Karen Olivo Out of "West Side Story" Tonight — Page 7

You are probably right about the necessary shifting...but still!

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Gosh, I think we all realize that...but you have to admit EIGHT understudies is tremendous!

Personally, I never mind understudies...particularly when it's a show I've seen previously. I was lucky very young in my theater going life to have some seen some amazing understudies and I clearly remember walking out of the theater after a performance of BARNUM (yes, I'm that old) when Tony Orlando took over the role while Jim Dale was on vacation. The only thought that went through my head was: there is no way that Jim Dale could have been any better.

Understudies, like techies, are severely undereappreciated.

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See the far superior revivals HAIR or South Pacific instead!

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 10:04 AM

"Should have gone home," not "Should have went home."

This is my understanding of who has been out the past few days (please correct or add as appropriate):

Sat June 6 matinee - Josefina Scaglione, Karen Olivo, George Akram, Cody Green all out
Sat June 6 evening - Matt Cavenaugh, Cody both out
Sun June 7 matinee - Josefina, Karen, George, Cody, Matt all out
Tues June 9 evening - Karen out
Weds June 10 evening - Josefina, Karen, Cody all out (plus 5 other understudies)

Plus I am sure other ensemble members have been out that are not listed.

Of course, they all work together closely so they may be infecting each other and making each other sick, but this seems like a lot of absences for the principals. Not to start rumors, but I wonder whether there is something going on that we don't know about. (Not necessarily something tricky, just some other commitment that we aren't aware of.)

I seem to remember that at one point with the OBC of Wicked, Idina Menzel, Joel Grey, Kristin Chenoweth, and Norbert Leo Butz were all out at the same performance, but that is the closest I have ever heard of an original cast having so many principals out at the same time. (And in that case, there were extenuating circumstances for both Idina (shooting a movie) and Joel Grey (on medical leave).)

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Updated On: 6/11/09 at 10:49 AM

Again I am wondering why they didn't put on Kat Nejat
She is possibly the only reason Iw ould go back to see the show with an Anita understudy again. Did you see her, ljay?



I was at the show with Clumsy last night and will agree that Yanira Marin was horrendous. I really wanted to like her as Anita, but it jsut wasn't happening. She's a good dancer but she screamed instead of singing, and for the msot part seemed to try to be Karen Olivo, and it just did not work. During the rape scene at Doc's I kind of wondered if she noticed what was happening? There was absolutely no emotion in that scene, but also in her general performance. (And if anyone cares, Karen is indeed sick and they weren't sure if she'll be back tonight.)


That being said, Haley Carlucci was fabulous as Maria. Her singing is lovely and her acting was spot on.

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Why is everyone assuming it's H1N1? It could be any kind of flu or even a bad cold.

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I did not see Kat, but she was on for Anita on Sunday.

I heard. I think she could be really good as Anita.

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Yanira did both shows yesterday.

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Blonde wig is Danielle Polanco. Yanira wears a puffy purple dress.


EDIT: As I just realized that is about the most unhelpful description ever, she is the one next to Karen:

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Updated On: 6/11/09 at 11:57 AM

Thanks for the pic!

Is she in AMERICA?

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 12:06 PM

Yeah, I'm watching the America press clip, and I do not see Yanira in it.