jimmycurry01 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Springtime said: "Lindsay Mendez says in a new podcast she has no guilt about missing shows and makes decisions about whether to do press or do anevening show. She laughed when asked if she has any guilt about missing shows (she says no), and that it is easier to say no when pregnant. 72 shows missed so far.
Stages Podcast"
What is with the fixation on how many performances an actor has missed? Not just this show, but in general? Why do people care so much? If the production was concerned they'd do something. Maybe there's something in their contract about absences. In this specific case, she's pregnant, for crying out loud. Give people a break, and get a life aside from tracking how often someone is out of a show. According to Playbill, as of June 2nd they've had 272 performances, which has gone up since then. 72 shows is not worrying. Go touch grass."
People care because they paid for a ticket, and often for a flight, and for a hotel in Manhattan to see that cast perform. Now, everyone has to miss work from time to time, but when it is a significant portion of the contract, it becomes something to discuss, especially when people are paying over a thousandto come watch that person work.
72 shows is no where close to a significant portion of the contract. Y'all are just making excuses to stir up drama. Go ahead. Waste time doing that.
I don't know if you have ever made the trip to New York from middle-America because you wanted to see a specific cast perform; I have. Unfortunately, the performer we were most excited to see was out. It sucked, but it happens. Here's the thing, though the boards weren't alight with regular discussions about her missing shows. If they were, we may nothave taken that gamble.
Not New York, but I have traveled to see a show because of the specific show, not a specific performer. So I guess I'm lucky in that regard.
Discussions about performers missing a bulk of their contracts help others decide if it is worth the cost of a trip and ticket if they want to see a particular cast perform, because there are times when it is about the cast and not the show itself.
Once again, 72 shows is not a significant part of her contract.
This is an important discussion to have when the performers are a huge part of the product that is being sold. In this case, everyone seems to agree that it is this cast that makes thisflawed show work. People want to see that cast and see how they make it work.
I do agree that this specific cast is what makes the show work, but everything, from the cast to the direction to the music is also something to consider? Maybe? Think about that too.
In general, if people are paying and traveling to see an original cast, they want to see that cast. Itmight be different when it's the 53rd replacement cast for Wicked.
ETA at this point, Miss Gonzalez seems to have been present for most performances of late. While I do think it's reasonable to discuss that someone has missed a lot, it is not OK to pry into personal lives ofperformersand speculate on why. That's not our business.
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While yes, you're right it's not okay, ever, to pry into their personal lives- though some think we're entitled to that, which is gross, by the way- I think it's a complete waste of time to discuss cast absences.