Mullally to exit LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART?- Page 2

[newintown]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 3:32pm

Isn't the American Airlines a rather big theatre for such a quiet little play? I recall it fitting OK at MTC back in the first production, where they could sit 10 feet from the audience, but at the AA, they'll need to shout those small feelings, won't they?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 3:34pm

No disrespect, but I think a lot of gay men and Wil & Grace fans will be disappointed.Theatre goers may not as much. Lili Taylor and Patton Oswald are insanely talented and I would have been more crushed if Taylor dropped out to be honest.

PS.. I totally support her decision to leave if she feels she is being treated poorly. Forget professionalism. She has a right to feel respected and safe in a creative environment. Plus, she probably makes more for "turning the tub around" than for the entire run of this play.

Updated On: 3/24/10 at 03:34 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 3:43pm

It's sort of unorthodox I know, but I actually would have bought a ticket to see the play. I'm so counter-culture like that. A sort of Gay Byker on Red Bull for a post-pre-post-modern anti-establishment Roundabout roustabout celebrity whore ambivalist.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 3:54pm

I love McNally's work(my favorite musical is Kiss of the Spider Woman), but I was definitely interested in seeing Megan Mullally on stage.
Roundabout keeps casting big stars in their shows, so I am sure that suscribers and public in general both, want to see these stars.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 4:06pm

If I had a choice between seeing Lips Together on Broadway with a cast of unknowns or Megan Mullally in "anything" simply because she is Megan Mullally, I'd go with Lips Together. I've seen Young Frankenstein without Megan and it's not like she could actually improve the material or make the show tolerable (especially given how small the role is). I've seen her talk show which made me question if How to Succeed and Will & Grace were all she had to offer and how she could get through any episode without evaporating into a smog-tinged puff of acrid humiliation. I don't know if Megan is really everything to pin one's hopes on when attending a show. If this were a one-woman cabaret act, then I could understand the disappointment, but there is a possibility that it could still be a good play with someone else in the role. And if the rumors are true, there is nothing unprofessional about leaving a job when your boss is abusive. It's the boss who is being unprofessional.

Updated On: 3/24/10 at 04:06 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 4:10pm

Hell, get Ana Gasteyer in there if Megan's out!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 4:13pm

She's always seemed like a one trick pony to me so I don't consider this a great loss to the production. I'm still looking forward to seeing the play.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 4:21pm

Stressful times are bringing some very strong writing out of you, Mr Matt. I've half a mind to shower your path with rose petals.

I think Karen gets a bum rap because people think she's just Karen. But she is so much more than Karen. For example, did you know that Karen's REAL speaking voice is somewhat lower though no less nasal than Karen's?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 5:23pm

. Updated On: 3/24/10 at 05:23 PM

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 5:56pm

Eh, I like Mullally, but if this proves true, I'm still about 75% as looking forward to seeing the production as I was before (let's see what happens to that number when they announce who's replacing her).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 6:06pm

I'd hardly call Mullally a one trick pony.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 6:48pm

I wonder what this means for people like me who have the $10 preview tickets if they're postponing...
It's official.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 7:37pm

Yeah she doesn't resemble a pony at all.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 7:50pm

I am wondering the same thing...I have a pair of $10 tickets for April 9th.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 8:19pm

They're probably waiting to announce which performances will be cancelled until they find a replacement. If they get someone by tomorrow morning, say, they may need to only cancel one or two previews. If it takes a day or two they may need even more rehearsal time.

Also, Patrick Healy in the New York Times has this to add:

"While Mr. Mantello discussed having a temper and working on patience in a New York Times profile in 2004, one theater executive familiar with Ms. Mullally’s departure said on Wednesday evening that Ms. Mullally’s relationship with Mr. Mantello was not her main source of unhappiness with the production, and that involved another person. The executive, who described the private discussions on condition of anonymity, would not offer further explanation."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/megan-mullally-departs-lips-together-teeth-apart/ Updated On: 3/24/10 at 08:19 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 8:25pm

What's Allison Janney up to?

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 8:33pm

I also have tickets to the first preview. Do they give tickets to another performance or just send refunds when a preview is cancelled?

[perfectliar]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 8:38pm

The Playbill article says Roundabout will be contacting those of us with tickets to the canceled previews directly. But until they have a new schedule, we won't hear anything.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:27pm

I think Ana Gasteyer is a brilliant casting idea. She has already worked with Mantello with Wicked Chicago, so I assume she can stand him

[Brick]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:28pm

"We have wanted Joe Mantello to direct this comedy since he staged a reading for us three years ago."

Why is Roundabout defending their choice of Mantello if she's having issues with another actor?

All said, this is pretty shocking. To pull out of a show isn't an easy choice. So, it must have been pretty bad and/or she simply decided she didn't need the put up with it since she certainly doesn't need the money.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:30pm

There are of course two sides to every story. Mullally has a reputation for being as difficult to work with as Joe Mantello. I'm sure we'll find out more to the story soon. Pagin Mr. Riedel...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:32pm

Julie White would be a brilliant choice for Chloe.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:32pm

And I'm not really understanding the poster who said she's unprofessional for backing out. There obviously was something going on that was making the experience miserable for her. I'm sure that all parties have been aware of this for some time. I can't imagine that her exit was a shocker to anyone involved with the production and that her representation attempted to seek a solution to the problem before she decided to jump shift. If it was escalating, with Mantello or anyone else, I can't blame her for departing (breach of contract or not). She's at a point in her career where she doesn't need to ride through a miserable experience.

If she survived Mel Brooks, this must've been pretty bad.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:40pm

I'd love to see Julie White or Allison Janney take on the role!

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/24/10 at 9:55pm

Michael Bennett, I'm familiar with stories of Joe Mantello being a difficult director - they usually seem to involve him pitting two performers against each other (Lane v. Broadway; Chenoweth v. Menzel) - but I don't recall hearing much, if anything, negative about Mullally. That doesn't mean it's not true, of course. Where do these stories of her being difficult come from?