Karen Olivo's Attendance- Page 2

[winston89]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:41am

saveusmike, I don't doubt the fact that it is disspointing to want to see a given actor in the show you are seeing, only to get to the theatre to find out that they are not on that night. But, it is live theatre after all and there are no promises when it comes to who is going to be on that stage during a given performance.

And, no, you cannot get a refuned if any of the cast members are out of this particular production of West Side Story. The draw here is the show and not the actors themselves. The way you would know who is above the title and who isn't is by actually looking at the poster in front of the theatre. If there is a name or two that is physically located above the title of the title on the poster then you can get a refund. If not, not.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:58am

Tell that to TIMEOUT, they disagree.
"You were entitled to a refund,
according to the policy at the Palce Theatre."
Page 8 August 13-19 2009

[winston89]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 2:05am

I'm only going by what I know based upon what I was told. Friend of mine was at a performance where both Matt and Josiphina where out and tried to get a refund because she wanted to see them. They told her that technically they couldn't do that because the names were not above the title.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:36am

Im pretty sure Winston is right though. For a show like god of carnage or something I remember the guy at the box office said (even though he highly doubted it) that if Gandolfini was out you can get a ticket for another show (not the same seat though). And thats understandable since the shows draw is the 4 actors ecsepcially Gandolfini.

I have heard once that Josiphina was out and the box office refused to do anything about it and I guess it is becuase the major majority isint seeing it for the cast as a show like god of carnage or blithe spirit etc...

Because then you would be able to ask for refunds if say Dee wasnt in Wicked that night or Robert McClure in Avenue Q (all just examples). Theaters would be giving out refunds all the time.

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 4:33am

A sad state of affairs. Years ago, performers missing shows was a rare occasion. Now, it's so commonplace many people talk about it like it's no big deal...just something to be expected. Angela Lansbury had perfect attendance at "Blithe Spirit" but then, she's only 83. Josefina Scaglione is an ancient 22 and Karen Olivo must be pushing 28. Poor dears. Show-biz can be a bummer...and tough on an old-timer, to boot.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 6:53am

As I've said before: you cannot compare a limited run attendance record with an open run. Completely different. The "stars" that appear in those have FINANCIAL incentive to appear every performance. You can and are willing to put up with more when it's temporary. You know not to plan "social" conflicts for 3 months. You can't do that for a year. Nor is it fair to compare performing in a musical vs a straight play. More opportunities with sickness, fatigue and injury.

I really don't care about an actor's absences. I would if I were a producer and looking to hire....but not as an audience member. Even when I'm there to see a specific actor...I might be disappointed, but I get over it. I take sick days, I take personal days....sometimes, just because I feel like it. And I love my job, am an integral part of place of employment. Just like understudies, someone has to be paid to take my place. Are the people around me dissappointed? Some. Life goes on.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 7:54am

Aren't the GOC actors' names above the title??

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 8:03am

"Why do I feel that it is only a matter of time before someone chimes in that it was wrong of her to be out, she is being unprofessional and so forth?


...only if she were missing the first performance following her Tony win."

So if I remember correctly Alice Ripley was also out the day after she won the Tony. Why no heat for her? She really is the star of the show and is one of the main reasons people see the show. Also she was in the days after that, obviously not sick. Karen Olivo on the other hand was out for almost 3 weeks because she was incredibly sick. She even tried to perform but couldn't make it through the whole show.

Karen honestly isn't even out THAT much. She was out for a week on a planned vacation and it sounds like one show the weekend before. Not that much! I actually think Gavin Creel has missed more shows in Hair then in Karen in WSS (Excluding her sickness) Gavin was just on a planned vacation for a week and then before that he was out for about a half a week. And some before that. I love Gavin to death but I don't understand why Karen Olivo is always the one to get picked on. Is it just because you don't like the current West Side Story revival? Or because her choreography is toned down a bit? Or because you just need someone to pick on in your life to make yourself feel better?

So before you go judging her and saying how ridiculous it is that she is out all the time and she's a B**** or whatever try to realize her job. It's not too easy and when a bunch of sad lifeless people are home bad mouthing you on the computer.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 8:05am

I don't think anyone called her a B****.

And if they did, then they are wrong.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 8:09am

"I don't think anyone called her a B****.

And if they did, then they are wrong."

They have called her that. I'm not gonna go search for it because it was a long time ago but she has definitely been called that.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 8:42am

I don't get the hate over it either. But in direct comparison...Alice has missed far fewer performances.

And I doubt that Karen loses too much sleep over opinions on a discussion board. You could post almost any performers name and get people to bash and love them equally. Any performer that determines their self worth over from a forum has bigger issues to worry about.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 8:49am

Winston: "people are going to see Gypsy for Patti and no other reason."

Not so. Many people went for the show. I among them.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 9:01am

"You can't compare a limited run to an open ended run"
That is pure bull crap, Eight shows a week is eight shows a week no matter how long a run.
" You can't compare a musical to a straight play"
More bull crap, The cast of GOD OF CARNAGE is onstage the entire show, you don't think vocal strain and stamina affect them?

And yes, I have done both.
Also the money question is more crap, anyone of the cast of CARNAGE could make a ton of more money doing a movie, they show up because they Love acting and they are professionals.

[Jenna Maroney]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 9:20am

I actually think Gavin Creel has missed more shows in Hair then in Karen in WSS (Excluding her sickness)

But he didn't win a Tony. And if he did, it wouldn't have been the production's only Tony.

I missed Karen back in June. I'm still rather saddened, even though she had an "acceptable" reason to be out. And while I enjoyed the show (Kat went on for her that night, and she was good), I don't plan on going back - I'd rather spend my limited funds on other shows.

I'm surprised TONY (the magazine) printed something so misleading and false.

[jonmbway4652]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 9:32am

I have not seen this revival of West Side Story with Karen Olivo, but I can say this... When i go to the theatre, I go for the show itself. There are never any guarantees as to who the cast may be and there very well may be an understudy, but that shouldn't make the show less enjoyable for anyone.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 9:45am

I saw West Side Story with the complete original cast but for me, even though Karen was spectacular, her performance was not enough to save the show in my opinion. Josephina and Matt are on stage much more than Karen and their mediocre performances left a bad taste in my mouth after seeing the show. Karen's moments on stage were spectacular but they were few and far between. So in short, I saw the show with Karen and still didn't find it incredibly enjoyable as a whole. I don't know what it was but I was expecting to be swept up by the music and the excitement of the show and I just wasn't.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:40am

Maybe in Karen's absence, theu can find someone who can not only act it and sing it, but dance it as well. Is Chita available?

[mikem]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:07pm

"Karen honestly isn't even out THAT much."

I think Karen is a wonderful performer, but this statement is a little hard to defend. She has been out for at least 30 shows since the beginning of June. I'm not saying anything about whether the absences are justified or unjustified, but I don't think that one can say that she isn't out that much.

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:12pm

Realistically, Karen has been in more than she has been out. During June she was sick and it was unfortunate that it happened around the Tonys. She is a brilliant performer and certainly the bright light in WSS. She just came back from vacation and has been present for the shows. So far so good.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:26pm

After Eight, I'm sorry but you're incorrect while it may be true that both you and I went to see the show and not to see Patti, the fact of the matter was that she was the main draw for people to see the show and the reason the show was revived on Broadway so quickly in the first place.

[theater_fan2]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:42pm

How long is Karen contracted for? I missed her the first time I saw WSS and definitely want to try to get back at some point..

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:48pm

wasn't Ethel Merman's name about the same size as Gypsy on the marquee, too?

also, didn't Karen Olivo talk about needing to change her diet because she was getting injured while dancing so much? maybe she's still not taking as good care of herself as she needs to for such a physically demanding show.

(I saw her in May, and I thought she was wonderful, for the record.)

[winston89]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:48pm

It would most likely be a year after the opening in DC. That is usually how contracts are for shows with an out of town run.

And, for the record, you're able to get a refund with God Of Carnage because all four of the actors names are above the title.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 4:18pm

She was on the show last Saturday and her voice sounded great!

[winston89]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 4:57pm

givesmevoice, the thing about her diet wouldn't shock me. I am sure that she is aware that the role is physically demanding but maybe it was more so then she originally thought? Just a thought.