Michael Riedel and West Side Story Turmoil — Page 7

Ya know, I think I may have been at the one show where everyone showed up. Granted, it was the third preview.

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The "Spamalot" lecture was not aimed at just one performer, although one performer seemed to draw the most heat - all of the leads, with the exception of David Hyde Pierce, had atrocious attendance.

I agree with you, millie. But having seven or more understudies in one night, and have this happen often, is offensive.

If this is the case, they better not have a playbill listing performers and their assigned roles, and instead a list of all actors hired and a note indicating that they all rotate/alternate performances.

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Hundreds, if not thousands, of actors try out for these roles and the CDs hire the person who they think is best. But if that was the only person who could play the role, shows would close when contracts were up. Just think of all the understudies who became stars when the actual star got sick and people responded to the understudy more.

Aside from Greene and the actor who replaced Hoff in Pal Joey, Sutton Foster got her break when Kristin Chenoweth left Millie, Brad Oscar was promoted to Franz Liebkind when the original actor got sick, and then ended up playing Max countless times when Nathan Lane decided to not show up for performances and then ended up playing Max for real until the box office decided to bring in big names when business started lagging. There's the famous story of Shirley Maclaine getting her big break subbing for Carol Haney. And there was Gretchen Wyler who explained in Broadway:The Golden Age, that she was a second understudy during an out-of-Broadway run for Silk Stockings ended up in the role on Broadway.

What's my point? There are thousands of people auditioning for these roles and sometimes an audition doesn't tell the whole story and when an understudy goes on in the actual production, maybe they were supposed to be in the role the whole time. That and I think that unless they think the show is so amazing word of mouth and reviews will get butts in the seats, CD's and producers will choose people who are more well known than those who are better in the role. (who can always take over the role when the originator's contract is up)

Speaking of Broadway:The Golden Age, the actors talked about how people thought theatre was dying for at least the last 50 years. As long as there are people like me and all of you in the world, theatre will survive.

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I think it is possible to become a star if the Broadway actor/actress gets the right roles.

Look at Chenoweth, she is very well known on Broadway and also very well known in Hollywood.

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I think this whole "work ethic" issue a lot of times starts in high school theater clubs. At my school, they make us sign a contract, and one part of that contract says that if we miss more than two rehearsals (unless we're absent from school, in which case you get a little more), than you will be replaced. I've been in three shows in my high school this past school year, and every show, there will always be people who miss several rehearsals, and they won't be replaced. And once people realize they can get away with it, they start missing more and more rehearsals. And this really annoys me, especially since I'm partly responsible for teaching the cast all of the ensemble pieces along with being in the show. I've only missed two or three rehearsals the entire year. I even came to rehearsal when I completely lost my voice, so it really annoys me when people don't honor their commitments. My point is, when people can get away with missing rehearsals in high school, they take that mindset to college and the the real world.

Dude, cross dressers get to cast shows? Awesome! A show completely cast by Eddie Izzard:)

Sorry, and I have to disagree about Sutton Foster. She was an unknown before Millie. Since then she's been a headliner in 4 different Broadway shows. Did I think she was miscast in some of them? Sure, but people who know about theatre see her name and will flock to the show. It's her choice to stick with theatre. And there are plenty of other actors out there like that but they must not be very good since I can never see them on tv, right? I personally believe that just doing theatre is a personal choice, it's not because they can't get roles in tv shows or movies. I get sad when actors choose tv and movies over theatre 'cause if it's a successful tv show it means they won't be back to Broadway for a while. Robert Sean Leonard comes to mind and, to a lesser extent, Billy Crudup.

But yeah, West Side Story understudies, not fun.

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Robert Sean Leonard comes to mind and, to a lesser extent, Billy Crudup.

I always kinda wonder what Robert Sean Leonard would have been like as "man in chair".

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Don't they loose some of their pay if they call out?

Ron Orbach was originally cast as Franz Liebkind. He was injured during the show's try-out in Chicago and was replaced between the end of the Chicago run and the Broadway opening.

I agree strongly with the post about the work ethic beginning in high school. My son has been in a rigorous, competitive theater program that does ambitious work ("Titanic," "Into the woods" {whole show}, "Fiddler" "Laramie Project" etc.) and requires the contract be signed by students and parents. 3 full months for musicals, two full day "10 out of 12" ish Saturdays are required, and they are literally 12 full hours when orchestra is involved. No one can miss.

Kids have performed with colds, with sprains, with every conceivable malady and emotional upset because they are made to understand: they are part of an artistic endeavor larger than themselves. It's not a terribly original thought, teamwork, but once learned, it creates a professionalism that will serve any perfomer for a lifetime. Serve the project first, and the self second. And ask any veteran: a big part of learning craft is learning how to work with pain, discomfort, boredom and with a feeling of being a mere cog in a wheel. The trick: put that wheel first, folks.

In our post-IDOL culture, we are in love with the diva temperament, the idea that creativity is tied first to self-promotion and the "expression" needs of the individual. Creativity is tied to the creation of art, not promotion of the self; art takes a village.

The earlier one embraces that reality -- and the resulting ethic -- the longer and more satisfying (and deseved) the career. Love the art, get over your self.

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Updated On: 8/20/09 at 06:21 PM

I would think Sara Ramirez. I remember her attendance being atrocious. Possibly worse than Karen's.

Tim Curry also had terrible attendance.

The attendance of the In the Heights cast seems horrendous as well. Every time I walk by the Rogers there is always a long list of names on that board.