Sara Jean Ford hustles uptown from Phantom to go on in A Little Night Music

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 1:57pm

Apparently Sara Jean Ford went on as Petra last night, since both Leigh Ann Larkin and Ramona Mallory were out AND the company swing had taken a personal day. Jessica Grove went on as Anne. Not only did Ford take off from Phantom to do the show, she was at jury duty when she got the initial call about it.

Of course.

EXCLUSIVE: Broadway Phantom Star Saves the Day at A Little Night Music

Updated On: 11/24/10 at 01:57 PM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:04pm

I love her so much. Her voice is glorious and her acting is stunning and poignant. Wish I could have seen her go on.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:09pm

According to that article, she's going on both performances today and will be back in Phantom tomorrow.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:09pm

Darnit, if I wasn't on a train going home for Thanksgiving as we speak I would totally go tonight to experience this...she's fantastic!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:11pm

I'll be in town tomorrow...seeing the show then, and wish I could see her in it...and then in Phantom over the weekend! What an awesome experience she must be having.

[Edna Turnblad]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:12pm

I love these stories. Magical. The wonders of theater. Also, I must commend her for doing it. Amazing story. Can't get enough.

[sorano916]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:35pm

Do events like this happen often? Actors returning to former shows to play a part when they're in a different show? Well done for her.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 2:39pm

^ Rondi Reed was in Wicked when August: Osage County closed in 2009, but returned for the closing night performance because Elizabeth Ashley (who was playing Mattie Fae at the time) was sick.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 3:00pm

It's not that common at all. But it makes for a fun story!

I remember a story about Sean Ghazi, who was playing Angel in Rent in Germany, had to be flown in to play Angel in London -- he'd never done it in English before.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 3:35pm

Also, here's another interesting tidbit about Reed returning for the closing performance of August. August's final performance was on a sunday afternoon. And, Wicked had two shows that particular sunday. They had their typical Sunday show but they had an extra one for The Actors Fund. David Stone, the producer, told her to go do August that afternoon but then come back for Wicked that evening.


So, not only did she return to a show she left, she did her former show and then current show both on the same day.

[broadwaybound0632]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 3:51pm

I love stories like this

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 3:55pm

Love Sara. she's so amazing, I wish i had seen her last night sounds like a great experience

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 3:55pm

Love Sara. she's so amazing, I wish i had seen her last night sounds like a great experience

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 4:07pm

Do events like this happen often?

It happened once at Aida. Simone, who was the regular Aida, threw her back out. Standby Maya Days was on vacation, and the understudy, Schele Williams was out (I think she was sick). They had to fly in Merle Dandridge, who was the standby on the tour at the time, to do an entire weekend of shows (opposite, ironically enough, Patrick Cassidy, who himself was filling in for one week for a vacationing Adam Pascal.).

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 12:26am

She's pretty fantastic--as is the rest of the company for rising to the challenge and succeeding admirably.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 12:29am

I'm so mad I missed this.

Ramona apparently has the flu. I wonder how long she will be out?

[bluetuna]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 1:47am

That's pretty cool. Did anyone see this?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 2:45am

I love Sara and I was going to go tonight. I was intrigued why she would be on as Anne, because I knew she is in Phantom now. Since Ramona and LeighAnn were both out, and I already saw ELF today, I skipped ALNM tonight.
Anyone knows if Bernadette was ever out of the show?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 8:07am

^She wasn't on as Anne. She was on as Petra.

[itsahopi]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 8:17am

Jessica Grove was on for Anne. I am so happy I caught her in the role. I wish she played it from the start so I could have her on the album. Her voice is amazing. I think the audience enjoyed the Anne/Henrick plot more with Grove. She was just so damn likable. Hope she gets to go on a few more times before closing!!