically demanding.

The week before the Tonys is a stressful and busy one. It is not unusual to have fallout after, especially if the company crud is creeping through the theater, as seems to be the case in WSS. Honestly, the sense of entitlement and righteousness from some of you is what I find shameful. Well and good to be passionate, but to get angry over a missed performance? You need to develop more of a life. Get angry over a cause, not because an actor didn't come to work. It's a waste of your emotion.

These are people, not wind-up toys. Cut 'em some slack.


Updated On: 6/13/09 at 08:36 PM

[darkangelle80]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:44pm

I was at the matinee today. Kat Nejat only performed the second act. She was wonderful. What a wonderful belt! And "The Taunting" was so passionate and painful. I give her such credit for jumping right in. Anita is such an emotional part. It must be so challenging to start so abruptly. There were some groans when the announcement was made at intermission, but she got a stunning ovation.

Karen Olivo was clearly ill. While her acting and dancing were phenomenal, her singing was not up to her usual standard. Her lower register was fine. However, her higher notes could be barely be heard during "America," and, I believe, another girl sang with her during the "Quintet."

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 8:51pm

That had to be really difficult for her to jump in for the second act, but good for her! (Although I find it a little odd that she was listed on the understudy board for the whole show and only did one act...)

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 9:00pm

Maybe it was a mistake from yesterday, or maybe Karen wasn't originally going to do it, but changed her mind.

And, what if the cast came down with the Swine Flu? Should they go on anyway? -This is directed at the people complaining about the understudy list.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 9:03pm

Wow, so Karen did try today? It is odd they did change the board at the intermission. I wonder what happened tonight.

[g4rat]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 9:04pm

Glad to hear she did well...in the second act. I really hope Karen gets better soon.

[darkangelle80]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 9:40pm

Karen tried so hard! In fact, her voice problems came as a total surprise because her energy was so high and everything else was so good. I'm going to guess that Karen isn't going on tonight. Her voice went from weak during "America" to inaudible during the "Quintet."

I didn't notice the board when I left, but Kat Nejat was definitely not listed at the start of the show. The rest of the cast is the one I saw, so they must have changed it at intermission.

Unrelated note- has anyone else who's seen the show noticed major sound issues?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 10:07pm

I was the one who took the photo that Ljay posted. I took it as the matinee was getting out, so they must have changed the board at intermission. Perhaps this is why Anita ended up in the top spot, above Maria? Maybe it was a quick add on?

Regardless, anymore understudies and they're approaching Legally Blonde territory (which was in the same theater, ironically....maybe there's something in the water over there..hmmmm), when they ran out of room on the board and had to attach some of the understudies to the pay phone underneath the board.
Updated On: 6/13/09 at 10:07 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 10:26pm

When I saw the show back in April, I noticed MAJOR sound issues. I could barely hear, and I was in the front mezz.

[darkangelle80]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 10:29pm

Thank you! I was second row, orchestra, (so not my choice) but I couldn't hear a lot of stuff. And much of what I could hear sounded scratchy.

I thought I was just being anal. I'm glad it's not just me.

[btsing]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 10:30am

Kat was a FANTASTIC pocket sized Anita! So happy for her!

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:09pm

I wonder if Karen will try again today.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 3:42pm

OK, I didn't read every page of this thread, I confess, but I thought that somebody should say,

"There's something going around these past two weeks."

Mainly naso-pharyngeal and laryngeal inflammation and copious throat-gook, occasionally descending into the lungs with frank bronchitis, sometimes with two or three days of flat-on-the-bed fatigue.

Don't most of you guys hang around the theater district? I know a lot of people who are sick, and it's not just that H1N1 business, tho' that's the first thing you think of when you get this.

Sheesh.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 10:32pm

So who went on today?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 10:33pm

I hope Karen was back! Maybe Tuesday though. One more day off will do her good.

[bethnor]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:26am

what's the rush?

you know, if you have actual influenza (H1N1 nonwithstanding, and we're out of season, but for argument's sake...), though you clear the virus in a few days, symptoms persist on average for 2 weeks. average meaning some people feel better much quicker, while some people take longer than 2 weeks before they feel up to snuff. so you can feel like crud for quite some time after it.

and the chinese didn't call pertussis the "100 year cough" for nuttin'...

western society has a peculiar attachment to showing up to work when you're sick, as if giving others what you have should be a source of pride. if H1N1 had panned out to be anything serious, trust me, very few would have been given a choice.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:46am

When did we diagnose Karen Olivo with the flu?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 12:08pm

Tony Tuesday.

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 5:36pm

I really hope Karen gets back sooner than later. The show definitely lacks its "it" factor when she is not in. I will be in New York tomorrow to see a show. I will try to check out the understudy board to see if she is in. Its weird, I still do not understand why Josefina is out THIS much.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 5:56pm

My friend just checked.


Karen's out tonight. Kat is on. Cody is still out. The guy playing Chino is still out. And Doc. Updated On: 6/16/09 at 05:56 PM