Laura Benanti: To Good For NINE?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 3:48pm

Anyone else see the interview with her on the CBS Morning Show? You know the one where she says she wasn't going to do NINE cause she only got to sing ONE song???

Oh boo hoo, honey. I feel your pain.

Will someone give this girl a reality check. A fine performer you are. A legend you are not.


(some of the CBS interview:

"The only one that was not enticed by the job was Laura Benanti, who plays Guido’s muse, Claudia. Though she admits the idea of working with Banderas was exciting to her, Benanti turned down the job three to four times before she finally said yes, and she is now glad of her decision.

She says, “I put my ego in check. This is my fourth Broadway show. That's all I have ever done, is theater. Being a theater actor, you don't want to sing one song. But then I said, I think I would like to sing one song.” And notes what she has learned about her craft is, “Instead of trying to make your number the show stopper, come together and support each other. It's about the show, not about me.” )

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 3:53pm

Saw the interview. She DID come off as a bit full of herself. Heaven forbid you only get to sing one solo song in a broadway production!!!!!!!! The horror! LOL.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:30pm

I saw her in Into the Woods, and though she was good, she certainly wasn't a star.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:33pm

I saw her in The Sound Of Music. Her voice was great, but she seemed too cold as Maria.

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:33pm

Wow, someone needs a reality check. by the way she was talking you would think she thinks she's patti lupone, a true diva.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:35pm

I don't like Lupone's personality. VERY full of herself.

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:43pm

yah she is, but it makes sense when u see her diva performances, lol

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:46pm

I would do anything to be a stage prop in a bway show let alone sing one solo!!! Man, if she really does have an attitude like the one posted above then she will be washed up by the time she is 30. I have never met her so I can't say first hand... However, I have seen her perform and she has a wonderful voice but, I agree she is not a bway legend. She was a girl from NJ who just way back in 1996 won the Papermill Playhouse Rising Star Award in High School for best leading actress in a musical.

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:53pm

besides she has some pretty big shoes to fill being a diva. hello she's opposite CHITA RIVERA, the goddess of theatre, she should kill to get the chance to work with such a humble, amazingly talented woman who has been on top for 50 years!!!!!

o laura, dont get it to your head that you're all that.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:55pm

They show the interview here. It sounds like Laura takes a suble shot at Jane with a comment about not trying to make your number the showstopper. She doesn't come off as bad as some of the print interviews I have seen.
NINE on the Early Show.

Posted: 6/5/03 at 5:07pm

ok, well that's cool, sounds alot better.

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:44pm

I'm going to cross post what I said over on All That Chat when this issue came up:

A couple of months ago on broadway.com, there was an article about Karen Akers in which she talks about the whole audition process for Nine. I just want to bring in a little snippet about what Maury Yeston said about Claudia (I'll post a link too):

"I later found out that they'd wanted me right away, but couldn't decide which role, Luisa or Claudia. The second callback was a meeting with the composer, Maury Yeston, who played a good bit of the score for me with surprising enthusiasm. I was enthralled, but also somewhat surprised to find myself being considered for the role of the wife (Luisa Contini), rather than the actress, (Claudia Nardi), some of whose lines I'd read at the first callback for the writer, Arthur Kopit. 'You don't want to play Claudia,' Maury said, 'She wafts in and out of the shrubbery.'"

I'm sure Mr. Yeston wasn't trying to put down the role, because it is wonderful in spite of the short stage time, but even he said the role is small.
Laura has said in numerous other places that she has gotten over the fact that she has one song. What do you expect from her? She's 23 and she's already been nominated for two Tony awards! I know that she truly respects and admires her fellow cast members--especially Ms. Chita--and the production (particularly seen from the NY Times article in last Friday's paper about the ladies of Nine). Seeing that respect has made me respect her a little more.

And yes, we're all aware of that reputation she has at the stage door, but could it be that she's shy and doesn't deal well with people?


How I Arrived on Broadway: Karen Akers

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 7:14pm

I have to say, at the Maury Yeston signing... I didn't say a word to her, given the reputation she has developed. However, when she signed my (well, Flae's CD cover), she gave me the warmest, most inviting smile and it was very genuine -- which leads me to believe that she is in fact just shy and doesn't do well in crowds. Also, I believe she thinks people aren't really there to see her... that they're there to see the bigger names. In actuality, most are... at least at Nine. Only the real theatre goers give a damn about Laura, and she's aware of that, I'm sure. If someone stopped her (which I never feel comfortable doing, because it's OBVIOUS she doesn't feel comfortable at the stage door), I'm sure she'd be more than happy to sign.

I think we all should give her the benefit of the doubt. She TOOK the role, so obviously she didn't really think she was too good for it. It *is* a small part and she prolly had that lingering thought in the back of her mind that something better could come along. It's human instinct... I really don't think she's a diva from what I've observed.

[CJR]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 7:18pm

I too saw the interview and thought she came off as a little full of herself. Regardless of the human instinct of "something better may come along" she probably could have worded it a little better or a little differently.. maybe she wouldn't have come off so pompus.

That aside I saw her perform at SITA yesterday and GREATLY enjoyed it :)

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 8:52pm

We're all human and make mistakes. She's young, too. So she *could* have worded it better, but she didn't. I don't think everyone needs to jump down her throat for it.

Honestly... she's very young AND she's a Tony nominated actress. Add the honor together with the immaturity and she's bound to have her head swell a little bit. Tell me that if YOU had been nominated for a Tony award or two, you wouldn't think twice about accepting a role where you only get to sing one song and have very minimal stage time? I think she was just being honest... and obviously accepting the role in "Nine" has been a growing experience. She was very honest about the fact she needed an ego check and I find that admirable that she felt confident enough in herself to share that with the world. I really don't think there's anything wrong with what she said.

And as for taking a shot at Jane, I don't think that's the intention. I think she meant just trying to take any old number and stealing the show with it... a number like "Vatican" is WRITTEN to be a show stopper. I think it was more of a personal growth observation... like she evaluated what she used to think was of importance (stealing the show, being the star, etc.) and now realizes that that's not what's important. Being a community and telling the story together is what it's all about... not being the center of attention. At least, that's what I derived from the interview.

I say give the girl the benefit of the doubt.

Updated On: 6/5/03 at 08:52 PM

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 1:19am

dang i did not know she was that young 23!!!! she does not look 23 at all she looks like she is in her 30's!!! i guess it is all that makeup?? any way i think kristin chenewith looks way younger than laura benanti and kristin is like 32.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 6:12am

Can't think of anyone on Broadway who is less full of herself or ego-driven than Laura. People who have worked with her will attest to this, I believe.

But maybe a poor choice of words early in the morning on her part. I think the idea was that, with other things on her plate and other possibilities, she had to make a choice between what could be considered a featured role and maybe a starring role elsewhere - and for the reasons mentioned took the so-called "lesser" role.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 6:28am

But I know many a person who would KILL to make good money playing a smaller role...... a LOT less pressure than being saddled with the lead.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 6:50am

Yep...true.

I don't know about KILLING for it - but it isn't uncommon. Look at Tony-winner Jarrod Emick's upcoming role in "The Boy from Oz".

Basically a showy cameo. But a big hit song and a key scene in the show.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 7:29am

I started typing this last night but wasn't sure how to explain what I saw on stage at curtain call. But here it goes...

I went to see Nine last night. Absolutely loved it and thought the entire cast was wonderful. It didn't hurt that I was 3rd row center...and truthfully being that close to Antonio was well...NICCCCCCEEEEE!

Anyway, got to know a few people around me before the show started and subsequently talked with them at intermission as well as after the show. I didn't tell any of them what I had read about Ms. Benanti, I wanted to see it for myself.

This is my honest opinion of her...she is a beautiful girl with a lovely voice. At curtain call, she came out and there were a few hoots for her...but definitely not as many as there were for Jane. The look on her face as Jane bowed to the audience was for lack of a better word...that of disgust. Now, before anyone jumps down my throat...that actually came from the couple who sat next to me who seemed to notice her "attitude" at curtain call.

At stage door, she was less than thrilled to sign someone's wall card. She sighed and said "ok" but then quickly turned and left.

Now...she could have been tired, not feeling well, a number of senarios have crossed my mind...but what I saw came across as attitude. In my 35 yrs, I have been around many a star, including Mickey Rooney, who is known to have a major attitude problem at times. So I guess what I am saying is that I have seen many different ways for people to react to their surroundings...and she just looked less than thrilled.

I immediately thought of Jarrod when he won the Tony at 25 yrs old. This guy remained humble throughout the years and to this day is thrilled to be performing anywhere.

Ugh...I guess what I read here influenced the way I viewed her last night...but I tried very hard to give her the benefit of the doubt. As a performer, she is really lovely. Having never met her, I can't say anything except that from the view of a bunch of people in the third row...she has a bit of an attitude. But I do still enjoy listening to her as well as watching her!!

Ok, that is what no sleep and a cold does to me...I ramble!!

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 4:20pm

i wonder if jane and laura get along??? did you guys notice in the broadway.com opennig night interview footage that laura said that mary and chita are the best ladies she has ever woked with and that mary is her new best friend. but she did not say anything at all about jane. hmmmmmm

[magruder]

Posted: 6/7/03 at 5:10am

I worked with her on one of her first shows, and did not find her full of ego at all. She's a very talented girl and gave the best performance on stage in the Into the Woods revival. She probably shouldn't have said what she said on CBS, but at the same time, I'm kind of delighted by her honesty.

[McRuff]

Posted: 6/7/03 at 11:21pm

Holy Cow! This thread should be bronzed and permanently amended as a sidebar to the thread "Compliments to All Members." This is a fine, fine example of the much vaunted "friendliness" and "niceness" that is referred to in that other thread. The people who are running down a woman who is not here to defend herself or her actions should take a good, hard look at themselves. Compliments? FOR SHAME!

Posted: 6/8/03 at 12:47am

My Own Bad Experience of the "Laura":

I went to see Into the Woods. I've loved this show for a good five years, and this was the first time I've seen it live. Laura was magnificent. Kerry's awesome. Etc. I went to the stage door. Laura came out in a ballcap. She was getting through the crowd's signatures, I stop and ask for one.

She looks at me like I have egg on my face. I start to back off, but she signed it before I did. Then she ran off after some man named Chandler. She shouted his name. Gotta love the "egg" look from actress. To tell you the truth, this was my first trip to NY and she was the rudest person I came across in that entire trip. Kerry was sooooooooo awesome. Stephen was humble. Gregg was quaint, but Laura. I will never forget that look you gave me.

Yes, I'll give you she doesn't deal well with people and confrontations but excuse me, this is the theater business and if her intent is to become a famous diva, then my god, get a class, get a pill, get SOMETHING to help you embrace people who love you and want your signature on a piece of paper. Claudia is a small role IN A BIG BROADWAY SHOW. There is more publicity being put into this show than she ever got with Into the Woods I bet. When they show Guido, who's with him? Chita, Laura, Jane, and Mary. Updated On: 6/8/03 at 12:47 AM

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 1:04am

I must say Kerry O'Malley is one of the sweetest people ever. I was SO hyper the night I saw Into the Woods, because I grew up on this show. She and Stephen rocked. Stephen even told me and my best friend that we "rock!" because we loved the show so much. Totally down to earth. Gotta love 'em. Vanessa was even more social than Miss Benanti, who ran off from everyone, in a baseball cap as well. I was the only one who recognized her as she ran away. No one believed me until she never came out. Vanessa seemed very tired and worn, but she stayed until she signed for everyone.

I've seen Laura run from stage doors SO many times, and would never consider stopping her... I fear her biting off my head if I do. I did, however, see her at the Maury Yeston signing, and was SO afraid to say anything to her because of this. I don't know if she sensed I was scared or what not, but she gave me the warmest smile... which confused me greatly. I honestly don't know what to make of the woman. I don't want to judge her. I'd rather not form an opinion on her, unless I get to know her and have something real to base it on. We all have our off days, some have a few more off days than others. *sigh*