Replacements in Famous Shows

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 3:34pm

When I saw Funny Girl, Babs was out of it. I saw it with Mimi Hines & Johnny Desmond . I saw Mame with Janis Paige . When I went to see Hallelujah, Baby, Uggams was out & I saw Freda Payne

Who did you see in what ?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 3:38pm

I didn't think Babs ever missed a performance of that show!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 3:39pm

I saw Nancy Hess in CHICAGO cause Bebe was out.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 3:40pm

I saw Linda Mugg....


Oh, nevermind.

[Oscar Jaffee]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 3:40pm

Judy Kaye in "On the Twentieth Century." I saw the show just a few months after the famous, or infamous, Madeline Kahn exit.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 3:55pm

Barbra did miss one show, and Laini Kazan, who was her understudy, went on as Fanny. After Streisand left the production, Mimi Hines took over the role.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 4:41pm

Linda Muggleston- WONDERFUL job replacing Donna...she was absolutley phenomenal!

Schele Williams replacing Saycon Sengbloh in Aida. I saw it a while ago but I remember giving her a standing ovation which is always good

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 4:42pm

Oh when I went to see CABARET at Studio 54, the Emcee's u/s was in. Don't know his name but he was fantastic.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 4:43pm

BwayLover, I honestly thought all these years that Kazan never once went on.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 4:43pm

I saw Linda in W.T. on the 26th. Most of the cast was out. David Marguiles (sorry if I spelled that wrong) who plays Apopoluos, and is never out, was out that day. Everyone down to the Eskimo Pie man was out.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 4:49pm

Well, Kazan has changed her story over the years..I have heard her admit she went on. Now I think she just likes to say she never went on because of the reaction it gets and because, well, people will believe anything bad about Barbra Streisand.
When Barbra was on Rosie's show in 1997, Rosie asked her about it flat out, and Barbra said that the story of her being sick but still performing was true, but also that the next day, she really was too ill to perform and Laini did go on. Rosie then said - "But she told me she didn't!" , to which an amused Barbra replied, "yeah, she did."

Updated On: 10/13/04 at 04:49 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 4:53pm

Ouch. So, I guess the idea of them doing a show together is out of the question?

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:02pm

The story goes much deeper....Kazan ended up marrying Streisand's long time friend and collaborator Peter Matz, and the two ladies have not been friendly since. So yeah- no chance of a joint show.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:03pm

Maybe not, but it sounds like an EXCELLENT story for a musical of it's own!

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:05pm

LOL Perhaps.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:06pm

When we saw Wicked, Sean was in for Joel, and we really liked him. That's the only time I've ever seen an understudy.

[AReinkingfan]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:27pm

Saw Belle Calaway in place of Ann Reinking in "Chicago". I was pleasantly surprised with Belle's performance. It was very well executed, and it sure helped that Ruthie Henshall was playing opposite her.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:35pm

I saw Shoshana Bean instead of Marissa Jaret Winokur. I saw Marissa in Seattle, and I must admit, although Shoshana was wearing a fat suit, I liked her performance better than Marissa's.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:23pm

Kazan went on for Streisand ONCE and called all the NY theater critics!

They reviewed her performance and said it was in many ways better than Streisand's!

Streisand had Kazan FIRED!

Contract for new understudy stated that PRESS COULD NOT BE CONTACTED IN ADVANCE IF SHE WENT ON.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:25pm

Looks like Babs has not changed & has always been the same

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:27pm

I was fortunate enough to see Liza Minnelli as Roxie Hart in the original production of CHICAGO.

She was under-rehearsed, messed up quite a bit, but NO ONE sang "I Am My Own Best Friend" (they made it into a solo) like HER!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:40pm

i saw emily rozek in for susan egan the last wednesday matinee of millie...people going in thought i was insane since i was happy that an understudy was in (i had a preconcieved notion that i didn't want to see egan)....she was very good

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:48pm

"Kazan went on for Streisand ONCE and called all the NY theater critics!

They reviewed her performance and said it was in many ways better than Streisand's!

Streisand had Kazan FIRED!

Contract for new understudy stated that PRESS COULD NOT BE CONTACTED IN ADVANCE IF SHE WENT ON."

Wow, that's insane. I didn't know that. I think it sounds like a GREAT musical...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:50pm

Kazan has talent &, unlike Babs, do not think she has an attitude problem

Updated On: 10/13/04 at 07:50 PM

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 8:19pm

Saycon Sengbloh in for Deborah Cox.
Sean McCourt for Joel Grey.
Eden Espinosa for Idina Menzel.
Megan Hilty of Jennifer Laura Thompson.

All incredible.