nasty_khakis said: "I had tickets for tonight. I called to reschedule and was told by SeatGeek they could transfer my tickets but I'd have to pay the difference in the "new prices" for those seats. I screamed at two supervisors over this insane and greedy policy."
I hope they hung up on you.
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
We were suppose to go last night. Thanks to this thread I found out she was out. I was fortunate we were just a few blocks away from the theater and was able to swing by the box office for a refund. I have seen all the Fannys and had no interest in seeing Benko again ( she is perfectly lovely in the role ). I do hope that people realize that they could ask for their money back and buy or trade for the price difference at a Benko performance. As long as you got an official BO ticket. They were very nice about it. I feel fortunate to have seen Lea in the show and will never forget it. I hope she is well and able to go on this week. Those that get to see her in it are very lucky and I wish you a great time.
This thread has a compelling precedent: the Donna Murphy absences from Wonderful Town. Those of us who visited these parts in those days might recall the vitriol heaped on Murphy. It was later revealed that she had a chronic medical problem that required intermittent attention; yet no treatments ameliorated the condition sufficiently to allow her to guarantee she could play. If memory serves, she took each performance week, and each performance, as she could. It grew very ugly on These Boards, and shadowed Murphy for several years.
We have no way of knowing if these circumstances are parallel, but clearly Michel is committed to this production, and has toiled mightily to make it a success over the past year. I'm in a bizarre category: I saw the show with 2 of the 4 Fannys, but Feldstein and then Aardema (stellar, that 2nd cover). This - to my thinking still, stockish in impact, mediocre - production has given us new talent, offered an actor long away from Broadway the opportunity tobecome reminted as a new star, and perhaps that's how it will be remembered.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Word is it looks like Benko is most likely doing the final closing performance. The show’s Instagram was finally savvy to remove the comments box. This FUNNY GIRL revival has yet to not deliver some brouhaha.
I feel for the audience members who will likely not be able to exchange their tickets from today to any of the final performances. Whether it's their travel arrangements, lack of availability for Lea's final shows, or too high of an exchange price. Sad situation all around.
BrodyFosse123 said: "Word is it looks like Benko is most likely doing the final closing performance. The show’s Instagram was finally savvy to remove the comments box. This FUNNY GIRL revival has yet to not deliver some brouhaha."
If this is the case (and I hope it is not), then the reason for her missing her final performances has to be something beyond respiratory. I hope all is well, but I will venture to guess she has very good reason to be missing these shows.
BrodyFosse123 said: "Word is it looks like Benko is most likely doing the final closing performance. The show’s Instagram was finally savvy to remove the comments box. This FUNNY GIRL revival has yet to not deliver some brouhaha."
Super bummed she's having to miss shows in the final week. Her performance in this really is the performance of a lifetime. A textbook example of a truly great leading performance elevating a weak production of a weak show. I consider myself luck to have seen this revival 4 times (once with Beanie, once with Julie, and twice with Lea). It has been fascinating to watch this production evolve and change with each leading lady.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
nasty_khakis said: "I had tickets for tonight. I called to reschedule and was told by SeatGeek they could transfer my tickets but I'd have to pay the difference in the "new prices" for those seats. I screamed at two supervisors over this insane and greedy policy."
As someone who works in a similar position, it's worth knowing that treating employees like this often results in a note being made on your account about your behaviour, which can (especially if you're a repeat offender) negatively impact how we interact with you in the future
Saw the show this past Sunday. I was prepared for all of that craziness -- mid-show standing ovations, palpable nervous excitement and energy, and Lea blowing the roof off the August Wilson. There wasn't even entrance applause! And, I felt that she was holding back and, at some point, realized she was fighting hard to keep going. She was good, but not great -- but as we now know, was coming down with something. That explains why she didn't sing during the cast's curtain call. I give her props for keeping it together and making it through the performance -- but the audience wasn't bouncing off the walls.
UpstateNYGuy said: "Saw the show this past Sunday. I was prepared for all of that craziness -- mid-show standing ovations, palpable nervous excitement and energy, and Lea blowing the roof off the August Wilson. There wasn't even entrance applause! And, I felt that she was holding back and, at some point, realized she was fighting hard to keep going. She was good, but not great -- but as we now know, was coming down with something. That explains why she didn't sing during the cast's curtain call. I give her props for keeping it together and making it through the performance -- but the audience wasn't bouncing off the walls."
Props to her for finishing. Clearly, she has something and wants to be at her best for the final performances. Tough, but right call. She has been better than great the few times I've seen her.
bear88 said: And for me, there is still drama over this show. After cancelling when Lea Michele called out during our March trip, we are supposed to travel across the country and see it Wednesday night. Am I going? For reasons I won’t bore anyone with, I don’t know. I hope so, as I’m very invested in seeing it at this point."
Hope you didn't fly across the country.. SHE IS OUT
nasty_khakis said: "I had tickets for tonight. I called to reschedule and was told by SeatGeek they could transfer my tickets but I'd have to pay the difference in the "new prices" for those seats. I screamed at two supervisors over this insane and greedy policy."
How lovely of you -- because as EVERYONE knows, people who are being screamed at by some entitled lunatic about a policy that they have no control over are ALWAYS motivated to do their best to try and find a way to help you. Moron.
DAME said: "We were suppose to go last night. Thanks to this thread I found out she was out. I was fortunate we were just a few blocks away from the theater and was able to swing by the box office for a refund. I have seen all the Fannys and had no interest in seeing Benko again ( she is perfectly lovely in the role ). I do hope that people realize that they could ask for their money back and buy or trade for the price difference at a Benko performance. As long as you got an official BO ticket. They were very nice about it. I feel fortunate to have seen Lea in the show and will never forget it. I hope she is well and able to go on this week. Those that get to see her in it are very lucky and I wish you a great time."
I wonder if most people that stay realize they could at least attempt a return in price difference.
Claudia Draper said: "bear88 said: And for me, there is still drama over this show. After cancelling when Lea Michele called out during our March trip, we are supposed to travel across the country and see it Wednesday night. Am I going? For reasons I won’t bore anyone with, I don’t know. I hope so, as I’m very invested in seeing it at this point."
Hope you didn't fly across the country.. SHE IS OUT"
We’re in Central Park now. Yes, we flew across the country, but for a friend’s wedding. Seeing Funny Girl with Lea Michele after missing her in March was just an added thing. I posted before anyone that she was out.
I’m not mad at anyone or upset. We got a refund and grabbed $35 rush tickets to see Here Lies Love tonight. Moving on…
More I think about it: in a lot of ways, it does somewhat seem right that Benko and Michele are getting to share this final week of the production. Benko was an enormous asset, especially in the Pre-Lea era. She kept the show going in the interim and whenever she was needed. Lea, obviously, saved the show in every way imaginable. They both achieved so much and are coming out of the "drama" as champions. I hope that when Lea bows on Sunday afternoon she will also bring Julie out with her and they share the moment.