Ruthie Henshall

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 4:45am

Just curious any other fans?

[Martijn-j]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 7:26am

Yes! She's great. I've seen her live only once, which was in The Woman in White in London. But of course I've listened to her countless times on several cast recordings. Especially Miss Saigon. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 8:20am

It’s been over 20 years since she was last on Broadway. I always hope she’d come back in something, she’s really incredible.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 8:35am

I saw her in Follies and the last revival of Chicago and sadly the voice was gone. But in the recordings of Chicago, Les Miz and She Loves Me she's nothing short of magnificent.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 9:40am

Her voice is not gone. Ruthie recorded vocals for a project of mine which will be released early next year! Can’t wait to share it with y’all!

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 1:45pm

Jordan Catalano said: "It’s been over 20 years since she was last on Broadway. I always hope she’d come back in something, she’s really incredible. "

More like 10 or so. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 2:01pm

blaxx said: "Jordan Catalano said: "It’s been over 20 years since she was last on Broadway. I always hope she’d come back in something, she’s really incredible. "

More like 10 or so."

Exactly.  She returned to CHICAGO (as Roxie) in 2010 - 11 years ago.  

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 3:32pm

Sadly she cannot sing like she used to. She was glorious in She Loves me etc, but the years have taken their toll and she has not taken care of her voice. Want proof- just look at any of her performances on YouTube from the last 5 years.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 4:07pm

Ah! I was looking at her IBDB page and the way the listings were, i just saw 20. Totally forgot about “Chicago”!

[pmensky]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 4:26pm

I saw her play Nancy in Oliver! on the West End in 1996. I couldn’t figure out if she was ill or just not vocally right for the role, as she sounded very strained through the entire performance. That’s my only memory of her.

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 7:59pm

Saw her in London as Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot ... she was great. Her performance was also captured on the Billy Elliot Live dvd.

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 9:41pm

I remember her in that first televised Les Mis concert where people like Michael Ball and Judy Kuhn reprised their roles. I knew everyone in the cast but I had never seen or heard of this fantastic Fantine. I have seen her on stage since, but she never made the same impact on me as she did in that concert.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 7/29/21 at 2:43am

Fun facts why not full out.

That damn pbs Les mis. She is fantine, aside from Laurie beechman.

Let me tell a story about Ruthie. It was days before 7.10.99
It was the Wednesday before the 10th. Was a Wed mat day. The understudy board went up. Both Roxie and Velma out - was a Nancy Hess / Mamie day. I was like “eh seen this before” but sitting in shubert alley preshow eating my shake McDonald’s salad saying “is that Ruthie?” I dropped my McNuggets. Was her. I said I slept out to see you. I asked “sat night will you be in?” She said def yes.
That sat night was Nancy Hess and Charlotte. I was pissed. I always hated Hess - that’s another story.

Ruthie promised she’d be there.

Long story short. Fran and Barry had friends coming Sunday. Ruthie promised me she’d be there sat night. G
Fran and B (who I like and have met many times in social settings) they asked Ruthie to sit out to be amazing for their froiends the next day

Close the story. I wrote Ruthie a handwritten letter
She called me.

I was layijg in bed. Phone rang listening to the machine. It was an invite to see the show.
Joey from Philadelphia isn’t hard to forget

[tomwsjr]

Posted: 7/30/21 at 11:01pm

Your message makes no sense

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/1/21 at 5:18pm

tomwsjr said: "Your message makes no sense "

I’ve read it a few times and still don’t understand it.

[Templeton33]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 12:19am

I read on Wikipedia (I know, not reliable) Ruthie played Liza in the 2002 NY workshop of "The Boy From Oz," I didn't know this! I also think she could have been/still could be a terrific Reno in "Anything Goes." 

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 6:55pm

Templeton33 said: "I read on Wikipedia (I know, not reliable) Ruthie played Liza in the 2002 NY workshop of "The Boy From Oz," I didn't know this! I also think she could have been/still could be a terrific Reno in "Anything Goes.""

I did not know that. I’d love to hear that if it’s true. 
 

i know ruthie did some of the witches of eastwick worshops, those are a nice listen (in a good way)

As much as I love Ruthie her as Reno has never crossed my mind. I LIKE
 

[greensgreens]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 10:37pm

She might make a fantastic Dolly or Mame. Maybe for UK?

Ruthie made me fall in love in Crazy For You. That London production was so hot!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:16pm

From 2019:

 

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:25pm

Ruthie will be doing PASSION in the UK this spring (unless it’s been canceled?)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:27pm

JBradshaw said: "Ruthie will be doing PASSION in the UK this spring (unless it’s been canceled?)"

 

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:34pm

Beat me to it 🤪

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:57pm

 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 1/25/22 at 9:28am

I adore her and think she is gorgeous but that performance of "I Still Believe" with Lea Salonga from a few years ago lives rent free in my head (sorry, Ruthie!). 

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 1/25/22 at 11:07am

Yep, absolutely true that she was Liza in a recording or a workshop, or some early stage of the show.

She said later she didn’t particularly like the material for The Witches of Eastwick. In fairness, she was given some of the weakest material for the demo. I think she only sang ‘Eye of the Beholder’ which has always been a bit of an unfulfilling mess. I’m not sure who sang the role of Alexandra in the other bits. Some was the composer himself.