Ok guys. For all of those who "think" they know the facts...here are the actual facts:
1) Mandy is NOT being replaced at this time. Around opening Mandy came down with a bug and began having some vocal difficulty due to growing infection to her vocal chords. Being the professional that she is, she has, until this point, attempted to push through. She will now be taking a couple of days off under doctors care to finally mend the issue. She is expected to be back next week will be back with a voice and a drive that will for once and for all prove her right to the Broadway stage.
2) Yes auditions were held, but NOT open auditions and NOT auditions to REPLACE her. They are simply precautionary auditions in case her infection prevents her from finishing her contract.
3) Who ever the "source" at the Broadhurst is...DOESN'T EXIST. They are a group of professional people who do not hand out information about their business...EVER. If you don't believe me...actually ASK someone at the Broadhurst.
3) I understand the "fun" of commenting on message boards. It can be helpful when trying to decide what to see, it can be a way to talk about the biz, it's just something that takes up time when we have nothing better to do with our lives. However...I look at Broadway World as a rather respectable site. A place for intelligent and good people who are interested in the biz to be able to discuss what's happening in the theater world. What it so often turns into is a site to "put down" performers. How can we do this when we ourselves are incapable of ever having all the information. Exhibit A: Mandy Bruno and this thread itself. Did anyone know how sick she was before they started putting her down for cracking on a note? No. We post nasty comments without ever thinking that there could be reasons for things. We believe in the casting people who cast Celia. They cast Mandy too. We have to believe they knew what they were doing. Get the facts, and give the girl a chance.
4) Finally...as an actress myself, let me tell you how horribly painful these message boards can be. I heard once that Sutton Foster herself had to block her own computer from allowing her to go onto sites like this because they depressed her so much. This is SUCH a cut throat industry. Acting is one of the hardest jobs in the world. We are constantly up against rejection. Yes we chose it...but for all that is good in the world...offer us a bit of support! Can you imagine doing a job of such high competition, working your butt off to make it to the top, working all kinds of horrible jobs to make ends meet just to get there, and when it finally all pays off...your efforts realized, your dreams have come true...you are met with nothing but hateful words by people who don't even know you on the internet.
I challenge everyone on this board to start something new. My mom used to say, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Let us turn this around. Let this board be a place to talk about the industry...and to applaud those who have worked so hard and achieved there goals. Of course we won't like every performer...of course we may prefer some over others. We are entitled to our opinions yes. But to sit and bash on performers who are working so hard and who are holding onto their dream roles with hope and pride in their hearts, and to make up stories without real proof about what is or isn't going on in casting...let it come to an end.
I look forward to the day that this is a positive and enjoyable place for the actors to post as well! Wouldn't that be something!? If they weren't so afraid of what they would have to read about themselves first.
I leave you with this. What is important in your life? What do you dream of, and work towards every single day? What would you give anything for. What if you got it. And then what if strangers you had never met tried to take it away. Take away your tears of happiness for having achieved your dreams with hurtful words? Posted things about you that weren't true or without all of the information?? On the internet none the less?? Why? What good has it done? And who do we end up really hurting in the end?
Updated On: 5/31/07 at 08:43 PM
