Lindsay Mendez in Merrily We Roll Along

Is she possibly filming American Sports Story?

The fact she's been out for two weeks with no mention from the show (especially given ticket prices) is insane. Especially in the age of championing Broadway swings. It really feels shady of the producers, even if personal or a SAG commitment. Ignoring it feels worse at this point.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Voter said: "The fact she's been out for two weeks with no mention from the show (especially given ticket prices) is insane. Especially in the age of championing Broadway swings. It really feels shady of the producers, even if personal or a SAG commitment. Ignoring it feels worse at this point."

Covid still exists.

Has she missed every performance over the past 2 weeks?"

Yes. Missed the last two weeks of shows and seven shows before that.

dramamama611 said: "Im going to suggest that whatever it is, it is not planned and no known return date has been established. She could be ill, or her kid, or filming or having to do with what Ermengarde alluded to. The production isn't going to make any sort of statement about her absence as it's not their place beyond posting her absences AT the theater.

She seems like such a sweet person, I hope all is ok."

The problem is people asked last week about if Lindsey would be out and the box office straight up said they were told she wouldn't be out (and she already had been up to that point) The production hasn't commented on it at all.

However, American Sports Story recently picked filming back up in Jersey, FYI...

Likely an injury or illness, since either would be something the show would want to draw attention to. Hopefully she's better soon.

binau said: "Random anecdote, but when Elaine Stritch was in "A Little Night Music" I asked the box office if she was likely to be in the show tonight and they said "she has never missed a performance", which was untrue because she was out the week before and I have a bootleg to prove it.

I mean, big surprise:
People love you and tell you lies.
Bricks can fall out of clear blue skies.
Put your dimple down,
Now you know.

I hope Lindsay is back soon - this is her time and I am sure she is not happy about missing these performances."

Is it possible that she had been on a vacation or had a commitment even before she was announced to join the show? To me, that would qualify as never having missed a performance (…but she did have some scheduled absences).

The announcement of her casting in American Sports Story aligns with when her absences started. And as someone mentioned above, they recently resumed filming. So it's most likely that.

Musicaldudepeter said: "Honestly, this above-the-title absence notification nonsense has become such a problem, certainly in the West End -- in the recent Cabaret revival, Jessie Buckley was hardly ever on, and there was never any announcement in the theatre, the programme, the cast board, social media - it was very strange. I think in the old days, we used to get announcements before a show. This is becoming less common nowadays. And people are less aware of understudies going on etc etc"

Actor's Equity has rules about notifying the audience if an understudy is performing that 2/3 of the following must be completed. (Not sure about U.K Equity)

- Slip In The Playbill
- Announcement On Lobby Signage
- Overhead Announcement In The Theatre (most common when the change is last minute or mid-show)

It's certainly a weird situation, but the production is fulfilling their obligations. I do think it does the understudies very dirty, but this production is raking in money, so unfortunately, they likely don't care or want to generate publicity for someone who isn't the above-the-title star.

Whatever the situation is, I hope Lindsay is okay and, having personally seen Jamila Sabares-Klemm, I thought she was absolutely fantastic in the role and has dynamite chemistry with the boys.

Friend asked the box office today if she’d be back this week (he has tix tomorrow night) and they said “she should be in tomorrow” and he asked if they were SUUUUURE and was then told “you should check back closer to showtime tomorrow”. So whatever that all means.

If Lindsey has permission from the producers to take the time off to film and the understudies are aware and prepared, then neither the Broadway League nor AEA are going to care. The producers will continue to keep the info from the public to protect the money, and nothing can be done about it.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I know nothing but it's late fall in New York when there's a lot of allergies and colds going around that can mess with the voice and health. Add to that being a single mom of a young kid and everything she went through last year that the tabloids reported.Stuff happens and sometimes people have to miss performances here & there.

If she was missing performances to film a project, that would likely be pre-scheduled/announced in advance, and would require some expert dealmaking between the two producers and her agents. Re: A.S.S. (maybe they should have rethought that name), Deadline said "her casting was done in early 2023." It started filming in April and was suspended in July due to the strike."

tabloids!? Does TMZ really care about a random broadway star?