Kelli O'Hara Departs King and I on April 17th - Marin Mazzie to step in!- Page 10

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 12:38am

"a few of the ushers will be going on maternity leave."

A) What does that have to do with anything? and

B) I don't think any of the ushers are of child-bearing age (as in they are past it).

Yes, Daniel Dae Kim is leaving in June, but the rest of your post seems unlikely. 

I do think that Conrad Ricamora has announced a departure date.

[JIMG3]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 12:15pm

As someone who works closely with the LCT organization I can say with confidence that no decision has been made regarding a closing date for The King and I. Anything else posted here is purely speculation. 

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 1:49pm

Bump for JIM.

 

 

Updated On: 5/18/16 at 01:49 PM

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 11:39pm

Count me in the camp who loved Marin Mazzie even more than Kelli O'Hara in the role. (And I love Kelli.). I thought she brought such a strength and maturity to the character that she seemed a better match to stand up to the king. She was glorious and the chemistry between her and Daniel Dae Kim was amazing. I also loved him. His singing was as good as the King needs to be and he was just the right balance of strength, humor, and compassion underneath. 

 

Very glad I revisited for this cast!

 

Marin got a hearty entrance applause and there was a big standing ovation for her and Daniel. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/19/16 at 5:06pm

This particular source said that one usher had a partner that was carrying (and wanted time off) and the other was in her child rearing years and recently discovered the news  I have to admit that I was thinking that maternity leave  would not affect the length of the run but the source said there were several factors being considered including the ushers. She also said that a few are retiring when the run ends.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 3:10am

Thanks for your clarification, SmoothLover. I can't imagine that the ushers' availability has anything at all to do with the longevity of the show's run, though. Sadly, the ushers' union is rather weak. They can be easily replaced.

I did hear that the show might be reviewed again. I hope, if that's true, it might give the show the boost it needs.

[JIMG3]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:53am

There's absolutely no truth to anything your source has told you. I'm not at liberty to disclose my position at LCT, or comment on the personal lives of our staff, but I can assure you none of what this "source" is telling you is remotely true. 

Updated On: 5/20/16 at 09:53 AM

[FutureGM]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 11:53am

I must agree with JIMG3. I am an usher at the Beaumont and, though I will not speak to the personal lives of anyone I work with, I will say your "source" definitely has inaccurate information.

I will say this, in general, the availability of the ushers (for any show) does not correlate to how long a show will be open. If someone on staff were to go on maternity or sick leave, the theatre would just use sub-ushers in their place.It certainly would not be a reason the show would close.

In regard to Daniel and Marin, because, I'm sorry, I have to gush, they are wonderful. I find myself remarkably blessed that I have been able to see all the kings (Ken, Jose, Daniel, Paul, and Brian) and Annas (Kelli, Analisa, Betsy, Marin, and Ann), at least in part, for this show and I am proud to say that no audience has ever left disappointed. 

If you have not already purchased tickets to see Marin's triumphant return to the stage and Daniel's splendid Broadway Debut, I only have one question: what in the world are you waiting for?!

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:33pm

It sounds like my source had too much of the cooking sherry given that people on here closely associated to LCT are refuting her information. Given that the word of mouth on the show is still so positive and that audiences are still flocking to it, it seems these end of the year closing rumors are probably just poppycock. I hope it has a long and healthy run!!

 

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 1:13am

Sadly, to me, anyway, audiences are not flocking to King and I or Fiddler. I'm not sure about Fiddler, but it is doubtful that anyone will ever see a better production of K&I. Ben already re-reviewed it after Hoon Lee came aboard and gave it more praise than in his initial review. Seeing about a hundred or more reactions to the show right here, it's been hard to find anyone who wasn't impressed or moved by the show, even if they went in not knowing a thing about it. South Pacific did better business for longer.

I guess that I just have to be reconciled to the fact that people grow up loving most the music of their formative years, from pre-teen through high school graduation.It takes some effort to get them to open themselves to music that went before them.