Performers notorious for missing shows

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:46pm

We all know that Carol Channing is famous for never missing a scheduled performance of a Broadway show, but what actors ae known for no-showing a lot? I recall Ann Reinking missing quite a few performances of CHICAGO, Madeline Kahn being asked to leave ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY because of her frequent absences, and Ezio Pinza being frequently absent from SOUTH PACIFIC.

Any others?

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:50pm

If anyone mentions DM, I will be forced to turn this into a WT thread!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:51pm

maybe it just got followed more...but it seems like idina and kristin missed a lot...not something they'd be notorious for though..they were awesome.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:52pm

I thinks Stephanie Block missedc a lot from BFO

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:52pm

Whoopi Goldberg never did matinees for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (I think she ended up performing at like 6 maybe)

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:53pm

Sutton Foster missed quite a few in Millie, not enough to be notorious though. Her understudy was just fabulous.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:54pm

Linda Lavin missed quite a large number of GYPSY performances.

[cvapb]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:55pm

Nathan Lane

[jim]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:57pm

well, of course the obvious is Donna Murphy :)
Liza missed quite a few of THE RINK. That was before rehab #1.
She missed the entire last week of VICTOR/VICTORIA. That was when she left the theatre at 'half hour' in search of her ... prescription. She didn't come back.
Barbara Harris missed quite a few during THE APPLE TREE. Midway thru the run, the 2 matinee shows were handed over to Phyllis Newman.
Martine McCutcheon in the UK revival of MY FAIR LADY missed quite a few. So many in fact, that the producers and leading man Jonathyn Pryce were stunned when she won Best Actress award...Not sure if it was the Olivier. Is their another award given?

[jim]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 3:59pm

Jennifer Holliday? Didn't she miss quite a few in DREAMGIRLS?

[timote316]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:01pm

I don't know about Kristin, but Idina had a great attendance record, especially considering her role.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:01pm

Carly Jibson - Hairspray

I didn't realize Linda Lavin missed a lot of performances in Gypsy.

I thought Idina had a fairly good track record though.

Updated On: 2/13/05 at 04:01 PM

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:02pm

Come to think of it, didn't Julie Andrews miss a lot for VICTOR/VICTORIA?

I also read about Steve Lawrence missing many shows for WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN? and GOLDEN RAINBOW.

Gwen Verdon might have been the 1950s-60s version of Donna Murphy with the shows she missed.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:04pm

Daniel Davis, now

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:10pm

But I believe some of these performers had/have legitimate excuses.

[cvapb]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:12pm

hmm.. not sure where you're getting Idina from.. she had a great attendance record... Kristin on the other hand, not so much.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:16pm

I've heard lots about Donna Murphy for "Wonderful Town" and Sutton Foster for "TMM." I also read that she missed quite a few previews for "Little Women." Daniel Davis, I believe, has pneumonia (spelling is off) so that's understandable. As for Idina, I read that she had a GREAT record for always being there, even while sick. She has some scheduled days off for filming of "Ask the Dust" and of course the rib thing, but one can't control that. I never read anything about Kristin. I'm glad Tonya didn't miss many performances, even though she was clearly having vocal trouble.

-Vincent

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:18pm

I think to be fair to Nathan Lane, his absences were due to vocal problems and he was forced to cut down on the number of shows per week in The Producers rather than drop out altogether. A severe back injury caused him to leave the London show a few weeks early. He probably showed up for far more performances than he should have. I'm betting another actor would have missed even more or called it quits sooner.

[FinishingTheHat]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:24pm

Hugh Jackman I've heard was absent quite a bit from "The Boy From Oz." Hugh is a busy guy and incredibly talented, don't get me wrong, I just heard it wasn't exactly his "first priority." I heard (and I don't know if this is rumor or not) that they would actually close the show for weeks at a time because he had filming for recent movies out of town and such. Nevertheless, what a killer performer!

[lna]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:29pm

I think some of the performers mentioned may have missed shows, but are not notorious for doing so.

As far as I know, Stephanie Block missed a few shows when she was ill, but I don't believe she was out a lot. I don't remember a lot of complaints, anyway, and a couple people I know didn't care for her understudy. (As far as I know, the BFO cast also had the option to take their normal vacations during the run.)

FinishingTheHat -- very funny.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:31pm

FinishingTheHat, if memory serves me correctly Hugh Jackman Never missed a performance in THE BOY FROM OZ. The show closed down for several days for Mr. Jackman to take a vacation. But I believe he never missed a performance.

Certainly, there are folks who know best about that fact on this message board more than I do. But, I don't think Jackman ever missed a show. Did he Boy from Oz groupies out there?

Updated On: 2/13/05 at 04:31 PM

[FinishingTheHat]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:33pm

I'm not a huge "Boy From Oz" cult member, I just heard rumor that when he was gone they would close down the show and it happened more that once. But I could be wrong.

[bwaybaby891]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:33pm

Kristen barely missed a performance for Wicked, she went on while she was supposed to be waering a neck brace.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:34pm

hugh did not miss much of boy from oz. Everytime he was out the show was dark. His understudy left the show after a month to do rehearsals for Bare (and because they would not let him go on).

To be fair to Donna, yes she missed a lot of WT but her track record with King and I was much better. I blame a lot of WT on the weisslers (as do many people) since they treated her terribly!

As for Sutton in TMM, her record the first year was wonderful her attendance record in the second year was not as much. She did miss a week in little women btu that was due to the flu.

I think the worst person is Ann Reinking in Chicago she was out more then she was in the show!!!! They finally gave up and recast her part!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:35pm

Jennifer Holliday is infamous for missing several shows of Dreamgirls, but it's not like Effie's a walk in the park to sing 8 shows a week.