Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY- Page 8

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/12/18 at 6:27pm

Tony Roach’s About the Artists profile is very impressive. He is mostly a classical actor (with an MFA from Harvard) and has done many productions at the prestigious Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. He is listed as a swing but really appears to be the standby for Higgins...as well as a million other parts. Seems like he would be just as good as HHP.

[natashalost]

Posted: 10/14/18 at 3:38am

I feel guilty even asking this sort of question but I need to know. I splurge on tickets to see Laura in the show. She’s the sole reason I’m going — had it been someone else replacing I would have just gotten tickets to another show. However, if she’s not at the performance I attend I would be interested in exchanging/refunding my tickets so I would be able to see her in the role. I’ve never done this sort of thing before so could someone give me some guidance on how I would go about doing this/if it’s even possible? Thanks!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/14/18 at 10:51am

natashalost said: "I feel guilty even asking this sort of question but I need to know. I splurge on tickets to see Laura in the show. She’s the sole reason I’m going — had it been someone else replacing I would have just gotten tickets to another show. However, if she’s not at the performance I attend I would be interested in exchanging/refunding my tickets so I would be able to see her in the role. I’ve never done this sort of thing before so could someone give me some guidance on how I would go about doing this/if it’s even possible? Thanks!"

If you live in the city or close just go to the box office.  This show is not selling out like it once was.  Tell them you didn't see Laura's "out dates" when you made the purchase.  I think it would be easier for an exchange than a refund.  But if that doesn't work for you, (only refund),  still ask.  They can only say yes or no.  If you don't live in the city, call Telecharge customer service.  Explain you didn't see the "out dates".  They were very good refunding my ticket back in May when my flight got cancelled.(Of course that was when it still was a hot ticket)  I did end up seeing the show, full original cast, the last week in August.  I loved Lauren.

[Myshmoopsiepoo]

Posted: 10/15/18 at 10:14am

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Tony Roach’s About the Artists profile is very impressive. He is mostly a classical actor (with an MFA from Harvard) and has done many productions at the prestigious Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. He is listed as a swing but really appears to be the standby for Higgins...as well as a million other parts. Seems like he would be just as good as HHP."

He was on as Higgins when I saw the show and I thought he was fabulous!

 

 

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/19/18 at 3:12pm

Well, after watching Benanti’s show people with Paul Wonterk, I think she is telling the truth when she says she never auditioned. I think the “hard pass” was just a joke that was taken too seriously. Im excited to see her.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 10/19/18 at 3:55pm

She also said Sher called and said "do you wanna come do this for however long you want?" so maybe there's a chance she'll extend her contract if there's not another Eliza lined up after her?

Updated On: 10/19/18 at 03:55 PM

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 11:10am

And that explains her liked tweets. It wasn't out of bitterness. She wanted to do it, but couldn't b/c of the pregnancy.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 7:57pm

natashalost,

When I bought a Tuesday night ticket, it was not yet on Telecharge that that was Laura's off day.  I explained this to them so they refunded me and I got a ticket for a Wednesday evening instead. People do need to read the schedule because three of the main leads have days/weeks off in November (Harry, Norbert, Laura), they have it figured out on Telecharge now if you are scrolling through dates.  It will say in red who won't be there that performance.  

[laurensambrose]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 9:18pm

Did anyone here get to see Lauren's last show? 

[Plexsis]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 9:26pm

I saw the matinee yesterday and it was phenomenal. I loved Lauren’s performance and was so happy I made it before she left.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 10:18pm

Today's Sunday matinee was Lauren's last performance. Glad that the house was completely sold out, with myself even having to put out for a mid-premium seat.

Almost embarrassed to say that this was the fifth time for me, starting with the second preview. When I'm feeling low, seeing this musical provides an instant lift. My age also dictates that this will be the last go-around for my seeing any of these dear musicals from my past in such rich productions.

I think that Lauren has steadily improved in the role. I did miss Harry. Not that his understudy was poor, but I would have liked to see one more second act confrontation between the two.

At intermission I actually became involved with two separate parties in a discussion of the Ascot scene. It was all admiration for this scene from the costumes and lighting through the unique movement and song of the chorus to Lauren's perfectly timed laugh lines.

Note: Satisfying to me, as a great proponent of Ascot, to read that Lauren and the cast regarded it very highly.

At curtain call not much fuss was made. I almost expected Sher to be present, but instead senior cast member Butz presented Ambrose with flowers and made a needless political speech on how Ambrose's Eliza was to be included in the heavens with Andrews and Hepburn for she had expanded the role to push feminist goals. He prefaced his very short address by saying that Ambrose was an actress who would probably not desire any political labeling. Shaw himself is on very shaky ground with feminists.

That was it, except that as the the woman sitting next to me had sunk back into her seat after the ovation for Ambrose, she could not contain her pride and confided to me that she was Lauren's mother. I took a close look at her. The age did not seem to be there for the mother of a forty year old, but the straight red hair said otherwise. I wish I had soon known earlier. I might have ingratiated myself into an invitation to dine with the family.

No? Well, I might have learned something. I asked her if Lauren had signed for six months, and she told me that she didn't know but believed that Lauren had been offered the job for as long as she wanted it. I brought up the live broadcast of South Pacific in its last week and asked her if she knew of anything similar planned for My Fair Lady. She didn't (was not even aware of South Pacific broadcast), but hoped that Lauren would participate if it happened.

Addendum. At that time I had no idea that Lauren's mother had just lost her husband. She was also very proud of her daughter. Very gracious of her to spend a little time talking to me when she was carrying around these great emotions in her heart.

Updated On: 10/23/18 at 10:18 PM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 11:34pm

I watched last Thursday.

Simply perfection!

From the costumes and sets to the very last ensemble member.

Rosemary harris is a legenda.

Leo Butz amaZing (my personal Tony winner)

And Lauren Ambrose was magnificent. From head to toe.

Amazing amazing production.

[laurensambrose]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 3:55pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/theater/lauren-ambrose-my-fair-lady.amp.html#click=https://t.co/Go4bTmDDeC NYTimes did a sweet exit interview with Lauren if anyone wants to read it

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 4:14pm

I didn't know her dad passed away about a month ago. That was a great interview. I think she is happy she took on this challenge and it will help her in her future endeavors. It's always amazing to hear how performers/actors talk about what they learned after doing a show. She also talked a bit about some of the health issues she had.

Updated On: 10/22/18 at 04:14 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 4:26pm

What was the hardest part of the show?

I dropped out of a few performances when my dad passed away about a month ago. The show was something that my dad was so very proud of. He was at opening night, even though he was very ill. To get to come back to the show and be surrounded by this amazing group of beautiful, feeling artists as I started the process of grieving and dealing with this new phase of life was really a gift, even though obviously incredibly challenging.

Wow. This makes Diana Rigg's comments to the NYPost really s__y if she knew Lauren was going through this.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 4:34pm

Agreed about the Rigg comments. Nasty.

People on here were awfully harsh towards her in what I thought was a beautiful performance that would have won were it not for Lenk. I hope she does return to Broadway in another musical, and I hope she has a better offstage experience next time (no family/health issues). Who knows...maybe she'd even return to Wimpole Street before the end of the run?

[laurensambrose]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 4:38pm

I actually think Rigg was gone when Lauren’s father would have passed away, because I remember there was about five days last month when Kerstin Anderson and Heather Botts both played Eliza, and by that time Rosemary Harris had stepped in. However, if Lauren was having health issues and Rigg still felt the need to make those comments it still doesn’t look good on her, IMO.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 4:48pm

laurensambrose said: "I actually think Rigg was gone when Lauren’s father would have passed away, because I remember there was about five days last month when Kerstin Anderson and Heather Botts both played Eliza, and by that time Rosemary Harris had stepped in. However, if Lauren was having health issues and Rigg still felt the need to make those comments it still doesn’t look good on her, IMO."

Well it sounds as if Lauren's father had been gravely ill during the entire run. So if she was having family issues and health issues that Rigg knew about and Rigg decided to go to the NYPost with those comments that's really awful. Maybe there was a Julianna Marguiles/Archie Panjabi type personality conflict between the two of them but still ...

[LuPita2]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 6:01pm

For those interested and didn't see it on Telecharge:

*The role of Eliza Doolittle will be performed by Kerstin Anderson on Tuesday evenings beginning 10/30.)

**Laura Benanti will not appear in performances Friday, November 16 at 8pm through Sunday, November 18 at 2pm.

*** Norbert Leo Butz will not appear in performances Friday, November 2 at 8pm through Thursday, November 8 at 7pm.

THANKSGIVING WEEK CHANGE: Laura Benanti WILL appear in the Tuesday, November 20 at 7pm performance, but she will NOT appear in the Friday, November 23 at 8pm performance.

[qafgenius122]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 6:29pm

Was notified today that I won one of the fan performances on Halloween! I’m so excited, as I was concerned having already used my Linctix, so now problem solved. I might still go back in January when Danny Burstein joins the cast, but Laura was the catalyst for all my excitement, so to be seeing her, I’m thrilled.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 7:35pm

I’m so excited to see Laura, but Lauren was truly remarkable in this production. I can’t wait to see her onstage again.

[Catsbroadwayfan]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 7:40pm

Not to add fuel to the fire, but when Ambrose announced she would be dropping a performance it was stated to spend time with family. It was probably clear her dad was dying and with being a lead in a broadway show you dont have much time to begin with. Im glad she dropped a show, so she was able to spend a couple last moments with her father.

Ambrose will always be Eliza doolittle. I was upset at first when she was announced but I can not be more happy she played this part. She was amazing, and I hope to see her on stage again and will be supporting her in anything she does next!

[laurensambrose]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 7:56pm

qafgenius122 said: "Was notified today that I won one of the fan performances on Halloween! I’m so excited, as I was concerned having already used my Linctix, so now problem solved. I might still go back in January when Danny Burstein joins the cast, but Laura was the catalyst for all my excitement, so to be seeing her, I’m thrilled."

Congratulations!! 

[rayoflight104]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 8:12pm

Does anyone know what the 'partial view' seats miss out on? Is it critical or not so much?

[3NU]

Posted: 10/22/18 at 8:13pm

I was also one of the lottery winners for Halloween day, but I "unfortunately" won an evening performance ticket. I live in Delaware, so an evening performance is pretty much out of the question for me unless I plan to take 1.5 days off of work or arrive at work on Thursday insanely tired (though, the chance to see Laura Benanti is a huge temptation). If anyone won a matinee ticket and is willing to swap, PM me before 12 noon tomorrow!