Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl — Page 70

As someone who’s followed Lea since the Glee pilot, I’m surprised she’s been able to do as many FG performances as she has. After their first season, the Glee cast went on tour. By the end of it, having carried a large plurality of the singing load, Lea’s voice was in shreds. Then, a few years ago on her last joint tour with Darren Criss, she started turning her solos into duets. Neither of these tours required anything like the vocal stamina needed for the seven shows per week of FG. This Lea Michele doesn’t give up two minutes in the spotlight, let alone a scheduled night off, unless she knows from the get go she wouldn’t be able to handle it vocally.

There are always going to be nights when the star has a choice: disappoint by not showing up, or disappoint by being crap. One doesn't have to be “sick” in order not to be able to sing up to expectation. I recently went to a song recital by a leading Met Opera tenor. He was great. Two days later, giving the exact same program, he was terrible, and took sips of water during the performance while commenting on how dry his throat was. Vocal cord stress, alone, can produce erratic performances, for some more often than others. As for Fanny cancellation comparisons, let me know when the vocals are comparable. (Please don’t make me post links from YouTube.)

Updated On: 7/26/23 at 11:09 PM

There’ll be protests in every city over Lea Michele’s missed performances. 

I think all of that is totally coincidental. Julie is likely booking space for solo concerts based on venue availability and her own scheduled time away from the producition. She knows her gig  at FG is that she might be called to go on as Fanny at any time. She is capable of handling those duties and her own concerts. Lea is not obligated to check Julie's schedule before calling out.

hearthemsing22 said: "mshalo18 said: "alovingfan said: "pair-o-dice said: "Am I the only one who follows Julie Benko on social media? Because every time she has a big concert or gig, Lea seems to take off and be "sick" out-of-the-blue the days leading up to it. Like, Julie had a Birdland concert and live stream last night and Lea was suddenly under the weather this weekend."

My mind went there as well. But I don't believe it."

But it cuts both ways- it can also be said that a lot of Julie's gigs are around the same time that Lea has scheduled time off. She was scheduled to be off July 22nd and 23rd, and Julie's Birdland concert was the 24th.



"

You both truly wouldn't think it's planned that way, do you? I truly believe it's mere coincidence. That's insane and if so, very petty on the part of both of them."

Of course not, and that's exactly my point. I would hope that both of them are professional and don't play stupid games like this. 

There are always going to be nights when the star has a choice: disappoint by not showing up, or disappoint by being crap.

Exactly, she strikes me a perfectionist and if she cannot be amazing, she would rather have the excellent Julie go on in her place. Julie is an incredible Fanny and I think there is a level of trust between them (unlike the other one) that Julie will come through and kill it. 

Stars call off all the time. I get people being disappointed but everyone has been bummed out by a person not being there. I went to Moulin Rouge the one and only night Aaron Tveit called out. But, I ended up enjoying his understudy (Aaron) instead. Whatever. When Lea calls out, it's not a personal attack on anyone. Maybe keep that in mind. 

Sutton Ross said: "There are always going to be nights when the star has a choice: disappoint by not showing up, or disappoint by being crap.

Exactly, she strikes me a perfectionist and if she cannot be amazing, she would rather have the excellent Julie go on in her place. Julie is an incredible Fanny and I think there is a level of trust between them (unlike the other one) that Julie will come through and kill it.

Stars call off all the time. I get people being disappointed but everyone has been bummed out by a person not being there. I went to Moulin Rouge the one and only night Aaron Tveit called out. But, I ended up enjoying his understudy (Aaron) instead. Whatever.When Lea calls out, it's not a personal attack on anyone. Maybe keep that in mind."

Did they post pictures of themselves in "their happy place" when they missed?  It is the optic that was mentioned. 

Sutton Ross said: "Lea can post whatever she wants, rarely do people keep random strangers in mind when they post on their own socials. I have no idea if she actually did that but to trust a person who doesn't know the difference between your and you're isn't really credible.

They are just butthurt they didn't see Lea so .......whatever?



"

Why are you defending her so much?  She missed all weekend and posted pictures at the beach.  Let the people kvetch.    

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "It is so weird that people say Lea saved this show, it is still going to close at a considerable loss."

Is the show really not even close to being recouped? Do you have more info on that? I'd think weekly $1.5 mil grosses would almost guarantee at least some profit... if FG with Lea didn't recoup, then other shows don't even have a slight chance. 

Updated On: 7/26/23 at 04:34 PM

"It is so weird that people say Lea saved this show, it is still going to close at a considerable loss. "

Just think how much more money show would have lost if Lea did not do the show -lol

Sutton Ross said: "Lea can post whatever she wants, rarely do people keep random strangers in mind when they post on their own socials. I have no idea if she actually did that but to trust a person who doesn't know the difference between your and you're isn't really credible.

They are just butthurt they didn't see Lea so .......whatever?



"

Why do you always have to attack people? If we are talking "credible" Glass Houses.

hearthemsing22 said: "mshalo18 said: "alovingfan said: "pair-o-dice said: "Am I the only one who follows Julie Benko on social media? Because every time she has a big concert or gig, Lea seems to take off and be "sick" out-of-the-blue the days leading up to it. Like, Julie had a Birdland concert and live stream last night and Lea was suddenly under the weather this weekend."

My mind went there as well. But I don't believe it."

But it cuts both ways- it can also be said that a lot of Julie's gigs are around the same time that Lea has scheduled time off. She was scheduled to be off July 22nd and 23rd, and Julie's Birdland concert was the 24th.



"

You both truly wouldn't think it's planned that way, do you? I truly believe it's mere coincidence. That's insane and if so, very petty on the part of both of them."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest neither one of them watches the other's schedule, except for Julie knowing the dates Lea is scheduled to be off. Lea knows she covered even if Julie is sick because of Ephie. Doubt she thinks about Julie at all. (Me being snotty, but likely true, nonetheless.) Julie isn't in that big a demand in other venues - her primary job is still in FG, so limits what commitments she can take on. Push comes to shove, I'm fairly certain her contract stipulates she can book what she wants so long as it doesn't interfere with FG, but if it does - the side job gets cancelled, unless they don't mind Ephie going on.

Going a step further, Lea has been showing photos of herself, her friends and her family at the Hamptons all summer which may or may not be related to whether she is there or not. So, I wouldn't put too much stock in her having been there during the most recent call it.

I do, however, feel bad for people who make plans to see a certain show/performer only to have them out sick. Been there, done that. Not fun and doesn't make you feel too warmly toward the star, even understanding people do get sick/have accidents. Seeing Julie is not the same as seeing Lea no matter what her fan base says.

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "It is so weird that people say Lea saved this show, it is still going to close at a considerable loss."

She DID save the show. The show was a sinking ship that she singlehandedly saved with her performance. The show did well in its first few weeks thanks to the advance it had built from the title alone and being the first ever revival of the show, but that dried up fast and the money stopped coming in once word of mouth regarding Beanie's performance got out. The show limped along in August with Julie (who I loved, by the way), and then became a hot ticket once Lea joined. The show would not have run as long as it has with Lea. So, yes, she DID save the show.

hearthemsing22 said: "Penna2 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "mshalo18 said: "alovingfan said: "pair-o-dice said: "Am I the only one who follows Julie Benko on social media? Because every time she has a big concert or gig, Lea seems to take off and be "sick" out-of-the-blue the days leading up to it. Like, Julie had a Birdland concert and live stream last night and Lea was suddenly under the weather this weekend."

My mind went there as well. But I don't believe it."

But it cuts both ways- it can also be said that a lot of Julie's gigs are around the same time that Lea has scheduled time off. She was scheduled to be off July 22nd and 23rd, and Julie's Birdland concert was the 24th.



"

You both truly wouldn't think it's planned that way, do you? I truly believe it's mere coincidence. That's insane and if so, very petty on the part of both of them."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest neither one of them watches the other's schedule, except for Julie knowing the dates Lea is scheduled to be off. Lea knows she covered even if Julie is sick because of Ephie. Doubt she thinks about Julie at all. (Me being snotty, but likely true, nonetheless.) Julie isn't in that big a demand in other venues - her primary job is still in FG, so limits what commitments she can take on. Push comes to shove, I'm fairly certain her contract stipulates she can book what she wants so long as it doesn't interfere with FG, but if it does - the side job gets cancelled, unless they don't mind Ephie going on.

Going a step further, Lea has been showing photos of herself, her friends and her family at the Hamptons all summer which may or may not be related to whether she is there or not. So, I wouldn't put too much stock in her having been there during the most recent call it.

I do, however, feel bad for people who make plans to see a certain show/performer only to have them out sick. Been there, done that. Not fun and doesn't make you feel too warmly toward the star, even understanding people do get sick/have accidents. Seeing Julie is not the same as seeing Lea no matter what her fan base says."

Let me see if I have this right- your opinion of a performer would change if they called out for something beyond their control?"

Who said that?