Riedel jumps in on the Fantasia Bandwagon

[folkyboy]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:06am

i decided to go ahead & post it before Yankeefan today. god i love Michael Riedel! :)

Fantasia's 'Purple' Flu Updated On: 12/12/07 at 10:06 AM

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:17am

In the meantime, for making that little girl cry, I'm sending Fantasia to Broadway jail.

You are a saint, sir!

But 50 performances?! That seems more than a bit ridiculous, especially considering the character of Celie only gets ONE giant ballad to herself.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:17am

What seems to be is that the role of Celie is simply too taxing to play eight shows a week. I don't understand why marathon roles such as this (and Elphaba), where women are being forced to scream way beyond their ranges (on terrible vowels, mind you) for eight shows a week instead of six.

Oh...and Ethel Merman did, indeed, miss a few performances of GYPSY due to a burst blood vessel, I believe.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:21am

"It was very sad," my lobby spy reports. "Her mother was trying to explain to her that Fantasia was sick, but the girl didn't understand and just kept crying."

Hysterical!

[Malaijah]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:25am

Is it me or do the "sources" quotes seem to be taken from the topic started by B-something (I forget the whole name) on here last week?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:27am

"Even LaChanze - with her cold-hearted performance - couldn't take it."


Where does Reidel find these bitchy queens?? Birds of a feather, I guess. And those crying kids deserve it! If you are seeing a show for the sole reason of seeing a star, stay the hell away from Broadway! How's THAT for bitchy??

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:30am

Still not as bitchy as Reidel, Borstal...he is a tool and a douchebag.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:34am

i guess i need to stay away from Broadway then. the only reason i wanted to see that show was because of Fantasia. stupid me!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:41am

"Fantasia did show up for work the day the strike hit and sang for disappointed fans outside the theater. News of her impromptu concert reached Sardi's, where a group of Shubert executives were lunching.

Said one, acidly: "There's no show, and she's out there singing. Now if we could get her to perform when there is a show, we'd be in business,"



OUCH

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:53am

So do you think these producers are forgetting, when they hire all of these American Idol contestants/winners, that these kids need to have the stamina and chops to do 8 shows a week? Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me that you can't just throw a "star" into a demanding show and expect them to be there every night if they aren't a trained Broadway performer. Granted, I know in the past some performers dropped matinees, but I can't remember performers missing this many shows. I really hope Chaka doesn't have this problem. I saw the show with LaChanze (And LOVED her) but I will fly in and see it again for Chaka. Just my thoughts.

edit: And yes, his article sounds suspiciously like the thread that was started here on BWW.

Updated On: 12/12/07 at 10:53 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:56am

"If you are seeing a show for the sole reason of seeing a star, stay the hell away from Broadway! How's THAT for bitchy?? "

People were lining up due to Fantasia's INCREDIBLE reviews and AMAZING word of mouth. They weren't just there because she was a "name". It was a star making moment that she squandered. I attempted to see the show 3 times during three different trips to no avail, so I gave up. It is sad.

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 11:28am

Word of advice to her: Go to Hollywood and make films, your reputation on Broadway is now, officially tarnished.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 11:32am

i'd hardly call it tarnished. the girl IS talented. she just needs to come to work to let everyone else know that

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 1:59pm

I wouldnt say she is tarnished, but the fact that people are writing about and talking about it, does show that it has resonated for people. It is unfortunate because clearly stage is a medium she can do well in.

Her acting in her own film was universally panned, so stage was clearly a place for her to excel. Some producers might think twice about hiring her. Everyone who saw her said she was a revelation. If she had a better track record, I am sure the offers would be more amazing.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 2:22pm

"Her acting in her own film was universally panned"

I guess acting like your own self is REALLY, REALLY hard.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 2:57pm

Well it certainly is when Debbie Allen is directing the picture.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 3:13pm

I found acting like myself onstage to be hard. I had to do it in a class and it was harder than I thought.

[me2]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 4:48pm

If two stars are having that problem, then it could just be a tough, tough role. And you're right, Fantasia is younger than LaChanze and may just not have the vocal strength for it yet.
Broadway Blog: Take a Chance on Me: Why Mamma Mia!-Haters May Lay All Their Love On the Movie Adaptation

[me2]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 4:48pm

delete
Updated On: 12/12/07 at 04:48 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 6:28pm

This part might be the easiest leading role in Broadway history. The character does NOTHING. NOTHING. She has a crappy song to riff at the end. And mind you, it is written (in the book) as a very important central character. There's no excuse for missing shows when playing this part (unless you're dying or you know someone that died and you have to go to a funeral). 50 absences is disgusting! Never come back to Broadway Fantasia! You're laziness is not welcome here! Learn from the pros!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 6:31pm

The character is onstage for most of the show and does sing a lot. What show were you at?

[jv92]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 6:58pm

Standing around onstage and singing a few bars (plus the one craptacular final song) is nothing compared to a role like Mama Rose, Dolly Levi, Mame, Mrs. Lovett, Edith/Edie and so on.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 7:59pm

"The occasional star of "The Color Purple"
Ouch

[Copeman63]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 10:30pm

Maybe she can't read the schedule?

Ooo, I'm goin' to hell...

[Izzie2]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 11:05pm

....the producers deserve spotty reliability for stunt casting. if you want the job done well and reliably, call in a professional, If you want to bring in massive numbers of people who will only leave when they find that the leading lady is out, cast a celebrity.