NY Times: Donna Murphy Opens Up About WONDERFUL TOWN Experience

This article just makes me admire her even more. It's a great read and it provides both Murphy's and Weissler's side of the story. She's a class act, and she exemplifies professionalism, talent, and warmth at its best. And that flu comment at the end by Weissler was more than unecessary.
Good to know that if FOLLIES does transfer, she will be part of it (though the article makes it sound like it's not going to happen).
No Ill Feelings: Producers Bet on a 'Superwoman'

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having seen LoveMusik, I was happy to read the article as well. I think you can tell that she isn't a "diva" at all in her performances. She's clearly devoted to musical theater and performing her heart out. I hope a lot of people go and see LoveMusik just to see what Murphy is capable of.

She's one of the most sublimely gifted theatre stars of our time. Every time I see her, I cannot believe my eyes and ears.

That was a great article.

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*Sigh* I have to wait till the closing performance, in the meantime, I'll live vicarously through all of you.

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Fabulous article. Thanks for posting!

Great article.

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great article, she is an amazing performer

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The way Ms. Murphy was singing that role, it was insanely demanding. But when she was on, I never would have known she was having vocal difficulty (I used to usher there). Such an amazing woman.

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I knew there was more to it then her just not "feeling well." She is incredible and IMO the best Broadway (musical) actress today. The first Broadway performance that had a real impact on me was when I saw Donna's last performance in The King and I, I couldn't believe it. I feel so lucky that I've gotten to see her do Wonderful Town, Follies, Passion (10 anniversary), Public benefit (she did a glorious "Writing on The Wall" and "Pirate Jenny"), and the Encores! bash benefit after 9/11 when she did "I happen to Like New York." That was probably the best delivery of a song I have ever experienced and the feeling I felt that night is still with me. I really can't wait to see LoveMusik.

I posted the New York Times link to the review of the 2001 Encores! Bash because I feel that it was probably Ben Brantley's best review because It really captures the essence of Donna's performance. Just scroll down to last five paragraphs if you only want to read about Donna. If you can't read it because you’re not a member I posted the last five paragraphs about Donna.

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"If majesty was called for, Mr. Fisher and company provided it. The sublime Ms. Murphy, a two-time Tony winner who sent off fireworks for Encores! with 'Wonderful Town' two season ago, conveyed majesty and more with an 11 o'clock number that stopped the show. The song, by Cole Porter, had a deceptively casual title, 'I Happen to Like New York.'

But this was no blithe ode to urban pleasures à la 'We'll Take Manhattan.' 'I Happen to Like New York' is from 'The New Yorkers' (1930), and it has the haunting Depression-era grit and gravity of that show's biggest hit, 'Love for Sale.'

A repetition of one stark melody, rising in different keys to a bell-tolling climax, this lesser-known song exudes a hard-shelled sentimentality that is the essence of New York City. The same could be said of Ms. Murphy, standing stock still in a spotlight in a beaded sheath, her velvet voice woven with a defiance that suggested, 'What's it to you, buddy?'

The song's narrator concludes that given the choice of heaven or hell when she dies, she would prefer to stay in New York. As Ms. Murphy worked her way into this priceless summing up of New York arrogance, you could feel the whole house shivering.

If New York is in search of an anthem, it couldn't do better than this. And by the way, if she could bring the same qualities of control and command to politics that she brought to this number, Ms. Murphy would make a fabulous mayor."



Ben's review of the 2001 Encores! bash

Updated On: 4/30/07 at 12:29 AM

Yes it was quite an event! And what was most amazing is that her "acting" approach to the song was to do basically nothing. It was the coldest delivery of a song ever, but considering the time it was sung it was also the only possible delivery of the song.

Way to turn the subject over to PQ, QB. Jeez.

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That ending quote was off the chain cute and hilar.

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I live in Dallas.


Appropriate.

For sure!

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